Constructive Feedback: Game Feels Boring? Here's How

It's a tricky situation: you're playing a game, and it's just not grabbing you. Maybe it feels repetitive, slow, or just plain unengaging. You want to give feedback, but you don't want to come across as harsh or unhelpful. This guide will walk you through how to provide constructive criticism when a game feels boring, ensuring your feedback is well-received and leads to positive change.

The Importance of Constructive Feedback

Before diving into the how, let's understand the why. Game development is a complex process, and developers rely on player feedback to identify areas for improvement. Simply saying "this game is boring" doesn't give them much to work with. Constructive feedback, on the other hand, pinpoints specific issues and offers potential solutions. This type of feedback is invaluable for developers striving to create the best possible gaming experience.

When addressing gameplay that feels lackluster, it's crucial to frame your observations in a manner that encourages positive change. Instead of making broad, negative statements, focus on specific aspects of the game that contribute to the feeling of boredom. For instance, you might discuss the pacing of the game, the variety of challenges, or the feedback mechanisms in place. By highlighting these elements, you provide developers with concrete areas to investigate and improve upon. Remember, the goal is to collaborate with the development team to enhance the game, not to simply express dissatisfaction.

Furthermore, offering suggestions for improvement can significantly enhance the impact of your feedback. Think about what could make the game more engaging and propose potential solutions. This shows the developers that you are invested in the game's success and are willing to contribute to its evolution. For example, if you find the game repetitive, you could suggest introducing new mechanics or challenges earlier in the gameplay. If the pacing feels slow, you might recommend increasing the frequency of rewards or events. These specific suggestions give developers a clearer path forward and demonstrate your commitment to helping them refine the game.

Crafting an Effective GitHub Issue

GitHub issues are a common way to communicate feedback to developers, especially for open-source projects or games in early access. Here's a structured approach to writing a GitHub issue about gameplay that feels boring:

1. Title: Be Objective and Descriptive

The title is the first thing developers will see, so make it clear and concise. Avoid subjective terms like "boring" and instead focus on specific aspects of the gameplay. For example, instead of "This game is boring," try:

• "Gameplay feels slow/repetitive due to lack of progression feedback"
• "Monotonous gameplay due to repetitive tasks and minimal rewards"
• "Lack of variety in early-game challenges leads to disengagement"

A well-crafted title immediately informs the developers about the core issue you're addressing. By using objective language, you avoid triggering defensive responses and set the tone for a constructive discussion. It's essential to be as specific as possible, pinpointing the exact reasons behind the feeling of boredom. For instance, if the game feels slow-paced, highlight whether it's due to infrequent rewards, long periods without new content, or a lack of meaningful decisions. If the gameplay is repetitive, specify which tasks or activities are causing the monotony and how they could be diversified. By providing a clear and descriptive title, you make it easier for developers to prioritize the issue and understand its impact on the overall gaming experience.

Additionally, consider incorporating keywords that accurately reflect the problem. This helps developers quickly categorize and search for similar feedback, streamlining their workflow. For example, using terms like "progression," "rewards," or "challenge variety" can make your issue more discoverable and ensure it reaches the right team members. Remember, the goal is to provide a clear snapshot of the problem in the title itself, making it easy for developers to grasp the essence of your feedback at a glance. A well-written title not only increases the likelihood of your issue being addressed promptly but also sets the stage for a collaborative and solution-oriented discussion.

2. Description: Briefly Explain Your Experience

In the description, provide a brief overview of your experience. Explain why the gameplay feels boring without being overly emotional or critical.

"While playing the current version, the gameplay feels slow and repetitive. After the first few minutes, there isn’t much variety or feedback to keep the player engaged."

This section is your opportunity to elaborate on the feeling of boredom and provide context for your feedback. Start by summarizing your overall experience, highlighting the specific moments or aspects of the game where you began to lose interest. Be clear about the point at which the gameplay started to feel monotonous or unengaging. Describing your experience in a factual and neutral tone helps developers understand the issue without feeling defensive. Focus on the objective observations you've made while playing, such as the lack of variety in tasks, the slow pace of progression, or the absence of meaningful rewards.

