Far from being a peripheral concern in modern game development, well-being is a key component in our ability to help our communities thrive — and take care of ourselves while doing so.
- Given the profound impact games can have, game developers have a unique opportunity and responsibility to prioritize both player and community well-being.
- Player well-being encompasses physical, mental, emotional, and social health — game design should consider these aspects holistically.
- Despite its importance, we should also recognize our limits as developers and work toward a suitable level of care and involvement.
- Consideration for developers’ well-being is also paramount, as game development and player support can take an emotional and physical toll.
Well-being is a multifaceted concept with significant implications for both players and developers. This article examines those impacts, along with the challenges and opportunities that arise when designing and supporting online gaming environments with well-being in mind.
Defining well-being for individual players
Well-being can be defined by both individual and non-individual lenses. At the individual resolution, the concept of player well-being extends beyond the immediate enjoyment of a game. It invites a holistic view of the player’s personal experience, including:
- Psychological well-being — The player’s mental and emotional (affective) health, including factors like stress, anxiety, self-esteem, emotional regulation, and the full spectrum of emotions experienced. A game that supports psychological well-being might do so in a variety of ways: encourage relaxation, offer a sense of accomplishment, allow for self-expression, help navigate difficult topics, or protect players from harassment and other forms of mental distress.
- Social well-being — The depth, quality, and impact of players’ social connections and their interactions with others within the game environment. Games that prioritize social well-being create opportunities for meaningful connection, collaborative teamwork, and healthy social interactions, while mitigating exposure to antisocial behavior. (Antisocial behavior, characterized by actions that harm or disregard others’ well-being, should be distinguished from asocial behavior, which is a choice or need to limit social interaction.)
- Physical well-being — The player’s physical health, including aspects like posture, eye strain, sleep patterns, and the potential for injuries. A game that promotes physical well-being might consider comfort, accessibility, and ergonomics during design as well as encourage movement and breaks during gameplay.
Defining well-being for social groups
At the higher level of resolution, well-being encompasses the health and functionality of groups interacting within a game or its associated spaces (community forums, chat apps, etc.). Similar to individual well-being, understanding group well-being requires a holistic approach by considering various elements:
- Inclusivity and diversity — The degree to which a group welcomes and respects players from all backgrounds, skill levels, and identities.
- Resilience — The capacity of a group to self-regulate, including peer-to-peer accountability, repelling or rejecting bad actors, and restoring itself in the face of disruption.
- Collective stewardship — A shared sense of responsibility for upholding social norms, promoting respect, kindness, and cooperation, and actively discouraging harmful behaviors like harassment, hate speech, and cheating.
- Prosocial engagement — Typically conscious behaviors that contribute to the social health and wellness of the community, such as cooperation, support, mentorship, and knowledge sharing.
- Engagement and participation — Active community participation in discussions, events, and content creation, which promotes a sense of shared ownership and investment in the community’s success.
- Sense of belonging — A member’s sense of connection to the community and overall belonging, facilitated through shared experiences, common interests, and mutual support.
- Openness and self-expression — The willingness within a social group to share thoughts, feelings, and experiences through communication and creative expression.
Groups vary greatly in size, focus, structure, and the depth of connection between members. What good looks like with respect to these elements will vary significantly depending on the context, whether it’s a small pick-up group, a wider server population, or a larger, established community or fandom.
Introduction to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
DEI is a powerful tool for creating more engaging games, building stronger communities, and fostering a more vibrant gaming landscape.
Designing for Psychological Safety
When we can improve the conditions for psychological safety in our games, it leads to better experiences for players and communities.
Introduction to Belonging
As games increasingly become social spaces, it is crucial that they invoke a sense of belonging for players.
Introduction to Trust and Safety
When creating shared spaces, we have a duty of care to prioritize the safety and well-being of players.
Approaching well-being with care
Integrating elements of mental, physical, and social well-being into game design needs to be done with care and sensitivity. Even with the best intentions, we must recognize the limits of what is reasonable and ensure that we are acting within our scope as developers. Keep the following in mind to reduce possible missteps:
- Seek guidance — Mental, physical, and social well-being are sensitive, complex issues with varying manifestations. Collaborating with mental health professionals, researchers, and advocacy organizations can help ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of well-being features.
- Ensure respectful representation — Despite decreasing stigma, harmful misconceptions and tropes persist. Clumsy or rushed design risks perpetuating these stereotypes and causing unintended harm to players.
- Be careful with triggering content — Some game elements or themes might trigger negative emotions or reactions in players. Provide clear content warnings and help players customize their experience. (For an excellent overview of how to do this well, see Here There Be Dragons: Demystifying Content Warning Systems.)
- Point players to the experts — Games can provide links to credible resources for players who may be struggling with mental health, physical health, or social issues. This could include helplines, websites, or community forums such as takethis.org/resources.
- Don’t monetize well-being — Avoid exploiting well-being features for profit. If a game offers tools or resources for mental health, for example, they should be accessible and affordable for all players.
Designing for Psychological Safety
When we can improve the conditions for psychological safety in our games, it leads to better experiences for players and communities.
Reducing Bias in Language
Inclusive language is key to dismantling biases and creating a more welcoming game experience.
