🆎Menu Navigation

Menu navigation is how players interact with your game outside of core gameplay. Well-designed menus are clear, efficient, and contribute to a positive overall user experience. Awkward or slow menus create friction and can frustrate players.

Key Aspects of Menu Navigation to Evaluate

• Ease of Use: Can players find what they need quickly and intuitively? Is the menu hierarchy and organization logical?

• Control Responsiveness: Does menu navigation feel smooth and responsive when using a controller or mouse? Is there any noticeable input delay?

• Information Architecture: Are menus well-organized, with clear categories and subcategories? Does the structure make sense for your game's content?

• Finding Key Settings: Can players easily locate important options for adjusting graphics, audio, controls, and accessibility settings?

• Returning to Gameplay: Is there a clear and quick way to exit menus and get back to the action?

• Visual Design: Do the menus fit your game's aesthetic? Are buttons, text, and important information easy to read?

• Sound Cues: Does menu navigation have appropriate sound feedback to enhance the experience?

How to Gather Targeted Feedback

• Timed Tasks: Ask playtesters to perform common tasks within the menu ("equip this item," "change the difficulty," etc.) and time how long it takes them.

• Intentional Confusion: Have playtesters try to locate less obvious options or menus without clear guidance to gauge discoverability.

• "Where Do I Go?" Ask players to verbalize where they would intuitively look to perform specific actions (save the game, change character appearance, etc.).

• Post-Gameplay Check-In: After a play session, ask if there were any menu interactions they found particularly frustrating or surprisingly smooth.

• Comparisons: Have playtesters with broad genre experience compare your menus to other games for better or worse.