Elaborate on the specific elements that contributed to your disengagement. For example, if you found the early game repetitive, explain which tasks or activities felt particularly monotonous and why. If the rewards system seemed inadequate, describe how it failed to incentivize you to continue playing. If the game's progression felt slow, detail the periods where you felt like you weren't making significant progress. The more specific you are, the better developers can understand the root causes of your boredom and identify potential solutions.

In addition to describing your experience, it can be helpful to mention any expectations you had before playing the game. Did you anticipate a different level of challenge, variety, or engagement based on the game's description or marketing materials? Outlining your initial expectations provides developers with valuable insight into how well the game meets player perceptions. By clearly articulating the discrepancy between your expectations and the actual gameplay experience, you help them refine the game to better align with player needs and preferences.

3. Steps to Reproduce: Help Developers Understand the Context

This is crucial for developers to replicate the issue. Provide a step-by-step guide on how to experience the "boring" gameplay.

1. Start a new game.
2. Play through the first 10–15 minutes.
3. Observe progression speed, rewards, and variation in actions.

Providing clear steps to reproduce the issue is essential for developers to understand and address your feedback effectively. This section acts as a roadmap, guiding the development team through the exact sequence of actions you took that led to the feeling of boredom. By meticulously documenting each step, you eliminate ambiguity and ensure that developers can replicate your experience with precision. This not only validates your feedback but also helps them identify the underlying causes of the problem more efficiently.

Begin by specifying the starting point of your playthrough, such as starting a new game or loading a particular save file. This establishes a common ground and ensures that developers are experiencing the same context as you. Then, break down your gameplay session into a series of discrete steps, highlighting key actions or decisions you made. Be as detailed as possible, including specific tasks you completed, areas you explored, or interactions you engaged in. For example, if the monotony arises from repetitive combat encounters, specify the types of enemies you faced and the strategies you employed. If the progression feels slow, indicate the milestones you attempted to reach and the amount of time or effort it took to achieve them.

In addition to outlining your actions, guide developers on what to observe during the reproduction process. Point out specific elements or aspects of the gameplay that contribute to the feeling of boredom. For instance, you might instruct them to pay close attention to the frequency and quality of rewards, the variety of challenges presented, or the feedback mechanisms in place. By highlighting these critical areas, you direct their focus and ensure they are examining the same factors that led to your disengagement. This targeted approach makes it easier for developers to pinpoint the underlying issues and devise effective solutions.

4. Expected Behavior: Describe What Would Improve the Experience

Explain what you expected to happen or what would make the gameplay more engaging.

"I expected more variation in challenges, rewards, or events to maintain engagement as the game progresses."

Describing the expected behavior is a crucial step in providing constructive feedback, as it shifts the focus from simply identifying a problem to envisioning a solution. This section allows you to articulate what would make the gameplay more engaging and enjoyable, providing developers with a clear understanding of your expectations. By outlining what you anticipated from the game, you help them align their vision with player desires and identify areas where the current experience falls short.

Start by reflecting on your initial impressions and expectations before playing the game. What kind of gameplay experience did you anticipate based on the game's description, trailers, or genre? Did you expect a fast-paced, action-packed adventure, a strategic and thoughtful simulation, or a narrative-driven exploration? Understanding your initial expectations provides a benchmark against which the actual gameplay can be evaluated. It helps developers recognize if the game is failing to deliver on its promises or if there is a mismatch between the intended experience and the player perception.

Next, describe the specific elements or features that you believe would enhance the gameplay and make it more engaging. Consider factors such as the variety of challenges, the frequency and quality of rewards, the pacing of progression, and the depth of player agency. For instance, if you expected more variation in challenges, you might describe the types of encounters or obstacles you were hoping to face. If you anticipated a more robust rewards system, you could detail the kinds of incentives that would motivate you to continue playing. If the pacing felt slow, you might suggest increasing the frequency of new content or mechanics.

5. Actual Behavior: Describe What Happens Now

Contrast your expectations with what actually happens in the game.

"The player performs the same actions repeatedly without new mechanics, feedback, or incentives. Progress feels slow, and there aren’t many decisions to make."

In this section, it's crucial to clearly articulate the discrepancy between your expectations and the reality of the gameplay experience. This is where you juxtapose what you anticipated with what actually occurs, providing developers with a stark contrast that highlights the areas needing improvement. By explicitly outlining the differences, you make it easier for the development team to understand the specific shortcomings of the game and the impact they have on player engagement.

