What do players do in the playtest?

At Lysto, we've developed a streamlined playtesting process that captures authentic player experiences while gathering the specific insights you need. 

Here's how it works:

Natural Gameplay Comes First: As standard we instruct our playtesters to approach your game just as they would if they'd discovered it on the App Store or Google Play Store. This means no special instructions or hints (unless requested) - we want to see how players naturally interact with your game when they first open it. Whether it's figuring out the controls, understanding game mechanics, or navigating menus, you'll see genuine first-time user experiences.

The Think-Aloud Method: During their playtime, we ask testers to share their thoughts out loud. This means voicing their reactions, questions, and observations as they play. Want to know why a player spent extra time on the tutorial? Or what made them hesitate before making an in-game purchase? Their running commentary gives you valuable insights into player decision-making and emotional responses.

Flexible Testing Parameters: While we have a standard testing procedure, we can adjust it to focus on specific aspects of your game. Need detailed feedback on your new combat system? Or want to understand how players interact with your game's economy? Just let us know, and we'll guide testers to pay special attention to these elements while maintaining natural gameplay.

Setting Clear Expectations: Before each playtest, we make sure our testers understand three key points:

1. They should share their thoughts out loud throughout the session (unless specifically requested otherwise)

2. They should approach the game as a regular player would, without any special gaming knowledge

3. The game they're testing might be in early development, so they should expect potential rough edges

Recording the Experience: Every playtest session is recorded, capturing both the gameplay and the tester's commentary. These recordings become a valuable resource for your development team, showing exactly how real players discover and experience your game. You'll see where they succeed, where they struggle, and most importantly - why.

Whether you're testing an early prototype or a nearly complete game, our playtesters provide the kind of honest, detailed feedback that can help you make crucial improvements. Their insights help identify potential issues early, validate design decisions, and ensure your game resonates with its target audience before launch.