“What should I play tonight?” sounds like a simple request. Answering it well requires more than retrieving a popular title. The answer has to fit a person, a device and a particular moment.
\nA chat-based discovery experience should establish the constraints that matter: platform, available time, solo or multiplayer, budget and the kind of experience the player wants.
\nIt should not turn that process into an interrogation. If the player already says they want a short PC co-op game, the next question should resolve a meaningful uncertainty rather than ask them to repeat themselves.
\nA recommendation needs a clear explanation of the match, the relevant platform and a working route to the game. If a demo or trial is available, that can provide a way to assess the gameplay before committing.
\nAvailability must be checked rather than assumed. A conversational interface should not promise instant play when the next step actually requires an installation, account or purchase.
\nThe response “not that one” contains information, but it does not explain the reason. A useful follow-up might distinguish between a game the player already owns, a disliked mechanic and an unsuitable price.
\nThat distinction matters for the next suggestion. Repeating similar recommendations with different wording does not resolve the original problem.
\nA smooth demonstration is not evidence of retention or commercial performance. A discovery product needs to establish whether people act on its recommendations, whether the games match expectations and whether users return without being pushed.
\nCatalogue size, response speed and message counts each describe part of the experience. None is a substitute for a successful player outcome.
\nThe interface should explain when a result is sponsored, acknowledge missing information and allow users to change or remove remembered preferences. These decisions are part of product quality.
\nThe opportunity is to shorten the distance between a player’s intention and a suitable game. The business still has to prove that the shorter route creates lasting value.
\nWould you use chat to choose your next game?
","content_text":"“What should I play tonight?” sounds like a simple request. Answering it well requires more than retrieving a popular title. The answer has to fit a person, a device and a particular moment.\n\nAsk only what changes the recommendation\n\nA chat-based discovery experience should establish the constraints that matter: platform, available time, solo or multiplayer, budget and the kind of experience the player wants.\n\nIt should not turn that process into an interrogation. If the player already says they want a short PC co-op game, the next question should resolve a meaningful uncertainty rather than ask them to repeat themselves.\n\nMake the suggestion specific\n\nA recommendation needs a clear explanation of the match, the relevant platform and a working route to the game. If a demo or trial is available, that can provide a way to assess the gameplay before committing.\n\nAvailability must be checked rather than assumed. A conversational interface should not promise instant play when the next step actually requires an installation, account or purchase.\n\nLet the player correct the result\n\nThe response “not that one” contains information, but it does not explain the reason. A useful follow-up might distinguish between a game the player already owns, a disliked mechanic and an unsuitable price.\n\nThat distinction matters for the next suggestion. Repeating similar recommendations with different wording does not resolve the original problem.\n\nKeep product claims separate from evidence\n\nA smooth demonstration is not evidence of retention or commercial performance. A discovery product needs to establish whether people act on its recommendations, whether the games match expectations and whether users return without being pushed.\n\nCatalogue size, response speed and message counts each describe part of the experience. None is a substitute for a successful player outcome.\n\nBuild trust into the interaction\n\nThe interface should explain when a result is sponsored, acknowledge missing information and allow users to change or remove remembered preferences. These decisions are part of product quality.\n\nThe opportunity is to shorten the distance between a player’s intention and a suitable game. The business still has to prove that the shorter route creates lasting value.\n\nWould you use chat to choose your next game?","referenced_links":[],"social_image":"https://reinouttebrake.com/assets/editorial/discovery-photo-7120127-1280.webp","citation":"Reinout te Brake. Designing a Chat-Based Game Discovery Experience. 2024-09-04. https://reinouttebrake.com/stories/designing-a-chat-based-game-discovery-experience"}