Challenge

Ludic Experience cognitive_explorative · both

Challenge captures challenge, problem-solving, flow and the experience of mastery – the balance between skill and demand, productive work at the edge of one’s ability, with the mind as with the body.

Design question – Do you want your game to enable flow – or are players bored or overwhelmed?

Reference example – Tetris: the pace picks up, your hands already know where the block belongs – time disappears. Celeste: failed a hundred times at the same spot, tried again at once; assist mode moves the demand towards one’s own skill. Chinese jump rope: ankles, knees, hips – each level a little harder.