How do you ensure game mechanics are balanced and fair?

1 Define your balance and fairness goals

Before you can balance and fine-tune your game mechanics, you need to have a clear idea of what balance and fairness mean for your game. Different genres, modes, and platforms may have different expectations and standards for these concepts. For example, a competitive multiplayer game may require more precise and symmetrical balance than a single-player narrative game. Similarly, a casual mobile game may have more lenient and forgiving fairness than a hardcore roguelike game. Therefore, you need to define your balance and fairness goals based on your game's vision, genre, target audience, and intended experience.

3 Use mathematical models and formulas

Another method to ensure that your game mechanics are balanced and fair is to use mathematical models and formulas to design and evaluate them. Mathematical models and formulas can help you create and adjust your game mechanics based on logical and consistent rules and parameters. They can also help you analyze and compare your game mechanics based on quantitative measures, such as difficulty, complexity, reward, and risk. For example, you can use mathematical models and formulas to design and balance your game's economy, combat, progression, and scoring systems. However, you should also be aware of the limitations and pitfalls of relying too much on mathematical models and formulas, as they may not capture the qualitative and emotional aspects of your game mechanics and how they affect the player's experience.

4 Use feedback loops and dynamic systems

A feedback loop is a system in which the output of a process affects the input of the same process, creating a cycle of cause and effect. A dynamic system is a system that changes over time based on the feedback loops within it. Feedback loops and dynamic systems can help you ensure that your game mechanics are balanced and fair by creating self-regulating and adaptive mechanisms that respond to the player's actions and the game's state. For example, you can use feedback loops and dynamic systems to create and balance your game's difficulty, challenge, and pacing. You can also use them to create and balance your game's emergent and procedural content, such as levels, enemies, and items.

5 Use asymmetry and randomness

Asymmetry and randomness are two design elements that can introduce variety, diversity, and unpredictability to your game mechanics. Asymmetry means that the game mechanics are not equal or identical for all players or situations, creating different advantages and disadvantages. Randomness means that the game mechanics are not deterministic or predictable, creating different outcomes and possibilities. Asymmetry and randomness can help you ensure that your game mechanics are balanced and fair by creating and maintaining interest, tension, and replayability. For example, you can use asymmetry and randomness to create and balance your game's characters, classes, abilities, and strategies. You can also use them to create and balance your game's events, scenarios, and rewards.

6 Use playtesting and iteration

Playtesting and iteration are two essential practices that can help you ensure that your game mechanics are balanced and fair. Playtesting means that you observe and evaluate how real players interact with your game mechanics and how they affect their experience. Iteration means that you modify and improve your game mechanics based on the results and feedback from playtesting. Playtesting and iteration can help you ensure that your game mechanics are balanced and fair by allowing you to test and refine your game mechanics in a realistic and practical context. For example, you can use playtesting and iteration to create and balance your game's controls, interface, feedback, and tutorials. You can also use them to create and balance your game's fun, immersion, and engagement.

7 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?