Single-session playtests are becoming a go-to tool for game developers, offering quick, targeted feedback in the early stages of development. Whether you're a small indie studio or a major player in the industry, single-session playtests offer a streamlined way to see your game through fresh eyes and get insights that can transform the way you develop.

According to a survey by the IGDA (International Game Developers Association), 50% of players stop playing a game within the first hour due to poor onboarding or unclear gameplay objectives. Single-session testing can help pinpoint these issues early on.

What Is Single-Session Playtesting?

Think of a single-session playtest as a spotlight on a specific section of your game, perhaps a new level you just developed, a new game feature, or even the first-time user experience (FTUE) of a player.

A single-session playtest is a one-off session where real players—often from your target demographic—engage with your game for a limited time, usually 5 to 60 minutes. The purpose is to capture immediate reactions and insights into the game's initial impression. Developers can use these tests at any stage of development, whether working with a polished build or just a prototype. Even with minimal content, you can still gauge how core mechanics and the player experience resonate with your audience.

Why Should You Care About First Impressions?

First impressions are crucial in gaming. Players form opinions quickly, and early feedback can help you address issues like overly long tutorials, unclear mechanics, or pacing problems—particularly important for the First-Time User Experience (FTUE).

Internal testing has its limits; developers and in-house testers are often too familiar with the game, making it hard to spot the same frustrations new players encounter. Single-session playtests allow you to ensure your game hooks players early, which is essential in a competitive market where player retention is key to financial success.

Quick Wins: The Benefits of Single-Session Playtesting

1. Quick, Actionable Feedback

These tests are perfect for making quick decisions about a single question about what needs improvement: Is the core gameplay engaging? Are players dropping off at certain points? Is your game intuitive enough for newcomers? By focusing on these questions early, you can avoid costly overhauls down the line​.

This is especially useful for mobile game developers, FTUE plays a massive role in retention. Players need to be hooked in the first few minutes, or they’re likely to bounce to another app. Single-session playtests give you the chance to catch and fix issues before they affect your game's release

2. Isolated Feedback  

With a single-session playtest, you can focus on specific game elements—like UI, mechanics, or onboarding—without the distractions of longer-term gameplay. This allows you to refine one aspect at a time, ensuring you’re on the right track before making bigger decisions.

3. It’s Fast and Efficient

Unlike multi-session tests, single-session playtesting gives you immediate results, enabling you to make swift changes.

Multi-session playtesting involves players returning over multiple sessions to evaluate how engagement, player retention, and feature enjoyment hold up over time. It’s ideal for games with more complex narratives or mechanics, where longer-term patterns and behaviors are key to success​

4. Great for Any Stage of Development

Whether you're testing a polished game or a rough prototype, single-session tests are flexible enough to fit your needs.

5. Cost-Effective

With minimal content required, this type of playtest is accessible even for developers on a tight budget. It's a low-risk, high-reward strategy for catching problems before launch.

Failure Example: "Evolve" – Ignoring Key Feedback

Evolve missed critical single-session feedback, where players found the game too hard to grasp and poorly balanced. These issues were left largely unaddressed at launch, leading to low retention and the game’s eventual decline.

Did you know?

Success Story: "Fortnite" – Nailing the First Playthrough

Fortnite used single-session playtesting to refine its early gameplay. Feedback showed players struggled with building mechanics, prompting Epic Games to improve the tutorial and pacing. This simple tweak resulted in a major engagement boost post-launch.

Don’t be like Evolve. Be a step ahead of the curve.

Try It Today

At Lysto, we’ve seen firsthand how single-session playtests can shape a game’s trajectory. They offer a sneak peek into the mind of the player, giving developers the data and feedback they need to make informed decisions about their game's future. It’s not just about fixing bugs or adjusting difficulty; it’s about understanding how players engage with your game and making sure they come back for more.

Ready to see how single-session playtesting can transform your game? Let’s chat and get your game in front of the people who matter most: your players. Contact us now