What are the best practices for balancing in-game tutorials?

There's one universal truth: "Players never read texts" (Another version is: "Only game designers read texts") Tutorials must be about performing actions: designing simple, controlled, gameplay challenges that can only be surpassed by using the specific game mechanic you are trying to teach, and providing extensive feedback in case the player fails (or takes to much time) or succeed. As humans, players only learn by doing.

Think of tutorials like a helpful guide that's part of the game story. Instead of just telling you what to do, they're challenges that show you how to play while making the game more interesting. It's like learning through an exciting adventure, where each step teaches you not just what to press but why it matters in the game world. The tutorial becomes a fun story that you get to be a part of as you learn how to play.

The shortest summary that i can provide on the subject is the following: - clearly define the goal of each step of your tutorial (what i want to teach the player) every step should teach only one thing at a time. - know your players (make as deep dive as possible into player segmentation) different types of players react to different stimulus. If you have vastly different player segments prepare forks in the tutorial that can adapt it to their needs. - don’t save time on tracking implement good tracking system for every step of the tutorial including time between the steps since this can indicate confusing UI/UX. This data will be your best friend when you start optimising. - AB test different versions of the tutorial.

Users are trying to play: - Let them do things. - Avoid text as much as possible. - Use highlights and markers during the tutorial. - Have a reminder or a way to "start over" that specific step. - Make steps small. - Design the tutorial after giving people the game to play. - Make it part of the game experience and not a lecture.

Diversity in tutorial methods is key to accommodate varied player preferences and learning styles. Employing text, voice, images, videos, and interactive elements caters to different audiences. Striking a balance is crucial, ensuring information delivery without cluttering the screen or disrupting gameplay flow. Tailoring the tutorial to each situation optimizes effectiveness. Player testing helps gauge what methods resonate best, ensuring a user-friendly and adaptable learning experience. Ultimately, it's about providing information in a way that enhances understanding without overwhelming or distracting the player.

Tailoring the tutorial to individual players absolutely enhances the learning experience. Dynamic difficulty adjustment, branching paths, and optional challenges allow the game to adapt to the player's skill level and choices. Providing feedback systems and acknowledging player agency empower individuals to customize their learning journey. Adjusting enemy characteristics based on performance and offering varying levels of assistance ensure the tutorial is neither too easy nor too difficult, maintaining player engagement. It's about creating a personalized learning curve that challenges without overwhelming, ultimately promoting a more enjoyable and rewarding experience for each player.

As pointed out in other posts presenting a tutorial but allowing users to skip is a good method but you should also look at re-asking if your player is not understanding their goals. I think this is a great way of tailoring your system to your players. Suppose they are failing at something repeatedly or spending too much time in an area. They may be stuck and becoming frustrated. Presenting them with a tutorial at that point could be a good opportunity to help them.

In certain adventure or story-based games, integrating the introduction with the tutorial can enhance the player's experience. However, it's crucial to ensure that this process is swift and straightforward, prioritizing the narrative over intricate control explanations. For combat-oriented games, I recommend implementing skill-based tutorials. Consider three distinct tutorials: the first tailored for entirely new players, the second for users familiar with similar gaming styles, and the last one for experienced players who can opt to skip the tutorial. This approach caters to a diverse player base, offering a tailored learning experience based on their level of familiarity with the game mechanics.

I find the most helpful tutorials are the ones which let players participate and don't just show you a movie about how the systems work. Especially in a first- or third-person game, taking control away from the player is frustrating and breaks immersion. Try to work with the player and environment to let them have freedom to explore while providing enough obstacles and steps to introduce a mechanic. Don't penalize a player for skipping a step. Allow players to skip the tutorial (or ideally the current step of the tutorial). Sometimes players prefer to just discover things on their own or learned faster than the tutorial system allows them to progress. Getting bored while stuck on a tutorial timeline is a common complaint.

Moreover, implement an optional or skippable tutorial system for seasoned players or those who prefer minimal guidance. Allowing players to choose their level of involvement in tutorials respects their individual learning preferences and gaming expertise.

The worst tutorials are tutorials. Seriously. Like NOBODY wants to play a fake game for 35 minutes so they can play the real game later. Multiplayer games that require this are even worse. The best tutorials are tutorialization: IE they explain how to play as the player plays. And a lot of the time they are far less direct. Include a sign that explains important info on a trail that the player must go down and they'll probably investigate it. Give them a glimpse of an important item that they can't yet reach, and they'll try to figure out how to get there later. Plop a wall in front of them and they'll learn how to jump. Get the player playing as quickly as possible, and let them learn along the way.

Integrating tutorials seamlessly into the game experience enhances player engagement. By aligning tutorial elements with the narrative and aesthetics, players feel more immersed. This approach also leverages in-game rewards and achievements to reinforce learning, ensuring that players grasp concepts organically while progressing through the game. It's about creating a cohesive and enjoyable learning curve within the overall gaming experience.

Good onboarding, regardless of genre, often requires more love and time than you'd expect — players zip through in seconds what takes ages to perfect. It's about (a) introducing game mechanics slowly enough so players actually grasp them; (b) making sure players feel in charge and competent, without making the tutorial feel patronizing; and (c) designing UI, text, and visual and sound effects that elegantly guide players, ensuring clarity.

Tutorials should be hands-on extensions of the gameplay, and should not feel like boring, abstract instruction manuals. Ideally, you should teach players through the gameplay itself, allowing them to apply new skills during or immediately after the mechanics are introduced. Integrating tutorials with the game's narrative and gameplay not only maintains immersion but also enhances learning. Continuous, contextual feedback during learning helps players grasp concepts quickly and effectively, which is why you should avoid lengthy explanations before they even start.