Begin by revisiting the expectations you outlined in the previous section. Reiterate what you were hoping to experience and the reasons why those elements were important to you. This helps to set the stage for a direct comparison with the actual behavior of the game. Then, proceed to describe in detail how the game deviates from those expectations. Focus on the specific aspects that contribute to the feeling of boredom or disengagement.

For example, if you expected a varied range of challenges but found yourself repeating the same tasks, explain the nature of the repetitive actions and their impact on your motivation. If you anticipated meaningful rewards but encountered lackluster incentives, describe the types of rewards you received and why they failed to resonate with you. If the progression felt slow and unfulfilling, detail the periods where you felt like you weren't making significant progress and the factors that contributed to that stagnation.

6. Suggestions (Optional but Helpful!): Constructive Ideas Go a Long Way

This is your chance to offer concrete solutions. Provide specific, actionable suggestions for improvement.

• Increase pace of early-game events
• Add new small goals or micro-rewards
• Introduce new mechanics earlier
• Add visual or audio feedback for progress
• Include randomized events to break repetition

Providing suggestions is a proactive way to contribute to the game's improvement and demonstrates your commitment to a collaborative approach. This section allows you to translate your observations and expectations into actionable recommendations, giving developers a clear roadmap for addressing the issues you've identified. By offering concrete solutions, you go beyond simply pointing out problems and become an active participant in the development process.

When formulating your suggestions, strive for specificity and practicality. Instead of making vague recommendations, propose tangible changes that developers can implement. For instance, if you feel the early game is too slow, suggest specific events or mechanics that could be introduced earlier to increase the pace. If you find the rewards system underwhelming, outline the types of rewards that would be more motivating and how they could be integrated into the gameplay. If the game lacks variety, suggest specific challenges or activities that could be added to diversify the experience.

Consider the feasibility of your suggestions and how they might impact other aspects of the game. Think about the resources and time required to implement your recommendations and whether they align with the game's overall design goals. Proposing realistic and well-thought-out solutions increases the likelihood that your feedback will be seriously considered and acted upon. You might also suggest prioritizing changes based on their potential impact on player engagement. Identifying the most critical issues and proposing effective solutions can help developers allocate their resources wisely and focus on the improvements that will make the biggest difference.

7. Extra Context / Screenshots: Any Additional Info Helps

Include any additional information that might be relevant, such as screenshots or videos showcasing the issue.

Tips to Avoid Being Harsh or Unconstructive

• ✔ Focus on what specifically feels boring.
• ✔ Suggest improvements.
• ✔ Avoid wording like “this sucks” or “your game is boring.”
• ✔ Use neutral terms: “slow pacing,” “low engagement,” “needs variety.”
• ✔ Remember: the goal is to help developers improve the game, not to vent.

When providing feedback, it's crucial to maintain a respectful and constructive tone. Your goal is to help developers improve their game, not to tear it down. Here are some key tips to keep in mind:

• Focus on Specifics: Vague complaints like "the game is boring" are not helpful. Instead, pinpoint what specifically feels boring. Is it the repetitive tasks? The slow pacing? The lack of challenge?
• Suggest Improvements: Don't just point out problems; offer potential solutions. This shows you're invested in making the game better.
• Avoid Harsh Language: Steer clear of phrases like "this sucks" or "your game is boring." These are unproductive and can discourage developers.
• Use Neutral Terms: Opt for objective language. Instead of "boring," try "slow pacing," "low engagement," or "needs variety."
• Remember the Goal: Your aim is to help developers improve the game. Frame your feedback in a way that facilitates positive change.

By focusing on specific issues and offering constructive suggestions, you contribute to a collaborative environment that fosters improvement. Your words have the power to influence the game's development trajectory, so choose them wisely. Frame your feedback as an opportunity for growth, and you'll be more likely to see positive changes implemented.

Conclusion

Giving constructive feedback on a game that feels boring is a crucial part of the development process. By following these guidelines, you can provide valuable insights that help developers create more engaging and enjoyable experiences. Remember to be specific, suggest improvements, and maintain a respectful tone. Your feedback can make a real difference!

For more information on providing effective feedback, you can visit resources like Stack Overflow's guide on giving good feedback.