Let’s talk about QA in game development, the sometimes overlooked stage that can make or break the game’s launch. We’ll cover the most used types of testing, the quality assurance process, and what to be on the lookout for when testing games.
Highlights:
- Insufficient testing can doom even an AAA title with lots of money invested;
- Quality assurance is a broad discipline with a wide range of activities that ensure the game’s future success;
- Certain types of testing can be done by algorithms, but human involvement is currently still essential;
- It’s best to include mobile game testing from the very first stages of development.
One of the things many professionals lament when working in the gaming industry is the often overlooked role of QA in game development.
Stories about long-awaited gaming titles failing to meet the players' expectations are most likely something you've heard about. We've witnessed this in the AAA niche with Cyberpunk 2077 in 2020 and in the mobile games niche with Harry Potter: Wizards Unite in 2019. And these are just the most well-known examples.
In reality, there are lots of less anticipated titles that, however, still fail to break through in the competitive gaming niche, especially in mobile gaming. One of the main reasons for that is the frequent lack of high-quality testing in mobile game development processes.
The abundance of different mobile devices makes quality assurance a time-consuming endeavor, and time is money. However, releasing a buggy or poorly optimized title can be damning on a market as competitive as mobile video games. Therefore, if you want your mobile game to succeed in today's saturated market, invest time and resources into high-quality QA in game development.
Mind Studios Games can help you with that by exploring the topic and sharing our diverse experience in game testing. Read further to discover types of testing, QA best practices, and how effective QA can ensure the long-term success of your title.
The significance of testing and QA for mobile game success
[Source: SensorTower]
2023 was a tough year for the mobile gaming industry, as it witnessed a global downturn in downloads and revenues. App Store's downloads decreased by 6%, while the Google Play ones decreased by 11%. And that's despite mobile games getting more dynamic and advanced in terms of graphics and gameplay.
2024 seemed like a start of better days, with a 4% increase in revenue from 2023. The industry is looking into 2025 with hope, but the progress is slow. And one of the pain points for mobile games was always insufficient testing.
Bugs and glitches can be incredibly frustrating for players, even if the game is otherwise appealing. Factors like unexpected crashes, unresponsive controls, or graphical errors can ruin immersion and lead to a poor gaming experience. This, in turn, leads to players abandoning the app and the app losing revenue and engagement.
And this can be prevented by high-quality mobile game testing.
When done right, QA testing in games minimizes the risks by identifying issues before launch for developers to fix and, therefore, helps ensure that players will receive a stable, enjoyable game. This, in turn, contributes to positive first reviews and App Store ratings — and, as we all know, first impressions matter, especially in competitive app stores where ratings influence visibility and downloads.
Furthermore, thorough quality assurance in video games helps ensure that the game will perform consistently no matter what device players use: high-end smartphones or older or lower-spec gadgets. It also helps make the game's performance smooth and optimal under different conditions and usage patterns.
As you can see, mobile application testing addresses the technical, functional, and performance aspects of mobile games at once. It is crucial for creating a polished product that attracts players, retains their interest, and drives revenue.
Different types of testing in mobile game development
There are several types of testing mobile games, and each of them serves the testing process and contributes to the title's overall quality. Here’s just the tip of the iceberg — the most widespread game testing types.
