🎮 Player Type Analyzer (Bartle, Yee, Hexad)

Player Type Analyzer

Is your game?

Multiplayer Narrative-driven Sandbox/Creative

Core Questions

Progression & Achievement

To what extent does your game allow players to improve measurable stats, levels, or rankings over time?0%

Are there multiple different ways to succeed, beyond grinding or leveling (e.g., crafting, diplomacy, exploration)?0%

How frequently do players receive feedback on their performance (e.g., points, ratings, badges)?0%

Can players set and pursue personal goals, rather than only system-imposed ones?0%

Exploration & Discovery

How much of your game encourages finding hidden content, secrets, or lore?0%

Can players interact with the world in creative ways beyond combat (e.g., solving puzzles, creating art)?0%

Are there rewards or recognition for discovering hard-to-find places or storylines?0%

Challenge & Competition

Are there indirect forms of competition (e.g., economy, political influence)?0%

Can players engage in risky or high-stakes challenges that offer meaningful rewards?0%

Do players influence or manipulate others' experiences (e.g., politics, sabotage)?0%

Social Interaction & Community

Do players have tools for self-expression (e.g., avatars, emotes)?0%

Results

About This Tool

The Player Type Analyzer is a design tool that helps game developers, designers, and researchers understand how different gameplay mechanics and systems appeal to various types of players. By answering these questions about your game, you will get a visual breakdown of how your game aligns with three leading models of player motivation: Bartle's Player Types, Yee's Gamer Motivations, and the Hexad User Types.

Who is this for?

This tool is designed for game designers, narrative designers, UX researchers, and anyone involved in shaping player experiences. It helps ensure your game appeals to the intended audiences and provides insight into which motivations are supported or missing.

About the Player Models

1. Bartle's Player Types (1996)

Richard Bartle's model identifies four main types of players in multiplayer games:

Achievers: Players who seek to win and complete in-game goals (e.g., leveling, unlocking achievements).
Explorers: Players who enjoy discovering secrets, lore, and hidden content.
Socializers: Players motivated by interacting and building relationships with others.
Killers: Players who enjoy competition, dominance, and direct conflict with others.

2. Yee's Gamer Motivations (2006)

Nick Yee's model focuses on three broad categories of motivation, especially in MMOs:

Achievement: Progression, power, and mastery of mechanics.
Social: Interaction, teamwork, and relationship-building.
Immersion: Narrative, roleplay, customization, and exploration of the world.

3. Hexad User Types (2014)

The Hexad framework by Andrzej Marczewski extends player motivation to include six user types often used in gamification:

Philanthropists: Helping and giving to others without expecting reward.
Socializers: Forming connections, friendships, and communities.
Free Spirits: Creativity, autonomy, and self-expression.
Achievers: Seeking mastery and goal completion.
Players: Driven by rewards, points, and tangible benefits.
Disruptors: Seeking to challenge the system, explore limits, and provoke change.

References

Bartle, R. (1996). Hearts, Clubs, Diamonds, Spades: Players Who Suit MUDs. Journal of MUD Research.
Yee, N. (2006). Motivations for Play in Online Games. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 9(6), 772-775.
Marczewski, A. (2014). Gamification: A Simple Introduction & a Bit More. Self-published.

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