There has been a lot written about Super Mario Bros and how the level design in the first levels was perfectly created to teach the player how to play the game. This was a tutorial without being presented like one and annoying anyone. Perfect.

The tutorial must be short and clear, but it must also contain all possible features in its action. It must be elementary and very short according to the minimal case test principle. Tutorials are the essence of attracting users...

Balancing the tutorial's length is crucial. It should align with the game's complexity and respect players' time. Tailoring the tutorial to match the pace of the overall game experience is key, considering both modular progression for foundational skills and a sandbox approach for player exploration. A well-designed tutorial adapts to players' needs, ensuring they grasp essential concepts without overwhelming them. Smooth transitions from tutorial to gameplay are vital, allowing players to seamlessly apply what they've learned. Ultimately, it's about finding the right balance for a satisfying and educational gaming experience.

Hay géneros que se prestan a aprender sobre la marcha, otros que deben entregar cada nueva mecánica poco a poco, unos en los que casi hay que estudiar para comprender las normas del juego, y son éstos, los géneros a los que pertenezca tu proyecto, los que te marcarán el ritmo del tutorial y su extensión. Por fortuna hoy día, muchas jugadoras están de sobra informadas sobre cómo se va a jugar ese próximo título que caerá en sus manos y tienen una idea aproximada de lo que será su tutorial. La escena indie es más interesante en este sentido, pues en muchas ocasiones sorprende también en lo que a tutoriales se refiere.

Consider pacing out the tutorial well into the actual game. Give player what they require to be successful early on, but I recommend not trying to overload the first play session with more than is necessary. If something doesn't need to be taught until much later in the game, wait until the need or desire is there.

A tutorial should onboard the player, but part of the learning experience of video games is for the player to learn as they go through the game as well. It's a good idea to think of what key actions and game mechanics you want the player to understand to get started. Stick to those basics. Bonus points if you can teach the player how to start playing the game and interweave an intro narrative structure as well.

I'd say that collecting feedback is very crucial for building the right tutorial and game overall. Things that you, as a developer have made a thousand times might be obvious to you, but it might be completely confusing for a new player. So don't expect the player to act like you do. Also - a very important thing to keep in mind, and that concerns any type of development - think of your player, as of somebody who has never seen a computer before in their lifetime. It might be obvious to you that pressing space will make you jump, but that does not work for everybody. Your game might be the first game this person plays ever. Or maybe you are making an FPS, but the player used to play RTS. So keep that in mind, when you think "it's obvious".

Test your onboarding with Players. Implement any changes with Datapoints in mind, so you can identifiy the steps the Players take before they fail/stop/Churn accurately. Keep an eye on the Numbers and see how changes might have affected these, be ready to reiterate. Onboarding is the most crucuial part of any game and is worth redefining till it is as good as it can.

En la mayoría de ocasiones que he hablado con alguien para prestar un playtesting, me responden que cuando esté más pulido, cuando hasta avanzado más, cuando… y cuando llega ese momento y le rompo el juego, a veces es tarde para reaccionar, otras muy tarde para reaccionar, y algunas no hay tiempo de reacción posible. Con esto quiero decir que, hay que probar el juego desde sus primeros pasos. Sus mecánicas están claras para quienes las han pensado, pero no tanto, para quien luego va a jugar. Porque reconozcámoslo,no todos y todas jugamos de igual forma. Por muchas luces para indicar un camino o una opción,siempre habrá quienes tomemos decisiones diferentes, y es aquí donde necesitamos confirmar que, aún y todo, hemos entendido el tutorial.

Treating the tutorial as a dynamic component is crucial. Continuous testing and feedback loops are essential for refining the tutorial's effectiveness, adapting to diverse player experiences, and addressing any issues that may arise. Utilizing analytics, surveys, and playtesting helps gauge user satisfaction and identify areas for improvement. As the game evolves, updating the tutorial to align with new features or platforms maintains its relevance. Embracing iterative processes, such as prototyping and patching, ensures the tutorial remains a valuable and seamless part of the evolving gaming experience. It's an ongoing commitment to enhancing user engagement and learning.

There are different types of players types so make sure that during the testing phase, you are bringing these different groups in. If you are going with a one-size-fits-all approach, you want to find a happy balance between the group's feedback. If you are having different types of tutorials make sure they are hitting the right goals for the correct groups.

Remember that your tutorial is your "on-ramp." The highway that is your game could be beautiful. But if the on-ramp is a bumpy ugly thing, nobody is going to make it there.

With live service game, consider retriggering key points of your tutorial for lapsed players. It is common that a player may stop playing the game for months or even years and then pick it up again. They likely won't need the whole game tutorialized and definitely won't want to redo the "Tutorial" level, but if they forgot some vital concepts, they may quickly bounce back out. It is good to do some user research with long lapsed players to see where they struggle. Additionally, have the game detect if a player is failing to utilize a key concept and only in that case present a dynamic tutorial moment.

While a well-designed, intuitive, and fluid tutorial is great and all, it should ultimately offer the option to be skipped. Respecting player choice and offering experienced or returning players the option to dive straight into the main gameplay ensures a more tailored and enjoyable experience for all types of gamers.

A Consideration for Accessibility: Accessibility considerations might improve the learning process by guaranteeing that flexibility is provided to players of different skill levels. How can the instruction provide accommodations for gamers with impairments while offering everyone an enjoyable educational experience?