Physical World Gamification Design
Physical world gamification is the hardest design challenge most practitioners never attempt. Most gamification design assumes a digital…
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The Blog
Ideas on motivation, behavior & design.
Deep dives on the psychology behind why people do what they do — from Yu-kai Chou, creator of the Octalysis Framework. Pick the topic that matters to you.
The Do Your Job Game Trap
Workplace gamification is one of those ideas that sounds brilliant until it implodes. I’ve seen it happen at…
Reward Layers Architecture: Why Points Alone Fail
April 11, 2026 I’ve sat through countless pitches about gamification. The conversation usually goes like this: “We’re adding…
Paywall Placement: 3 Timing Strategies for Monetization
There’s one decision that determines whether monetization feels like a natural checkpoint or an annoying obstacle in your…
Mouse to Horse: Iterative Game Loop Design
Most teams launch a horse leg. Then an eye. Then a tail. Then they wonder why nothing works.…
Minimal Threshold Personalization: The Personal Touch Framework
Minimal Threshold Personalization: Why Almost Any Personal Touch Works (Until It Doesn’t) By Yu-kai Chou The core question…
Recovery-First Streak Design: Bringing Back Lost Users
It’s not about how long you keep going. It’s about how often you recover from a setback. I…