Engagement
Moment-to-Moment Play
Engagement is what keeps players playing once they’ve started. It lives in the intrinsic feel of your mechanics, the quality of decisions you give players, and how clearly your game communicates what’s happening.
E1 — Toy Factor (Core Feel)
My core mechanics are fun to mess around with even before any challenge or stakes kick in.
E2 — Interesting Decisions (“Buts”)
My game pulls me between competing goals — this allows for interesting decisions.
E3 — Difficulty Progression
My game gets harder by giving me more difficult decisions, not just by making the same stuff more punishing.
E4 — Clarity & Feedback
What’s happening in my game is obvious at a glance — a screenshot could explain it to someone instantly.
Appeal
Initial Attraction
Appeal is what makes players notice, click, and want to try your game before they’ve played it. It lives in your creative direction, theme, and premise — the wide end of the marketing funnel.
A1 — Central Fantasy
My game has a clear, exciting fantasy at its core — something people can envision themselves doing and genuinely want to experience.
A2 — Art Style & Visual Identity
My art style feels distinct and true to the fantasy I’m going for — and a single screenshot is enough to make someone want to know more.
A3 — Creative Coherence
My theme, art, and mechanics all feel like they belong to the same game — not like a combination of unrelated parts.
A4 — Theme & Mood
My game’s vibe connects with a specific audience and is memorable enough to stick after a single impression.
Score Summary
Overall Score
Rate all criteria to see your score
0 / 40
8-15
Not there yet. Revisit core pillars.
16-21
Early stages. Keep iterating & exploring.
22-28
Developing. Buildout a vertical slice.
29-35
Strong. Keep adding polish.
36-40
Excellent… SHIP IT!