Board games seem to have always existed in some form, but we never talk about them in terms of UX. Yet, that’s one of the main things they’re designed for – a fun and/or competitive experience.
Whenever we need to see the best UX design principles in action, we only need to check out our favorite board games. From mainstays like Monopoly to the latest Kickstarter releases, every game is designed with the user in mind.
The fun part is these games often target the general public versus a specific type of user. This usually makes UX more challenging, but for games, it’s just a natural part of the process.
Easy To Learn, But Hard To Master
Sometimes when board games are too easy, players tire of them quickly, unless it’s just one of those fun favorites for a quick game. However, the most successful board games have something in common – they’re easy to learn, but hard to master. No one wants to sit and spend hours just trying to figure out the rules. Some games work this way, but they usually have a difficult time appealing to the masses.
Geek & Sundry has a list of tabletop games designed for beginners. The rules are easy, but the games still present a challenge. For instance, Forbidden Island and the follow-up Forbidden Dessert can be picked up in minutes, but it’s impossible to win every time.
Keep Rules Simple
We don’t like having to go through a 30-page book just to play a board game, though those do exist. As a general rule, board games keep the rules simple. To make it even easier, most games have a single page with the game objective, game setup(s) and the core rules. This makes it easier to just jump right in and learn the rest during play. This is how UX design should work with everything, Keep usability simple so users can just get started right away.
Provide Reasons To Return
It’s a fine balance when designing board games to make winning possible, but not make it too easy either. As Industrial Agency discovered, it’s quite a complex process to design a game that makes users want to keep playing. When something’s seemingly impossible, no one wants to play again. When it’s too easy, the audience may be limited to young children.
The object is to create an experience that’s fulfilling, yet challenging. Some games, such as Pandemic, opt for a cooperative mode to allow players to work together to overcome challenges. Other games have ever-changing boards, such as Labyrinth. Card games work the same way. Players never get the same hand twice. Popular board games offer variety and challenge, but still make it possible to win.
Enjoyment Comes First
A common UX design theme with board games is to place player enjoyment first. There’s a reason so many Monopoly clones haven’t worked. While Monopoly is focused on having fun, other varieties focus too much on real life. Games are supposed to provide a fun escape for a while. When the games focus too much on the real world, all the enjoyment flies out the window. It’s a prime example of the user experience is front and center when it comes to board games.
Offer Constant Choice
Some board games fall flat because there’s too much setup and routine. Other games shine because they offer constant choices. Players get bored if they’re just sitting around with nothing to do. It’s one of the reasons we love poker and solitaire-style card games. With every new card comes new choices about what to do next. This is also why adult strategy games are becoming increasingly popular. Games Radar’s list of the best board games for 2017 showcase this in action.
We already know we’re surrounded by UX design examples every single day, but the next time you go to play your favorite board game, check out all the UX elements that help make it the awesome game you love.
Images: Jaciel Melnik, Jessica To’oto’o, Omar Lopez