Role
Team
Event
Duration
UX/UI Designer
Katrina Cruz, Fabian Gutierrez, Claudia De León
DubsTech Protothon 2024 (Awarded 2nd place)
~28 hours
TL;DR
Too long, didn't read
Survival games often lose players once gameplay becomes repetitive or confusing. In a 28-hour protothon, we designed a game system focused on replayability by prioritizing player choice, clear onboarding, and balanced progression. The result was a flexible gameplay loop that encourages repeat play and reduces early drop-off.
The problem
Games get repetitive fast
Most survival games start strong but don’t hold attention. Once players learn the system, each run feels the same or becomes frustrating.
We weren’t trying to design more features. We were trying to design something players would actually come back to.
Direction
Players quit when things feel unclear or unfair
We ran a quick survey and received 12 responses in an hour. We reviewed survival games to understand player behavior. Patterns showed up quickly.
Players get stuck when systems aren’t clear, they drop off when difficulty feels punishing, and they lose interest when gameplay doesn’t change. Those three issues shaped every decision we made.
Impact
A flexible system drives repeat play
The final concept supports multiple strategies and outcomes. Players can approach the game in different ways, which helps prevent repetition.
Clear structure reduces confusion, and balanced progression lowers frustration. Together, this is expected to increase engagement and replay behavior, which was the core goal.
Reflection
This project pushed me to make decisions faster and focus on what matters.
I learned that strong systems matter more than adding more features. Time pressure forced clarity, and that helped us build something focused and complete. Understanding your team’s strengths, weaknesses, and work styles helps maintain momentum and distribute tasks effectively. Roadblocks are inevitable, so taking short breaks and leaning on your team can help you reset and move forward with a clearer perspective!