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Information is presented in multiple ways to suit different players
Different players take in and understand information in various ways. Some like visual diagrams, others prefer text explanations, and some need hands-on examples to grasp concepts. In board games, presenting key information in different formats at the same time helps each player connect with the content in their preferred way. This redundancy isn’t wasteful—it’s inclusive…
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Each object in the game has a clear purpose and use
When every component in a game has a clear, distinct purpose communicated through its physical design, players can understand the game’s systems through observation rather than memorization. By simply looking at a component—its shape, size, material, or visual treatment—players should be able to intuit what role it plays. Components that look different should function differently,…
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Design uses grouping to help players navigate elements
Grouping is a fundamental design principle where related elements are visually clustered together to help users quickly understand relationships and navigate information. Rather than scattering related content across a layout, effective grouping uses proximity, containers, color, and spacing to create clear visual chunks that the brain processes as unified concepts. This principle reduces cognitive load…
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Elements are repeated in the appropriate context to aid the player.
In the field of Information Architecture (IA for short), there is a frequently used principle that says content should be repeated in all of the appropriate contexts. This means that rather than finding the one exact spot that content should go, it’s available from all the places people might expect it to be. This sounds…
