How do you test game immersion and engagement?

1 Self-report measures

One of the most common and simple ways to test game immersion and engagement is to ask the players themselves. Self-report measures are surveys or questionnaires that players fill out after playing a game or a part of it. They can include rating scales, open-ended questions, or multiple-choice items. Self-report measures can capture various dimensions of immersion and engagement, such as attention, emotion, presence, involvement, flow, motivation, and satisfaction. However, self-report measures also have some limitations, such as relying on memory, being influenced by social desirability, and not capturing the dynamic changes during gameplay.

2 Behavioral measures

Another way to test game immersion and engagement is to observe and record the players' behaviors during gameplay. Behavioral measures are indicators of how players interact with the game and how they react to the game events. They can include metrics such as play time, completion rate, progress, actions, choices, errors, achievements, and feedback. Behavioral measures can provide objective and quantitative data on the players' performance, preferences, and challenges. However, behavioral measures also have some challenges, such as interpreting the meaning behind the behaviors, accounting for individual differences, and ensuring ecological validity.

3 Physiological measures

A third way to test game immersion and engagement is to measure the players' physiological responses to the game. Physiological measures are signals that reflect the changes in the players' body and brain activity during gameplay. They can include measures such as heart rate, skin conductance, eye movement, facial expression, brain waves, and hormonal levels. Physiological measures can reveal the players' arousal, stress, emotion, attention, and cognitive load. However, physiological measures also have some drawbacks, such as being expensive, intrusive, noisy, and requiring specialized equipment and analysis.

4 Mixed methods

A fourth way to test game immersion and engagement is to combine different methods and tools to get a more comprehensive and nuanced picture of the game experience. Mixed methods are approaches that integrate self-report, behavioral, and physiological measures in a complementary and coherent way. They can include methods such as think-aloud protocols, interviews, focus groups, video analysis, diary studies, and case studies. Mixed methods can provide rich and contextual data on the players' thoughts, feelings, actions, and reactions. However, mixed methods also have some challenges, such as being time-consuming, complex, and requiring multiple skills and resources.

5 Game-specific methods

A fifth way to test game immersion and engagement is to design and use methods and tools that are tailored to the specific features and goals of the game. Game-specific methods are techniques that embed the testing and measurement within the game itself or use the game as a medium for testing and measurement. They can include methods such as adaptive difficulty, in-game surveys, game analytics, biometric feedback, and game mechanics. Game-specific methods can provide relevant and meaningful data on the players' immersion and engagement in relation to the game design and content. However, game-specific methods also have some risks, such as affecting the game balance, quality, and enjoyment, and being difficult to generalize and compare.

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?