Types of testing in mobile game development |
|
|---|---|
Functional testing |
Ensures that the game's core functionalities work as intended — for instance, tests in-app purchases, game progression, game mechanics, and so on. |
Performance testing |
Verifies that the title will run smoothly across different hardware. This is achieved with the help of FPS (frames per second) testing, RAM and CPU usage monitoring, spotting and fixing issues like slow loading times and crashes, and more. |
Smoke testing |
A broad testing method done to make sure the new build is ready for a more in-depth testing. It checks the overall game functionality for prospective release rejections. It’s also sometimes called build verification test, pretest, or preliminary testing. |
Static testing |
This is the type of testing where we check the code without executing it — by looking through the lines of code themselves. This test is held during and right after code writing, and its goal is to find any defects or errors early. |
Compatibility testing |
The goal here is to make sure that the game will function equally well on different devices, operating systems, and in various screen resolutions. To ensure this, video game testers check the title on various Android and iOS devices and look for resolution problems along with device-specific bugs that could influence gameplay. |
Usability testing |
This type of testing is done to make sure that the game is easy to use and intuitive in terms of navigation and gameplay. The testers check the clearness of game tutorials along with the intuitiveness of controls, buttons, and menus. |
Network testing |
This isn't an essential testing phase of game development, and some specialists will consider it part of performance testing. It is only used for online and multiplayer games to ensure that the title will perform well under various network conditions. This is achieved by testing network reliability, latency, and packet loss, as well as stress testing (the process of simulating high user traffic to check if the servers can handle peak loads). |
Security testing |
This stage benefits both game developers and players who worry about the safety of their data, especially knowing that 79% of the former name in-game cheating as a prominent concern. This testing addresses the security of login credentials, personal data, and stored game information, the safety of in-app purchases and transactions, and the prevention of hacking attempts or using third-party apps to cheat in games. Security testing is mostly used for games where players compete for prizes. For smaller scale games, it’s rarely a sensible choice financially or in terms of development time. |
Each of these software testing types addresses a specific aspect of game quality and performance. All of them combined ensure a mobile game's success by delivering an engaging, reliable, and secure experience to players across devices and networks.
Manual vs. automated testing: Pros and cons
Manual and automated testing are two main approaches to quality assurance in games. Here's how they differ.
Manual testing
Manual testing allows testers to explore the game from a player's perspective. The testers focus on detecting design flaws, user experience (UX) problems, and various subtle issues that can be missed by automated systems. However, don’t let this description mislead you into thinking that manual testing is simple. It is, in fact, quite a complex process that involves preparing multiple possible scenarios for where and when issues may occur, and then going through them all.
This approach is quite flexible, as human testers can adapt to real-time scenarios and think creatively — for instance, by simulating unexpected player actions or behaviors that may expose unique bugs. They can also offer subjective feedback on gameplay, graphics, and overall enjoyment.
At the same time, manual testing can be a slow process, especially when you're creating complex games or running repeated tests across multiple devices and OS versions.
Scalability can also be an issue here: it's quite difficult to manually test all possible device and OS combinations unless you have a massive team of QA testers available. Things get even more complex if you run a large project or launch updates frequently. Which is why it’s imperative to have good a quality assurance team, experienced in multiple genres and types of games.
At Mind Studios Games, we’ve built games within a wide range of genres, meaning our QAs have encountered and reported numerous types of issues and can now recognize possible bugs from a mile ahead. If you’re looking for a seasoned QA team for testing mobile games, web and Telegram games, and desktop titles, get in touch with us, we’re quite certain we can be of great help.
Automated testing
Automated or automation testing can run quickly and repeat across multiple devices, OS versions, and screen resolutions. That's why it's a great option for situations that require scalability or for repetitive tasks. Automated tests also eliminate the risk of human error. They are consistent and can catch regression bugs every time the code is updated.
However, while machines are, without a doubt, efficient in some aspects, they also have their flaws, the main of which is a lack of human perspective and human approach. Automated testing cannot replicate the human experience and so might miss UX issues, design flaws, and emotional responses to gameplay.
Furthermore, automation operates using pre-defined scenarios, so it's only as effective as its scripts. It also requires upfront time for setup and ongoing maintenance to keep scripts relevant, especially if your game changes a lot or needs frequent updates.
The most common automated testing tools used in the gaming industry are:
- Appium
- Unity Test Framework
- TestComplet
- Firebase Test Lab
- App Center by Microsoft
QA process in mobile game development: Best practices
Structured testing in mobile game development makes the game both technically polished and engaging for players. The following best practices, in turn, can help you build this structured testing process and achieve the most notable results from it.
Involving QA early in the development process
It might seem that a QA specialist's job starts only when there's actually something to test. However, including mobile game test process in the development from its earliest stages (such as planning and design) can help you instantly improve the end software quality.
Here's how it works: the more testers understand the game's goals, mechanics, and core features, the more opportunities they have to develop relevant test cases, identify challenges and technical issues early, review game assets and documentation for potential issues (a process known as static testing), and offer their feedback on the game's design choices, code logic, and functionality.
Testing in stages
Breaking the testing process into stages helps QA teams catch bugs and optimize performance at every step of mobile app development. These stages usually are:
- Pre-alpha: it often focuses on initial and functional testing to ensure the game's core systems are stable.
