Imaginative UI/UX design concept for a roguelike RPG game I came up with for UI UX Course for games.
merging striking aesthetics with user-centric interfaces.
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Overview
Mission Statement
Mission Statement
Create an intuitive, immersive, and engaging user experience for a roguelike RPG game, enhancing player satisfaction, encouraging replayability, and supporting the challenging nature of the genre.
Create an intuitive, immersive, and engaging user experience for a roguelike RPG game, enhancing player satisfaction, encouraging replayability, and supporting the challenging nature of the genre.
My Role
My Role
Lead UI/UX Designer – responsible for user research, wireframes, visual design, and prototyping.
Lead UI/UX Designer – responsible for user research, wireframes, visual design, and prototyping.
Methods
Methods
User research, A/B testing, wireframing, prototyping, and iterative design.
User research, A/B testing, wireframing, prototyping, and iterative design.
Tools Used
Tools Used
Figma
Figma
Photoshop
Photoshop
ChatGPT
ChatGPT
Krea.ai
Krea.ai
GoogleForms
GoogleForms
Problem and Background
The Problem
The Problem
Roguelike RPGs are known for their complexity and steep learning curves, often due to convoluted interfaces. The goal was to streamline navigation and make the game accessible without sacrificing the genre's depth and challenge.
Roguelike RPGs are known for their complexity and steep learning curves, often due to convoluted interfaces. The goal was to streamline navigation and make the game accessible without sacrificing the genre's depth and challenge.
About the Genre
About the Genre
Definition: Roguelike games feature procedurally generated levels, permadeath, high replayability, and RPG elements.
Definition: Roguelike games feature procedurally generated levels, permadeath, high replayability, and RPG elements.
Key Characteristics: Procedural generation, permadeath, progression systems, and variety in gameplay ensure engagement.
Key Characteristics: Procedural generation, permadeath, progression systems, and variety in gameplay ensure engagement.
Competition Perceptual Map
Competition Perceptual Map
User Research Development
Conducted surveys with 30 participants to understand preferences, frustrations, and valued features.
Conducted surveys with 30 participants to understand preferences, frustrations, and valued features.
SURVEY
SURVEY
Demographics and Gaming Platforms
Demographics and Gaming Platforms
Primary Platforms: PC is the most popular platform, followed by consoles and mobile devices. Some respondents use multiple platforms, emphasizing the need for cross-platform compatibility and design considerations.
Primary Platforms: PC is the most popular platform, followed by consoles and mobile devices. Some respondents use multiple platforms, emphasizing the need for cross-platform compatibility and design considerations.
Age Range: Most respondents are aged 25-45, with a significant number also in the 18-24 range, indicating that this genre appeals to a mature audience.
Age Range: Most respondents are aged 25-45, with a significant number also in the 18-24 range, indicating that this genre appeals to a mature audience.
Familiarity and Frequency
Familiarity and Frequency
Familiarity with Roguelike RPGs:
Familiarity with Roguelike RPGs:
Many respondents are very familiar with the genre, regularly playing and understanding it well.
A smaller group has some familiarity, having played a few roguelike RPGs.
Players range from "very familiar" to "somewhat familiar" with roguelike RPGs, suggesting varying levels of expertise and experience.
Many respondents are very familiar with the genre, regularly playing and understanding it well.
A smaller group has some familiarity, having played a few roguelike RPGs.
Players range from "very familiar" to "somewhat familiar" with roguelike RPGs, suggesting varying levels of expertise and experience.
Frequency of Play:
Frequency of Play:
Several respondents play roguelike RPGs several times a week, while others play monthly or rarely.A smaller group has some familiarity, having played a few roguelike RPGs.
Frequency varies from daily to rarely/never, indicating different levels of engagement. Many players play several times a week, showing a high level of commitment among dedicated fans.
Several respondents play roguelike RPGs several times a week, while others play monthly or rarely.A smaller group has some familiarity, having played a few roguelike RPGs.
Frequency varies from daily to rarely/never, indicating different levels of engagement. Many players play several times a week, showing a high level of commitment among dedicated fans.
Valued Features
Valued Features
Key Features: Procedurally generated levels, permanent death, character and meta progression, diverse enemies and bosses, loot and item variety, and strategic combat are highly valued. Frequency varies from daily to rarely/never, indicating different levels of engagement. Many players play several times a week, showing a high level of commitment among dedicated fans.
Motivations: Improving skills/strategies and enjoying the challenge are common motivations for continued play despite failures.
Character Customization: Opinions vary, with some rating it as extremely important and others not considering it important at all.
Progression Systems: Preferences include leveling up characters, acquiring better gear and items, and unlocking new abilities and skills.
Key Features: Procedurally generated levels, permanent death, character and meta progression, diverse enemies and bosses, loot and item variety, and strategic combat are highly valued. Frequency varies from daily to rarely/never, indicating different levels of engagement. Many players play several times a week, showing a high level of commitment among dedicated fans.
Motivations: Improving skills/strategies and enjoying the challenge are common motivations for continued play despite failures.
Character Customization: Opinions vary, with some rating it as extremely important and others not considering it important at all.
Progression Systems: Preferences include leveling up characters, acquiring better gear and items, and unlocking new abilities and skills.
Motivations
Motivations
Improving Skills/Strategies: Core motivation for replaying the game.
Unlocking New Content: Keeps players coming back for more.
Enjoying the Challenge: Highlights the appeal of difficulty and mastery.
Improving Skills/Strategies: Core motivation for replaying the game.
Unlocking New Content: Keeps players coming back for more.
Enjoying the Challenge: Highlights the appeal of difficulty and mastery.
Challenges
Challenges
Understanding Icons and Symbols: Common UI challenge.
Managing Inventory: Indicates a need for more intuitive inventory systems.
Navigation through Menus: Suggests UI/UX improvements can be beneficial.
Understanding Icons and Symbols: Common UI challenge.
Managing Inventory: Indicates a need for more intuitive inventory systems.
Navigation through Menus: Suggests UI/UX improvements can be beneficial.
Persona
Barney McLaughlin
Why spend time doing laundry when I could be saving the world from pixelated monsters?
Age Range: 18-26
Status: Single
Work: Software Developer
Location: Haifa, Israel
Archetype: Tech-savvy Gamer
Inquisitive
Resilient
Adventurous
Strategic Thinker
Devices
Gaming PC
Smartphone
Console
Bio
Barney is a tech-savvy software developer living in Haifa.
He graduated from the Technion with a degree in Computer Science
John has a passion for gaming, particularly mobile games, due to their convenience.
He enjoys the challenge and unpredictability of roguelike RPGs, which offer a satisfying escape from his demanding job. In his free time, he loves attending local tech meetups, playing D&D with friends, and hiking.
Personality
Introvert
Extrovert
Analytical
Creative
Loyal
Fickle
Suspicious
Trusting
Motivations
Challenge
Comfort
Exploration
Driven
Routine
Driven
Competitive
Casual
Achievement
Oriented
Relaxation
Oriented
Technological Orientaion
Tech savvy
Tech
averse
Early
adopter
Late
adopter
Device
diversity
Device
simplicity
Social
media
enthusiast
Social
media
minimalism
Goals
• Enhance Gaming Experience
• Achieve Personal Progression
• Explore New Technologies and Mechanic
• Relaxation and Stress Relief
Frustrations
• frustrated with games that offer limited customization options for characters or settings, restricting his ability to personalize the gaming experience.
• Gets frustrated with poorly designed interfaces that hinder the gaming experience.
• Dislikes games that are overly reliant on in-app purchases to progress.
Familiar Games
• Hades: Enjoys the strong narrative and fast-paced action.
• Soul Knight: Finds the variety of character classes and weapons engaging.
• Grimvalor: Likes the dark, challenging hack-and-slash adventure with RPG elements.
Barney McLaughlin
Why spend time doing laundry
when I could be saving the world from pixelated monsters?
Age Range: 18-26
Status: Single
Work: Software Developer
Location: Haifa, Israel
Archetype: Tech-savvy Gamer
Inquisitive
Resilient
Adventurous
Strategic Thinker
Devices
Gaming PC
Smartphone
Console
Bio
Barney is a tech-savvy software developer living in Haifa.
He graduated from the Technion with a degree in Computer Science
John has a passion for gaming, particularly mobile games, due to their convenience.
He enjoys the challenge and unpredictability of roguelike RPGs, which offer a satisfying escape from his demanding job. In his free time, he loves attending local tech meetups, playing D&D with friends, and hiking.
Personality
Introvert
Extrovert
Analytical
Creative
Loyal
Fickle
Suspicious
Trusting
Motivations
Challenge
Comfort
Exploration
Driven
Routine
Driven
Competitive
Casual
Achievement
Oriented
Relaxation
Oriented
Technological Orientaion
Tech
savvy
Tech
averse
Early
adopter
Late
adopter
Device
diversity
Device
simplicity
Social
media
enthusiast
Social
media
minimalism
Goals
• Enhance Gaming Experience
• Achieve Personal Progression
• Explore New Technologies and Mechanic
• Relaxation and Stress Relief
Frustrations
• frustrated with games that offer limited customization options for characters or settings, restricting his ability to personalize the gaming experience.
• Gets frustrated with poorly designed interfaces that hinder the gaming experience.
• Dislikes games that are overly reliant on in-app purchases to progress.
Familiar Games
• Hades: Enjoys the strong narrative and fast-paced action.
• Soul Knight: Finds the variety of character classes and weapons engaging.
• Grimvalor: Likes the dark, challenging hack-and-slash adventure with RPG elements.
Barney McLaughlin
Why spend time doing laundry
when I could be saving the world from pixelated monsters?
Age Range: 18-26
Status: Single
Work: Software Developer
Location: Haifa, Israel
Archetype: Tech-savvy Gamer
Inquisitive
Resilient
Adventurous
Strategic Thinker
Devices
Gaming PC
Smartphone
Console
Bio
Barney is a tech-savvy software developer living in Haifa.
He graduated from the Technion with a degree in Computer Science
John has a passion for gaming, particularly mobile games, due to their convenience.
He enjoys the challenge and unpredictability of roguelike RPGs, which offer a satisfying escape from his demanding job. In his free time, he loves attending local tech meetups, playing D&D with friends, and hiking.
Personality
Introvert
Extrovert
Analytical
Creative
Loyal
Fickle
Suspicious
Trusting
Motivations
Challenge
Comfort
Exploration
Driven
Routine
Driven
Competitive
Casual
Achievement
Oriented
Relaxation
Oriented
Technological Orientaion
Tech
savvy
Tech
averse
Early
adopter
Late
adopter
Device
diversity
Device
simplicity
Social
media
enthusiast
Social
media
minimalism
Goals
• Enhance Gaming Experience
• Achieve Personal Progression
• Explore New Technologies and Mechanic
• Relaxation and Stress Relief
Frustrations
• frustrated with games that offer limited customization options for characters or settings, restricting his ability to personalize the gaming experience.
• Gets frustrated with poorly designed interfaces that hinder the gaming experience.
• Dislikes games that are overly reliant on in-app purchases to progress.
Familiar Games
• Hades: Enjoys the strong narrative and fast-paced action.
• Soul Knight: Finds the variety of character classes and weapons engaging.
• Grimvalor: Likes the dark, challenging hack-and-slash adventure with RPG elements.
Flowchart
Low-Fidelity Screens
UI Screens
Design Guidelines
World map
© 2025 by Baruchnov.
© 2025 by Baruchnov.
© 2025 by Baruchnov.