Track the Player Journey Over Time
Diary studies that capture how engagement evolves.
The Problem
You need to understand long-term player behavior. How engagement changes over days or weeks. What keeps players coming back, and what makes them stop.
Playtests show what players do in a controlled session, not how they engage over time. First-session excitement fades. You need to capture the player journey: discovery, mastery, frustration, churn. Single-session playtests only show first impressions. You miss the progression, the grind, the moments where players decide to stay or leave. You need longitudinal insight.
The Solution
We run diary studies where players log their sessions over time. Play patterns, emotional highs and lows, feature discovery, and drop-off moments. Follow-up interviews to understand the why.
A view of the player journey from first session to long-term engagement. Insights into retention and churn.
What You'll Achieve
- Deep understanding of player motivations and psychology
- Segment-specific insights (casual, mid-core, hardcore)
- Quantified market demand for your concept
- Data-driven decisions for game design and monetization
What You Get
Mobile Capture
Players log play sessions, emotions, and thoughts via app. Screenshots and gameplay clips captured in context.
Longitudinal Tracking
Follow player journeys over 1-4 weeks. See engagement curves, drop-off points, and habit formation.
Emotional Mapping
Capture player emotions at key moments: triumphs, frustrations, confusion, and delight over time.
Churn Insights
Understand exactly when and why players disengage. Catch friction before it becomes abandonment.
How It Works
Define
Identify key moments and behaviors to capture. Set study duration based on game type.
Recruit
Source players from our verified gamer panel. Match by genre expertise and playstyle.
Capture
Daily prompts and self-initiated entries. Players share screenshots, clips, and voice notes.
Map Journey
Deliver player journey visualization with emotional arcs, pain points, and engagement patterns.
Tailored to Your Needs
Every project is different. Let's discuss your specific requirements and create a custom proposal.
Book a Discovery CallExplore Related Services
Diary Studies & Ethnography
Capture user habits, behaviors, and context over days or weeks in their real environment
Learn MorePlayer Surveys & Interviews
Quantitative and qualitative player research with genre-verified gamers. Understand your audience at scale.
Learn MoreGamer Focus Groups
Moderated group discussions with targeted player segments
Learn MoreReady to Get Started with Player Diary Study?
Let's discuss how we can help you achieve your goals
Configure & PriceLet's Talk
Choose how you'd like to connect with us
Or reach us directly at marc.busch@busch-labs.at or +43 699 197 101 86