UX Design Trends Shaping the Next Generation of Games in 2025

Great games don’t just happen, they’re crafted. Behind every smooth menu, intuitive control scheme, or satisfying interaction lies UX design. In gaming, UX is the invisible hand that guides players, keeps them immersed, and ensures frustration comes from the challenge of the game, not the interface around it.

1. Intuitive Controls

Players shouldn’t need to “fight the interface.” Controls must feel natural, responsive, and learnable in minutes. The best games scale complexity, starting simple, then layering depth as players progress.

Example: Super Mario Odyssey begins with just running and jumping, then gradually introduces new moves through playful challenges. The result: even newcomers feel confident quickly, while advanced players uncover mastery over time.

2. Clear Feedback Loops

Every action should have a reaction players can instantly understand.

• A glowing trail when hitting the right button.

• A vibration when taking damage.

• A sound cue when unlocking a level.

  
  

Example: Fortnite excels at this. Shots fired, materials gathered, or eliminations all come with distinct sounds, colours, and haptics. These cues create a loop that keeps players engaged and aware of their status without needing to check menus.

3. Onboarding That Teaches Without Preaching

Players often abandon games that overwhelm them early. The key is progressive onboarding, teaching mechanics naturally through gameplay.

Example: The Last of Us introduces mechanics like stealth, crafting, and combat one by one within the story. Players learn not from pop-up text but by living through scenarios that make sense narratively, deepening immersion.

4. Navigation & Information Architecture

Menus, inventories, and maps are part of the gaming experience. Poorly designed navigation breaks immersion. UX in gaming ensures:

• Menus are easy to scan and navigate.

• Information is prioritised (health, ammo, progress indicators always visible).

• Players can reach important functions within two or three clicks max.

  
  

Example: Elden Ring’s HUD places only the most critical info front and center (health, stamina, magic), while keeping the rest tucked away. This lets players focus on the vast, immersive world rather than cluttered UI.

5. Balancing Challenge and Flow

The psychology of UX in gaming often comes down to flow state, keeping players engaged without overwhelming or boring them.

Example: Celeste nails this balance. Its levels are difficult, but instant respawns and short stages reduce frustration. The game respects player persistence, keeping them in the sweet spot between challenge and mastery.

6. Accessibility & Inclusivity

Modern gaming UX must adapt to diverse players. This means:

• Colorblind modes.

• Customisable controls.

• Adjustable difficulty settings.

  
  

Example: God of War: Ragnarök launched with over 70 accessibility options, from high-contrast visuals to controller remapping, ensuring more players can fully experience the story and combat.

7. Emotional Resonance

Beyond mechanics, UX in gaming is about feelings. Every design choice, from sound design to visual feedback, shapes how players connect emotionally with the game.

Example: In Journey, there’s no text or voice chat. Instead, communication relies on simple sound pings and visual cues. That minimalist UX design creates powerful emotional bonds between anonymous players, without a single spoken word.

Final Thought

At its core, UX in gaming is about respect for the player. It respects their time by making learning intuitive, respects their attention by minimising friction, and respects their emotions by delivering experiences that are both challenging and rewarding.

Because in the end, players don’t remember the button layouts, they remember how the game made them feel. And that’s where UX makes all the difference.