After reviewing more than 1,000 game builds I have prepared a framework for a Producer \ Creative Director \ Lead GD to review a build.
Here are the aspects to evaluate and questions to ask yourself while playing:
1. General Game Feel 😊
- Fun: Is the game enjoyable? Why or why not?
- Engagement: Does the game make you want to play more?
- Paying Motivation: What would make you spend money in the game?
- Memorable Moments: What stands out about the game?
- Confusion: What aspects were confusing and how can they be improved?
2. Core Gameplay 🎮
- Basic Actions: Are the mechanics like shooting satisfying?
- Complexity & Depth: How deep are the game mechanics?
- Clarity: Are the game goals and rules easy to understand?
- Variability: Does the game offer various playstyles?
- Evolution: Do the game mechanics evolve?
3. Art & UI 🎨
- Visual Appeal: Does the game have a unique art style?
- Consistency: Is the visual style consistent throughout?
- UI Clarity: Is the user interface intuitive?
- Quality: How polished are the visual elements?
- Visibility: Are important elements easy to see?
4. Game Flow & Balance ⚖
- Tutorial: Is the tutorial concise and dynamic?
- Guidance: Does the game effectively guide the player?
- Balance: Is the game balanced fairly?
- Difficulty Curve: Does the game scale with the player’s skill?
- Pacing: Is the pacing well-adjusted to keep engagement?
5. Player Progression 📈
- Reward System: Are the rewards satisfying?
- Goal Setting: Are there clear short and long-term goals?
- Progression: Can players see their growth?
- Content: Does the game have enough content to keep players engaged?
- Meta: What non-gameplay elements add depth?
6. Miscellaneous 🔍
- Competitors: How does it stack up against similar games?
- Technical Stability: Are there bugs or performance issues?
- Social Interaction: Are multiplayer elements fun and secure?
- Copyrights: Does the game infringe on any copyrights?
- Age Restrictions: Are age restrictions appropriately applied?
7. Pro Tips for Feedback 💡
- Play at least 2-3 times. First, get an overall impression; second, note details; third, compare with competitors.
- Rule of 100: Gather at least 100 comments for a backlog.
- Summarize: Highlight key feedback first, then detail specific comments.
- Prioritize Feedback: Rank issues by severity.
- Document for the Future: Note even what can’t currently be changed.
