Overview

First-time play should build confidence, not confusion.

When a competitive card-based strategy game entered beta, the team partnered with Lysto to test a critical moment: the first match.

Would new players quickly grasp the mechanics? Would they feel in control and eager to play again or would this be ambiguous and create hesitation?

Using AI-enhanced video analysis and structured feedback, Lysto delivered sharp, actionable insights to improve clarity, reduce early churn, and help first impressions land strong.

Challenge

Without a tutorial or onboarding flow, new players were dropped directly into a match. The team wanted to understand:

• Would players grasp the core mechanics without hand-holding?

• Where would confusion, hesitation, or frustration appear?

• How could they polish the FTUE without compromising strategic depth?

In a game built for long-term mastery, the first few minutes still had to feel intuitive, clear, and fun.

What is FTUE?

FTUE (First-Time User Experience) refers to the initial interaction a player has with a game, where they learn basic mechanics, controls, and goals.

Lysto's Playtest Strategy

We ran focused FTUE playtests using our secure remote platform. Each session was recorded and reviewed with AI-powered tagging to identify friction points.

Playtest design:

• Players from the target segment (strategy gamers) using Lysto's Advanced Player Targeting

• Real gameplay + structured post-session surveys

• Combined behaviorial analysis with sentiment scoring

AI Analysis covered:

• Terminology confusion triggers

• Action/inaction windows

• Pace perception and engagement markers

• Frustration signals based on hesitation, repetition, and early exits

Key Findings

1. Core mechanics were unclear
   

Unfamiliar terms like “Quickened,” “Burst,” and “Parts” lacked definitions or contextual hints. Players guessed their way through early turns.

“It felt like everything was unlabeled and undefined. I was guessing how to play.”

AI heatmaps showed significant cursor hesitation and repeated actions around unfamiliar UI elements.

2. Players lacked confidence in early decisions

Strategic choices didn’t feel meaningful because players didn’t yet understand outcomes.

“I was just playing cards to see what would happen.”

Session footage revealed that early decision-making leaned heavily on trial-and-error, with players unsure about cause-and-effect.

3. Pacing felt slow and disjointed

Players didn’t know when to act or wait. Turn flow wasn’t visually reinforced, causing confusion.

“I kept waiting, not sure if it was my turn. The flow wasn’t clear.”

AI tag clusters showed spikes in inactivity and frustration during early turns.

4. Visuals and audio were a bright spot

Despite confusion, players praised the polish.

“The art and animations were awesome. It made me want to like the game more.”

This aesthetic strength gave the team a solid emotional hook to build on.

5. Absence of tutorial blocked momentum

Most players expected a quick intro or guided first match—and were surprised when nothing came.

“Even a short explanation would’ve helped me get started.”
“I didn’t know what the goal was until halfway through.”

Impact delivered

 Addressed ~75% of first-session confusion through:

• Better mechanic communication

• Improved UI pacing

• Stronger onboarding hooks

Projected outcomes:

• Higher Day 1 retention post-beta

• Reduced early churn from hesitant players

Results

Lysto delivered a targeted FTUE report with:

• Friction point map: Key breakdown of where players stalled or got confused

• AI Insights: Behavior patterns tied to moments of confusion, hesitation, or misplay

• Prioritized fixes:
  

  • Contextual tooltips for card effects and abilities

  • Clear turn flow indicators (UI prompts and subtle animations)

  • Optional lightweight tutorial or intro challenge

  • Micro-copy improvements to support decision-making

These improvements helped the team focus their beta sprint on first-match clarity—without overhauling depth.

Conclusion

A player’s first match sets the tone for everything that follows. In this case, ambiguity in mechanics and flow disrupted early momentum—but players still wanted to love the game.

By combining AI analysis with structured player feedback, Lysto helped identify exactly where to fix the first five minutes—without sacrificing depth.

FTUE isn’t about hand-holding. It’s about smart signals, confident play, and keeping momentum alive. And that’s where the right insights make all the difference.

If you’re a game publisher or developer with a title in the pre-production stage, want help to test concepts, or simply have any questions on how a playtest can improve your chances of a successful game, let’s talk.