This article is authored by our game designer Igor Zuev. Enjoy reading!
The Role of Reward Chests in Mobile Games: To Tap or Not to Tap?
The mechanics of reward chests in mobile games is a topic that has been discussed and revisited many times. However, sometimes it’s worth going back to the basics and taking another look. Even small design decisions like these can have a significant impact on the overall player experience and engagement.
In mobile games, reward chests are often used as a satisfying way to celebrate a player’s success after completing a level. These chests offer a tangible sense of accomplishment, providing rewards such as in-game currency, power-ups, or new items. However, one design choice developers face is whether the chest should require the player to manually tap to open it, or if it should automatically open, allowing the player to simply collect the rewards.
This seemingly simple decision can have a significant impact on player experience, engagement, and satisfaction.
The Player Experience: Why Tapping Feels Important
- Active Participation Having players tap the chest to open it adds an element of interaction and control. After completing a challenging level, the act of physically tapping the chest can feel like an extension of the victory, giving players a sense of ownership over their rewards. This small action reinforces the feeling that they’ve earned the treasure inside.
- A Moment of Anticipation The slight delay between tapping the chest and seeing the rewards introduces a moment of anticipation, which can heighten the excitement. This suspense mirrors opening a physical gift, where the unwrapping process is just as enjoyable as the gift itself. It’s a brief but powerful emotional moment that taps into players’ desire for positive feedback and excitement.
- Customization Opportunities Allowing players to interact with the chest also opens up design possibilities for customization. For example, some games let players upgrade or personalize their chests, making the act of opening even more special. This could further increase engagement and investment in the game’s reward system.
The Case for Automatic Chest Opening
- Streamlined Gameplay On the other hand, automatically opening the chest after a level removes an extra step in the gameplay flow. For games that emphasize quick levels or fast-paced action, this can streamline the experience and prevent any interruptions. In these cases, players might appreciate the efficiency of receiving their rewards without needing to press an additional button.
- Avoiding Redundant Actions In games where rewards are frequent, manually opening a chest every time might feel repetitive or unnecessary. After all, the player has already earned the reward by completing the level. Requiring them to tap repeatedly may seem like an extra task rather than an enjoyable interaction.
- Focusing on Core Game Elements For games that want to keep the focus on core mechanics—such as combat, strategy, or puzzles—automatically opening chests ensures that players aren’t distracted by secondary interactions. This keeps the momentum going and helps players stay immersed in the game’s primary challenges.
Our Experience: From Tapping Chests to Automatic Rewards
In my own development journey, I’ve experimented with both approaches across different types of games. In one of our games, we implemented multiple reward chests, each of which had to be tapped to open. This approach gave players an extra sense of control and excitement as they interacted with every chest, enhancing their engagement with each level completion.
However, in another, more casual game, we adopted a different approach, which is typical for games in that genre: rewards simply popped up without chests, resembling the Automatic Chest Opening system. This method fit perfectly with the fast, casual nature of the game, ensuring smooth gameplay without unnecessary interruptions. In fact, this system has proven to be quite effective for casual games, where players value convenience and speed over deeper interaction with rewards.
The contrast between these two approaches has helped us better understand when manual interaction is beneficial and when it’s more appropriate to streamline the process.
Balancing Interaction and Efficiency: What’s Best for Your Game?
The decision to have players tap to open chests or have them open automatically depends on the type of game and the overall user experience developers want to deliver. Here are some considerations to help strike the right balance:
- Game Pace and Player Flow For fast-paced games, automatic chest opening might be preferable to avoid breaking the flow. In slower-paced games, where rewards are spaced out and more deliberate, manual interaction could enhance the reward experience.
- Player Satisfaction vs. Convenience Consider whether the act of tapping the chest adds to the player’s satisfaction or feels like a chore. In some cases, giving the player a choice between tapping to open and automatic opening could provide the best of both worlds, offering an option to suit different play styles.
- Feedback and Visual Design Whether the chest is opened manually or automatically, the visual and sound effects that accompany the rewards are crucial. Reward animations and sounds should feel satisfying, no matter how the player receives the rewards. This can reinforce a sense of accomplishment and make the interaction—manual or automatic—feel rewarding.
Conclusion
While it may seem like a small design decision, the choice of whether a player should tap to open a chest or have it open automatically can have a significant impact on user engagement. The key is to align this decision with the overall flow and feel of the game. If the process of opening a chest enhances the player’s sense of achievement, manual tapping can be a great addition. But if efficiency and momentum are priorities, automatic chest opening may better serve the player experience.
Ultimately, understanding the preferences of your audience and the pacing of your game will help ensure that reward chests, whether tapped or automatically opened, remain a satisfying part of the gameplay loop.