Why empathy is a superpower in game design
When people imagine what a game designer does, they often picture someone coming up with clever ideas, writing game mechanics, or inventing new worlds. What they rarely consider is that some of the most important work happens in silence: observing, listening, and trying to understand what another person thinks and feels.
That’s where empathy comes in. Not just as a personal trait, but as a design superpower. It’s the difference between a game that functions and one that connects- one that feels welcoming, intuitive, and unforgettable.
In the world of games, empathy is what allows designers to build not just for players, but with players in mind. It shapes every decision – from the interface to the emotional arc of the experience. And for aspiring game designers, learning to design with empathy is as essential as learning any software or tool.
Game design isn’t just about what you like
The first lesson for any designer is simple: you are not your audience.
You might love intense strategy games, deep lore, or fast-paced action. But the game you’re designing might be for children, casual players, or even people who don’t think of themselves as gamers at all. In many cases, you’ll be asked to design within genres you don’t personally play, and you’ll still need to do it well.
Empathy is what allows you to step into the shoes of a player who’s nothing like you. To understand how they think, what they expect, what might confuse or frustrate them, and what will make them smile. Designing effectively means being able to shift your perspective and meet the player where they are.
Understanding players means designing for more people
Truly empathetic design means thinking not just about your core audience, but also those on the margins; the players who are often excluded.
Think about people with physical disabilities, who may struggle with complex controller layouts. Or people who find traditional games intimidating or confusing. Good design doesn’t just work for experts – it’s adaptable to different needs and levels of familiarity.
This is where accessibility becomes more than a checklist; it becomes an act of consideration. Whether it’s simplified controls, clearer onboarding, or alternative input methods, these design choices can dramatically change how someone experiences a game. And they start with one question: what does this feel like for someone else?
Games have the power to include or alienate. Empathetic design ensures you’re doing the former.
Design is emotional, not just functional
Beyond usability and access, empathy allows designers to craft emotional experiences – not just features.
Every game creates feelings. Excitement, joy, tension, frustration, relief, delight. The most memorable games are those that shape those feelings intentionally. If you’re building a party game, are you thinking about how to get players laughing and talking? If you’re designing a solo experience, how are you managing pacing and mood?
Empathy helps you anticipate what your player will feel in each moment, not just what they’ll do. That’s where design becomes meaningful.
You can practise empathy like any other skill
Empathy might seem like something you either have or you don’t, but like any skill, it can be developed with practise. Here are a few ways aspiring game designers can build empathy into their daily work:
- Play games you wouldn’t normally touch. Not just to try them, but to understand why someone else might enjoy them.
- Watch how others play your game. Notice confusion, frustration, or joy, and then adjust your design based on their perspective, not just your own.
- Talk to people who play differently. Ask non-gamers, younger players, older family members, or people from different backgrounds what they find engaging or off-putting.
- Read negative reviews. Try to unpack the reasoning behind complaints – not to dismiss them, but to better understand pain points.
- Every time you try to understand how someone else experiences a game, you become a better designer.
Why empathy belongs in every game design curriculum
At MetStudios Berlin, students across our Games Design and Development, Games Art and Technology, and Animation courses are encouraged to see design as a human craft, as much as a technical one. Knowing your tools is vital, but knowing your player is what turns good work into great design.
Games aren’t built in isolation. They’re built for people. And the more we understand those people – their needs, habits, frustrations, joys – the better we can serve them through play.
Empathy isn’t a soft skill. In games, it’s a hard requirement for designing experiences that matter.
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