The term “user onboarding” is conventionally used for consumer apps, whereas in games this process is often called “tutorial”. However, as the line between an app and a game blurs, I sense that there is a need for the game to use onboarding techniques to help the user not only to understand the game, but to fall in love with it.
I intentionally use the word LOVE. As gamers (and their wives) know, there’s a relationship going on between a game and its gamer. A one night stand or a long lasting friendship, it all starts with how the users perceive the game on their first date.
In the deck below I go through best practices to onboard a new user, tearing down some of the best free to play games tutorial to date.
