How do you design games for unexpected scenarios?

1 Why design for unexpected scenarios?

Designing for unexpected scenarios can have many benefits for your game design. First, it can increase the replay value and the sense of agency of your game, as players can explore different outcomes and choices based on the emergent events that occur in the game world. Second, it can create memorable moments and stories that players can share and remember, as they experience unique and surprising situations that are not scripted or predetermined. Third, it can challenge and inspire you as a game designer, as you have to think creatively and flexibly about how to handle the various possibilities and consequences that can emerge from your game systems.

2 How to identify unexpected scenarios?

One way to identify unexpected scenarios is to use a technique called scenario testing. Scenario testing is a method of testing your game design by imagining and simulating different situations that can happen in your game, and how your game systems and mechanics would respond to them. For example, you can ask yourself questions like: What if the player does something unexpected or unusual? What if the game environment changes or reacts in an unexpected way? What if the game logic or rules break or conflict with each other? By doing scenario testing, you can uncover potential problems, bugs, or gaps in your game design, and also discover new opportunities, features, or ideas for your game.

3 How to design for positive unexpected scenarios?

Designing for positive unexpected scenarios can create a sense of wonder, delight, or reward for the player. This can be achieved by adding hidden or optional content like Easter eggs, secrets, or side quests. You can also add random or procedural elements to generate variety and novelty, such as loot, enemies, or environments. Additionally, feedback and rewards that acknowledge and celebrate the player's actions should be included, such as sound effects, animations, or dialogue. Finally, you can add branching or multiple endings that reflect the player's choices and consequences, such as moral dilemmas, alternative paths, or endings.

4 How to design for negative unexpected scenarios?

Negative unexpected scenarios, such as game-breaking bugs, data loss, or unfair challenges, can create a sense of frustration, disappointment, or anger for the player. To design for these scenarios, you should utilize robust and reliable testing and debugging tools and processes, offer clear and consistent communication and feedback to the player, provide options and flexibility to the player, and balance and adjust the game difficulty. This could include error handling, logging, reporting, tutorials, hints, messages, difficulty settings, save and load systems, accessibility features, difficulty curves, adaptive AI, or difficulty modifiers.

5 How to design for ambiguous unexpected scenarios?

Ambiguous unexpected scenarios are those that create a sense of curiosity, confusion, or intrigue for the player. You can design for these scenarios by adding mystery and ambiguity to your game narrative and world, such as clues, puzzles, or secrets. Additionally, you can add hidden or emergent mechanics or systems that reveal themselves over time. Moreover, you can add dynamic and reactive elements that change or evolve based on the player's actions. Finally, you can add meta or fourth-wall breaking elements that challenge or subvert the player's expectations. Together, these techniques will create an engaging and unpredictable experience for players.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?