Steps to Avoid Casual Colonialism in Design
Avoiding problematic tropes requires intentional design choices, from the stories we tell to the mechanics we employ.
The limits of what you can (and should) do
We have a responsibility to do no harm to our players (non-maleficence) as well as an opportunity to promote well-being (beneficence). We must, however, understand the limits of our role to avoid overstepping boundaries and potentially doing harm despite our good intentions. In addition to the above, keep the following in mind:
- We are not healthcare professionals — We are not qualified to diagnose or treat mental health conditions. If players are struggling, we can provide resources and information but should ultimately encourage them to seek professional help.
- Player boundaries — A balance needs to be struck between promoting well-being and respecting player boundaries. It is up to the player to engage with our tools and features and make choices that align with their own needs.
- Informed consent and data privacy — When gathering data or feedback on player well-being, prioritize transparency and informed consent. Clearly explain the purpose of data collection, its potential risks and benefits, and provide options to opt out at any time.
Ultimately, well-being is a collaborative effort where both developers and players share responsibility for creating a healthy and enjoyable gaming experience.
What does good look like?
To gain a holistic understanding of player well-being, consider various data collection methods such as surveys, in-game telemetry, focus groups, and interviews. Prioritizing player privacy through anonymization and confidentiality is essential, as is collaborating with relevant experts to design and implement effective well-being initiatives.
The following are some useful indicators of well-being at various resolutions (though note that none in isolation are necessarily indications of the state of well-being):
| Success signs | Warning signs | |
| Individual | Self-reported well-being Healthy in-game chat Engaging with events and others Playful creativity | Self-reported problems Frustration or acting out in game or chat Obsessive play patterns or high spending |
| Group | Cooperative behavior Conflict resolution and de-escalation | Conflict, blaming, antagonism Low expected intra-team engagement High report rates* |
| Community | Positive tone on social media or community channels Welcoming to new players Higher levels of user-generated content | Negative tone on social media or community channels Excessive gatekeeping |
For a more in-depth look at navigating individual, group, and community tradeoffs in design, see The Many Dimensions of Well-Being: A Guide to Navigating Trade Offs.
Developers: Taking care of ourselves and each other
While this article has been focused on players and player communities, the well-being of game developers is equally critical. The toll of keeping players safe and well can be high. Developers are often exposed to harmful content on a regular basis when working in trust and safety, and they can frequently be the target of frustrated players and bad actors.
Furthermore, the gaming industry is notorious for its demanding work culture, often characterized by long hours, crunch times, and intense pressure. And creative work itself takes a particular emotional toll on many of us. These factors can erode developers’ physical and mental health, leading to burnout, stress-related illnesses, and even depression and self-harm.
Investing in the well-being of game developers is an investment in the long-term sustainability of the industry. By fostering awareness, implementing supportive practices, and valuing emotional labor, we can create a healthier and more fulfilling environment for all involved. This directly translates to the continued development of games that prioritize and enhance the well-being of their players.
The alarming rise in burnout among those dedicated to building thriving player communities is a wake-up call.
A note on your well-being
If you are reading this and are struggling with your own well-being, whether you are a player or a developer, please know you are not alone. Help is available.
Crisis Support — If you are experiencing a crisis or having thoughts of suicide, please reach out immediately to one of the following resources:
- Befrienders Worldwide is a directory of crisis centers across many countries.
- The Samaritans provides emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope, or at risk of suicide.
- Take This has a curated selection of emergency and non-emergency mental health resources.
- The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to queer and questioning young people through free, confidential 24 / 7 phone, text, and chat support.
- Trans Lifeline provides trans-led emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis through a peer support hotline available 24 / 7 in the U.S. and Canada.
Online Support — Consider exploring online platforms that offer emotional support and connection:
- 7 Cups connects users with trained listeners for free, anonymous emotional support 24 / 7.
- BetterHelp offers affordable online counseling with licensed therapists. (Note: May not be available in all countries).
- International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) offers resources and crisis center information by country.
- The Jed Foundation focuses on emotional health and suicide prevention for teens and young adults.
It’s OK to not be OK. Asking for help is a sign of strength and self-awareness, and you deserve support on your own journey to thriving.
Now what?
The vision of digital thriving reimagines online spaces as places where individuals and communities can flourish. As architects of these spaces, we have a responsibility to champion well-being through design choices that encourage healthy interactions, nurture healthy behavior, and safeguard against potential harms. If you are interested in going deeper on this topic, please check out the following links:
- A recording of Ninja Theory and Cambridge Neuroscience’s co-hosted conference: Hellblade: A Journey of the Mind in Collaboration with Cambridge Neuroscience. (Content warning: Please note this conference deals with psychosis and personal stories of struggling with psychosis.)
- See all articles on well-being.
Further reading
- Cyarron, C. & Ishihiro, L. (2023). Here There Be Dragons: Demystifying Content Warning Systems [Video]. Game Developers Conference.
- Johannes, N. et al. (2021). Video game play is positively correlated with well-being.
- Vuorre, M. et al. (2022). TIme spent playing video games is unlikely to [negatively] affect well-being.
- World Health Organization. (Accessed June, 2024). Promoting Well-being.
