Direct observation is one of the most powerful tools in a game researcher’s toolkit. It offers immediate insight into how players interact with a game, often revealing issues that self-report methods like surveys may miss. Observational data tends to be less prone to bias, making it essential for understanding the actual player experience.
To run an effective observation session, preparation is key. You need to be clear on two things:
What you’re observing – Define the specific behaviors, interactions, or moments in the game you want to study.
How you’ll document it – Decide on your note-taking method, screen recording tools, or tagging systems in advance.
Clarify research objectives and business goals.
Understand what stakeholders need to learn from the test.
Understand the game content and experience.
Know the player journey well enough to anticipate potential confusion or friction points.
Identify key moments where the experience may break down.
Focus on areas where players might misunderstand mechanics, become lost, or fail to engage.
Once you’ve identified your study goals, reframe them as observation questions. This makes them easier to track and evaluate during the session:
Observed playtests can happen in various formats: