Gamification

Try gamifying a routine chore, e.g., hitting inbox zero, by recording streaks and awarding badges that users can share with others.

Example from

Superhuman

You could experiment with a 'double or nothing' challenge, a gamified mechanic that may motivate users to keep engaging over a specific time period.

UI shows Power-Ups section with Streak Freeze (2/2 equipped, description) and Double or Nothing (get for 50 gems button). Icons: blue water drop, orange calendar.

Example from

Try asking users to select a reward to work towards, e.g., a gift card, then framing every daily challenge as gamified progress towards it.

Xbox rewards UI shows a £5 Xbox Gift Card goal with 6% progress at 6300 points, highlighted in green. PC Game Pass and Roblox rewards are also listed with progress bars.

Example from

Xbox

You could introduce leaderboards after a few lessons, matching users against similarly skilled players, so the gamified 'promotion zone' always feels within reach.

Duolingo app leaderboard UI shows "You unlocked Leaderboards!" tooltip. Promotion Zone highlights ranks, XP, and user avatars, with Peter Ramsey at rank 23 with 29 XP.

Example from

Possible impacts

Gamification could reduce churn, as users who've built up streaks or progress may feel reluctant to leave, thinking 'okay, just one more milestone'.

As seen in:

Duolingo Double or nothing

Gamifying specific actions, e.g., challenges or leaderboards, might increase feature usage by giving users a reason to engage with more of the product.

As seen in:

Gamified loops like daily streaks could help users form habits more easily, as the more they invest in a streak, the less likely they may be to skip a day.

As seen in:

Duolingo Gamification to maintain focus

Gamified rewards, levels and competition might boost users' motivation and effort, encouraging them to push harder to reach the next goal or climb a leaderboard.

As seen in:

Duolingo Leaderboards & the promotion zone

Gamification may increase users' enjoyment, as celebrations, badges and personal bests can make otherwise routine tasks feel more rewarding.

As seen in:

Written by Peter Ramsey

Consultant to 100+ companies

Published: 11/08/2023

How to utilise this in your designs

You could try a gamified 'lives' mechanic, where mistakes cost a life, adding a sense of importance that encourages users to stay focused on each task.

Example from

Try gamifying a routine chore, e.g., hitting inbox zero, by recording streaks and awarding badges that users can share with others.

Example from

Superhuman

You could experiment with a 'double or nothing' challenge, a gamified mechanic that may motivate users to keep engaging over a specific time period.

Example from

Try asking users to select a reward to work towards, e.g., a gift card, then framing every daily challenge as gamified progress towards it.

Example from

Xbox

You could introduce leaderboards after a few lessons, matching users against similarly skilled players, so the gamified 'promotion zone' always feels within reach.

Example from

Possible impacts

Gamification could reduce churn, as users who've built up streaks or progress may feel reluctant to leave, thinking 'okay, just one more milestone'.

As seen in:

Duolingo Double or nothing

Gamifying specific actions, e.g., challenges or leaderboards, might increase feature usage by giving users a reason to engage with more of the product.

As seen in:

Gamified loops like daily streaks could help users form habits more easily, as the more they invest in a streak, the less likely they may be to skip a day.

As seen in:

Duolingo Gamification to maintain focus

Gamified rewards, levels and competition might boost users' motivation and effort, encouraging them to push harder to reach the next goal or climb a leaderboard.

As seen in: