The Psychology of A Player: An Exploration Of The Different Types Of Gamers

Whether you’re the next best gamer, or perhaps someone who enjoys chilling and watching games streamed online, you’ve probably already come to the realization that gamers come in all shapes, sizes, and skill levels. While we consider games to be one of our favorite forms of entertainment, the psychology behind what draws us to them is actually rather complex. 

From a general outlook, even if you’re more of an online casino player in search of a no deposit bonus code, the type of game choice says a lot about you. In this post we’ll be taking a look at the different types of players out there while focusing on gamer types, needs, wants, and motivations. If you’re curious to find out in which category you or your friends fall under, join us in exploring this subject further. 

What Are Gamer Profiles and Why Do They Matter?

When it comes to playing online games, each player type is usually motivated by different reasons as we’re about to find out. The concept of personas comes from the work of Swiss psychoanalyst and psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung’s theory that the conscious and unconscious come together to develop personality types in each and every one of us. Of course, this theory has absolutely nothing to do with gaming, however in more recent years this has been applied to different industries including this one. By understanding the types of players that partake in various games, developers are able to use this information to create games that are better suited to the gamers that would be naturally drawn to them. 

Why Do We Love Games?

To answer this question, you’d first need to figure out what motivates people to do anything, not just playing games. This topic has been broadly discussed over the years by countless psychologists and motivational speakers and it essentially boils down to the following needs:

• Intrinsic– this relates to our need for curiosity. In this case, players are motivated to follow a clear storyline that will see various elements unfold along the way, as well as being given the option to better or improve themselves.
• Extrinsic– this relates to players that are interested in acquiring specific rewards, such as unlocking various achievements or badges, or gaining other benefits such as bonus funds for example. 

And while external themes are relatively easy to use even when it comes to game development, it’s the internal themes that always pose a challenge. However, it’s always clear that games that are smart with their intrinsic and extrinsic motivator use end up being much better games than those that don’t. 

Player Type Vs Game Genre

When it comes to digital games, there’s a good chance that a player will be attracted by the in-game challenges it brings. For some, it might be a sense of accomplishment when defeating a hard level or hitting a rare special feature, while for others it might be all about the social interaction they derive when playing online. And lastly, there are a number of players that are drawn to games that offer an immersive experience that doesn’t match the real world. 

Games that lack these elements will cause certain types of players to rate the game as dry or unfulfilling, while simultaneously addressing the needs of other players who might find the game wildly entertaining. Let’s take a look at some of the most common gaming personas out there to find out which category you feel suits you best. 

 The Disruptor

This type of player is motivated by his or her desire for change. Known to be creative, Disruptors will always think outside the box and derive joy from extending their limits wherever possible. This type of persona is not necessarily considered ‘bad’ as it is known that disruption will naturally lead to innovation. These types of players are motivated by original quests, opportunities for modification throughout the game, as well as rules that are there to be (possibly!) broken. 

The Achiever

Motivated by improvement, Achievers will seek out games that allow them to unlock new badges or levels based on skill while offering the possibility to take on tough challenges. In this case, this type of player is drawn to games that offer specific quests, several levels and a progression timeline, badges or tokens, as well as upgrade opportunities throughout the game. 

The Socializer

According to a recent study, about 84% of players engage in gaming as a means of socializing with people that share similar interests. Motivated by relationships with other players, these gamers will seek to bond and interact throughout their gaming experience. For this reason, Socializers will often seek out games that offer multiplayer, team, or guild options, allow players to visibly express their emotions, as well as the chance to enter tournaments and competitions with other players. 

The Free Spirit

And lastly, we’ve got the Free Spirit player persona that best describes players driven by a sense of agency. These players will generally enjoy expressing themselves freely by customizing the experience as well as various aspects of the game. In this case, Free Spirits will often seek out games that offer the chance for multiple plotlines, open world exploration, the chance to customize avatars, weapons and so on, as well as the presence of easter eggs which will always bring a smile to their face.