Setting up your first playtest with Lysto

This guide will help you set up a playtest request on Lysto, whether you're looking for a Single-session, Longitudinal, Survey only, Multi- session or Concept playtest. Follow these simple steps to gather valuable player feedback through video sessions and surveys.

1: Choose the Type of Playtest

To create a playtest request, click on <+ New Playtest> at the top right corner on the user dashboard. Lysto offers various types of playtests, each with its own specific setup. Choose the one that best fits your needs:

• Single Session Playtest:

  • Perfect for quick feedback and first impressions after one gameplay session (FTUE).

  • Great for gathering immediate reactions to specific parts of your game.
    
    

• Longitudinal Playtest:

  • Ideal for tracking player behaviour and retention over time.

  • Suitable for tracking engagement trends and monitoring player activity across multiple days or sessions.
    
    

• Survey Only:

  • For gathering focused feedback without a gameplay session.

  • Use when you only need player insights via surveys without interaction with the game itself.

  • It can be used to test concepts, validate assumptions, and get answers to key questions before you build.

• Multi-Session Playtest:

  • Designed to track player progression and learning across 2–4 sessions in a short span, typically one day.

  • Helpful in assessing tutorial retention, session pacing, and early feature adoption without requiring full longitudinal tracking.
    
    

• Concept Playtesting:

  • Best for validating early game ideas, themes, or feature directions before building.

  • Helps gather player sentiment, expectations, and preferences using visuals, narratives, or prototypes.

2: How to Create a Playtest

Follow this 4-step process to set up a playtest and collect actionable feedback from real and experienced playtesters.
(Steps include variations for Single Session, Longitudinal, Survey only, Multi- session and Concept playtests)

Step 1: Project Details

Briefly describe game details, what your test is about, and how playtesters will access your game .

• Project Name: Enter a unique name for internal tracking of the playtest project.

• Playtest Objective: Describe what would you like to learn from this playtest. 

• Choose Playtesting Device: Choose the platform you want your game tested on — Android, iOS, or PC — so we can connect you with the right playtesters. (Longitudinal and Multi-session Playtests currently do not support PC as a playtesting platform) 
• Select Game Orientation: For mobile playtests, select either Landscape or Portrait based on the game’s orientation. 
• Game Upload or Download Link: Share your game build for playtesting—upload files (.apk, .exe) or provide download links (Drive, Steam, Epic store, TestFlight, Play Store, App Store); supports Android, iOS, and PC games, whether unreleased or publicly available. (Not applicable for Survey only. For Concept Study, add the concept file link or upload the file - .pptx, Google Slides, Canva, Figma Prototype)
• Add Game Details: If the platform doesn't automatically pick-up, Upload your Game Icon image, and input Game Name and select the applicable Game Genre(s).

Step 2: Playtest Setup

Configure when the test starts, how long it lasts and by specific player instrutions.

• Start Date: Choose whether the test should begin immediately or on a specific future date.

• GamePlay Duration (only for Single Session): Set the expected session length (e.g., 15 mins, 30 mins) for a one-time play.

• Toggle Voice Recording: Select if you'd like to enable to disable the playtester's voice recording during the gameplay.

• Playtesting Instructions: Write simple gameplay directions or tasks for playtesters to follow during the playtest. (Know more)

• Select Post Playtest Survey: Choose if you'd like that playtesters to fill out a Post-Playtest Survey after a gameplay session or not.

• Step-by-step Tasks (only for Single Session): Add in-game checkpoints or flows you want playtesters to experience or focus on.

• Days and Daily Playtime (only for Longitudinal): Define how many days playtesters should test the game and how long they should play each day.

• Session Break (only for Multi-Session): Select the time interval between consecutive gameplay sessions.
• Survey Instruction: Provide clear instructions to guide playtesters while answering the survey.  

• Concept Test Instruction (only for Concept Test): Describe what playtesters should do during the concept test (e.g., go through the deck and give feedback on character design).

 Step 3: Players

Define your recruitment channel, and the kind of players you want to playtest your game — by age, habits, platform etc. (Know more)

• Player Recruitment Method: Choose whether to recruit playtesters from Lysto’s panel or Bring Your Own Playtesters (BYOP).

• Number of Playtesters: Enter how many playtesters you want to recruit (minimum of 2).

• Age Range: Specify the minimum and maximum age for your test audience (currently we support age range from 18 - 55 yrs old).

• Region: Select geographic regions where your playtesters should be located.

• Gender %: Set the desired gender mix for your testers (e.g., 50/50 or custom ratio). You can also choose to Ignore Gender Preference.

• Player Category: choose whether you want to recruit gamers or non-gamers for your playtest. 

• Genre Played: Choose game genres your ideal playtesters should already enjoy or be familiar with.  (up to 3 genres can be selected).

• Gamer Profile: Choose from:

  • Casual (<10 hrs/week): Ideal for light/early-stage games

  • Midcore (10–20 hrs/week): Suited for deeper or competitive experiences

  • Hardcore (>20 hrs/week): Great for high-skill or genre-heavy games

• Player Feedback Language: select the language playtesters must use while sharing feedback (choose from English, German, French, Spanish, Italian and Japanese).

• Additional Targeting Requirements: Add any other specifics like device type, skill level, game rank, preferred language, games played etc.

Step 4: Survey

Set up post-playtest survey and survey frequency to collect feedback from playtesters after gameplay sessions.

• Choose Survey Tool: Select whether you want to use Lysto’s inbuilt tool or link a third-party survey tool (Alchemer). (Know more)

• Survey Upload or Link: 

• paste the link to your survey  or upload your questions (if selecting the Lysto Survey Tool) or  

• If selecting Alchemer, integrate both the tools, Upload your survey link and test your survey. Check out our Alchemer Integration Guide.

• Survey Type (only for Longitudinal Playtest):

• Choose to send the same or different surveys daily.

• Optionally set a final-day survey to capture overall impressions.

Step 5: Submit the Playtest Request

Review all your details, submit the playtest, and start collecting insights.

• Review Summary: Double-check your entries for accuracy across all steps.

• Submit for Launch: Submit the playtest — Lysto will recruit playtesters, begin tracking, and stream insights to your dashboard.

3. Post-Playtest Actions

Once your playtest is live:

• Watch Live Sessions: View player sessions as and when they happen (uploaded on Lysto dashboard).

• Review AI-Generated Insights: Get automated insights from our Lysto AI.

• Track Completion Rates: Monitor how many playtesters complete the sessions.

• Download Reports: Share findings with your team or stakeholders.

(Know more)

4. Need Help?

If you need any assistance, feel free to contact our support team at contact@lysto.io You can also book a one-on-one consultation with one of our playtesting experts for personalized help.

Happy Playtesting!