Playtesting

A user-research method in game and interactive-system design in which representative users play an in-development game while researchers observe, collect think-aloud commentary, and conduct follow-up interviews to probe mechanics, engagement, difficulty, and fit with intended goals. In accessibility research, playtesting is essential for identifying barriers that only surface during real embodied play — unreadable UI, motor demands beyond a player's capacity, unclear feedback, or cognitive-load issues — and for surfacing how clinicians, caregivers, or disabled players re-author rules to suit their needs. Playtesting protocols typically combine structured rubrics, think-aloud, semi-structured interviews, and cross-session comparison.