Unlocking Player Motivation: The Role of Rewards & Achievements in Game Design

Rewards and achievements in game design are powerful motivators, encouraging players to engage with and enjoy the gaming experience. As early as 1980, Activision’s Atari 2600 games came with promises of fabric patches upon achievement of specific high scores or completion of certain challenges. 

Game design encourages players by granting them rewards upon completion of challenges or levels. These rewards play on fundamental psychological principles to give players an invaluable boost of self-confidence.

Intrinsic Motivation and Engagement

Internal desires for achievement and mastery drive players to participate in and win games. Completing tasks within a game provides satisfaction and encourages continued participation. Rewards keep players interested and encourage them to stay involved over time. 

Balancing Risk and Reward in Game Design

It’s crucial to find the right balance between risk and reward in game design. Players should feel as if the decisions they make in the game are important and risky, yet receive rewards that make it all worthwhile. Game designers accomplish this by rewarding players with special items or abilities when they complete difficult tasks in-game. This adds a layer of strategy to the gameplay and enhances the player’s connection to the virtual world.

Clear Goals, Unexpected Rewards

When players in a game have clear goals, they know where to go and what to do. When they achieve these objectives, it feels great! This is true of game design, not just for entertainment, but for game-based learning too. 

In addition to rewards that the player expects in the standard course of gameplay, games can – and should – occasionally surprise players with unexpected rewards. This adds to the game’s appeal because you never know what good things will come your way. It keeps the game exciting and encourages players to continue playing.

A Sense of Competition

As a fundamental aspect of human behavior, people tend to measure themselves against each other. This inclination is harnessed effectively in the realm of game design through the implementation of leaderboards and ranking systems. These tools set up a social environment, facilitating healthy competition and serving as powerful motivation for players to enhance their skills. 

Players compete against the game’s challenges and also against each other, driving a continuous cycle of skill development and progress. This dynamic social framework fuels competition, elevates individual gameplay, fosters a sense of belonging and contributes to the overall vibrancy of the gaming community.

Build a vibrant world of game based learning on the twin pillars of cognitive psychology and game design. Ask our experts at Hornbill FX about game design and understand how rewards, achievements, and other game design principles can have a profound impact on gamifying your business.