How to Create a Great User Interface in Games?

The term "game UI design" is used to describe the visual elements that users of a video game website or mobile app would initially interact with. They act as a link between the game and the players, facilitating their ability to learn the game's mechanics, locate relevant data, and begin playing with little delay. Players will spend more time with your game if it has a high-quality design that prioritises narrative, animation, character design, gaming mechanics, and the user experience. More gamers will buy into your game if the user interface is more enjoyable to use.

Overall, the user interface (UI) of a game is a crucial consideration for prospective buyers, and the higher quality the UI, the more likely your sales will rise.

With the help of a game design course, you can become a video game developer and work in this leading industry. 

The user interface of a game should make it easier for the player to progress through the game, access relevant information, and earn in-game incentives. Every aspect of this user interface is crucial. It's important that it looks nice, but more importantly that it serves its purpose well. In this piece, we'll examine five guidelines that may be used to enhance the usability and enjoyment of a game's user interface:

1. Function dictates form
2. Maintain a unified user interface.
3. The standard is enough
4. Accessibility is more important than ‘prettiness’
5. Take multiple resolutions into account

Form follows function:

While designing a game's user interface, one must keep in mind that an object's appearance must be subservient to its intended use. To put it simply, "form follows function" is a fundamental idea of game design. The 'form follows function' design approach is used in many fields, not only video game creation. Similarly, it is used by the auto industry. A perfect embodiment of "form follows function," the FIAT Multipla was released in 1998.

For obvious reasons, the FIAT Multipla was named the "Ugliest Vehicle" of 2000. Nonetheless, FIAT was recognised as the best family car of the year in the same year. FIAT created a vehicle with three seats in each of the front and rear rows. In order to fulfil its intended role as a comfortable and spacious family vehicle for six passengers, the design was informed by that objective.

Make sure the form follows the purpose, whether you're designing an automobile or a gaming interface. The gaming courses in India can be helpful to get a better understanding of this subject.

Be consistent in the UI Design

A game's user interface has to be reliable. Consider the player experience and how they engage with the game for better content. The player will be thrown off kilter if a button they use often flits between the top left and bottom right of the screen in one level before returning to the top right in the next. It is also important to maintain uniformity in the use of colour and white space. It's best to go with a limited colour scheme consisting of basic and secondary hues. Keep in mind the importance of a deeper shade and a lighter shade working together. Lastly, it's recommended that items that provide positive feedback be coloured green, while cautions, notices, and negative feedback be coloured red.

Here's a helpful hint: use this site to establish a colour scheme!

The Standard is Enough

Whilst it's a commendable trait, originality may sometimes backfire when designing user interfaces. Consistency in design is also crucial, as was noted, and the design should naturally follow from the functioning. We'd also want to stress the importance of not starting from scratch. For instance, it is unnecessary to change the "start" button icon since it is already based on a standard. Creating a new icon takes time, and then you need to seek feedback from your intended audience and make any required changes

Using pre-existing design systems will enable you to make use of common iconography. For user interfaces, a "design system" is a blueprint of the fundamental components. All of the pieces only need to be tested once by the user, and the full development team may put it into action with a single click when using such an overview.

If you look to industry leaders like Google, Apple, and Microsoft, you won't need to create your own design system. Curious? Have a look at this and this other piece.

Accessibility is more important than ‘beauty’.

Create an accessible user interface for your game. A game's accessibility extends beyond just being compatible with several platforms. The key goal is to ensure that as many individuals as possible can play the game. Next, we'll discuss readability and white space.

Are the Texts Legible?

One in six Dutch adults cannot read or write at a basic stage. This indicates that they struggle with literacy and/or numeracy. About 2.5 million Dutch citizens also have trouble with digitalization and, by extension, (reading texts in) games. Users often complain about text that is too tiny or of a typeface that is difficult to read.

Designers of user interfaces often try out many typefaces before settling on one that looks right in a particular game's environment. This, however, often compromises readability. Watching the video below will help you understand the importance of typography in games and how little changes may have a big impact. Game design courses in India can give you better insight into this subject.