EverMerge First Time User Experience Design
My role: Lead UX Designer
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
EverMerge is a merge and simulation mobile game that has grossed over $200m in revenue with 1 million daily active users since its launch in May 2020.
Onboarding new users into a unique experience is extremely important, as it is the first impression they have of the game’s themes, mechanics, and more.
Merging is the primary driver of discovery in EverMerge, and is one of the most important interactions a player can learn.
Task: Create a simple first time user experience that teaches new players the core mechanics of the game, by utilizing a “demonstrate, discover, and reinforce” method of teaching.
Why teach merging?
It is EverMerge’s core interaction mechanic that aids in map organization, progression, and accomplishing goals.
How should the game teach it?
By using explicit instruction, visual demonstration, and positive reinforcement.
When should the game teach it?
On first launch of the game.
Tutorial Flow Design
Step 1: Demonstrate
Highlight and encourage the player to drag the lone coffee cup over the two nearby coffee cups.
Step 2: Discover
Using motion and effects, show the effect that was caused by merging the cups: the player has discovered Sleeping Beauty.
Step 3: Reinforce
Visually combine the two previous steps to demonstrate the cause and effect of merging the coffee cups.
Proceed as normal, pending more FTUE recommendations.
Visual Breakdown
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User Study
The qualitative study assessed players’ understanding of each step of the tutorial. I conducted an A/B test to understand whether players understood how to perform a successful merge, and what they might be merging toward.
Step 1 Version A
Step 1 Version B
Overall, the new merge tutorial strategy was very clear to users, with each usability-based task having at least 80% success.
Additional findings include:
Overall, there was very little difference between experience A & B. That being said, A stimuli, where Sleeping Beauty is named and there is a shorter final description, slightly outperformed experience B.
When asked to pick between option A and B, around 60% of players said they preferred option A - mostly because it felt more clear. Some players did enjoy the mystery/discovery element in option B.
There was no clear winner identified between experience A & B for the final screen
As a result, I had decided to recommend players not be told that the coffee mugs belong to Sleeping Beauty, even though players preferred we reveal that fact to them. I made this decision to hopefully give the player more of a sense of discovery.
Shipped FTUE Flow
Click or tap to play.