- Alpha: this phase starts to include more thorough functionality and performance testing as additional features and content are added.
- Beta: now it's time to move to even broader testing, the goal of which is to ensure the game performs well across a range of devices. Sometimes, external testers are also involved in this phase, as they can offer real-world feedback — it’s called “closed beta” and players can usually apply to participate in it via specifically set up channels. There’s also a thing called “open beta” when the game is released for general audience on a limited territory.
- Release: at this phase, it's time to move on to final checks on the title's performance, stability, and user experience. It's also essential to ensure that the game is free of critical bugs before launch.
By the way, one of the games we’ve worked on with our ex-Rioters clients from Dim Sum Games, called Fables & Tactics, is currently in the alpha stage, and it’s the rare case when the game’s alpha is semi-public. It’s now too late to apply to participate, but do add this title to your anticipation lists, it’s gonna be awesome 😏
Using Agile for QA
Agile methodology focuses on collaboration, quick iteration, and frequent testing — and it is one of the most efficient working models these days. Last year, 39% of companies employing an Agile project management approach reported the highest average project performance rate and an overall project success rate of 75.4%.
Agile principles can be efficiently applied to QA in game development as well. In this case, the testers will be constantly involved, running tests in parallel with development and offering quick feedback. In turn, the improvements will be conducted faster and will be more adaptive.
Beta testing and playtesting
Beta testing is the process of choosing a group of players and allowing them to try out the game before its official release. This approach is beneficial both for players and developers: the former get exclusive early access to a game, while the latter receive early, real-world feedback on gameplay, bugs, and usability issues that may not have been caught during in-house testing.
User feedback at the beta testing stage usually includes:
- Gameplay experience: how difficult the game is, how engaging it is, whether users enjoy it, etc.
- Usability and UX: how intuitive are the game's interface and controls, how easy to use, how simple is the navigation, and so on.
- Technical issues: bugs, performance issues, or device-specific problems that QA testers might have missed.
- Retention: things that either encourage or discourage players to continue interacting with the game — game progression system, how appealing the rewards are, and how difficult the challenges are.
Another type of testing that involves players and not just professional QAs is playtesting, and that one can be held at any point of development. In contrast to beta testing, it usually doesn’t involve testing for bugs and technical issues, only UX, mechanics, and game balance. We mentioned above the Fables & Tactics game we’re part of that held open playtesting in the alpha stage of development.
Incorporating analytics for QA
Game analytics provide various data that basically covers how players interact with the game, what issues they face, and how the game performs across different environments. With the help of analytics, the QA teams can identify, prioritize, and address problems quickly and easily.
To do this, they usually evaluate:
- crash reports and error logs to spot stability issues and the conditions that cause them
- performance metrics, such as memory usage and loading times, to figure out where performance might lag, especially on specific devices or OS versions
- retention and engagement to figure out how players find the game in general and if there are certain bugs or issues that affect retention
- user actions through the game to discover if the players drop off or struggle at certain points
Both of these mobile game testing techniques can be efficiently combined to offer a comprehensive view of the player experience. Beta testing allows us to figure out how players feel about the game and what they like or dislike, while analytics show exactly where issues occur and their impact on user retention. This combination successfully helps QA teams identify critical issues and refine gameplay.
Common QA pitfalls and how to avoid them
Now, it wouldn't be fair to boast about the efficiency and importance of QA without paying attention to game app testing challenges. This is especially important as pitfalls in the process can undermine the testers' efforts and eventually lead to a flawed final product.
Here are some common QA pitfalls — and strategies for avoiding them.
#1: Skipping QA or rushing testing
Some development teams can either skip QA completely or rush through it. Usually, it is done to save time or meet tight deadlines, and while the core features are generally tested, secondary elements can be neglected. This, in turn, can cause a release of a game filled with bugs and performance issues. The result? Quite obvious yet sad: negative reviews, low ratings, and poor retention.
Solution: to ensure that no timeframes will mess up the testing, add QA time into the development schedule right from the beginning. This should be an essential part of the process rather than an afterthought. Also, try incorporating QA in iterative cycles as each new feature is added or updated.
#2: Overlooking cross-platform issues
Most game engines are cross-platform, including our engine of choice, Unity. Therefore, mobile games simply must run smoothly across various devices, operating systems, and screen sizes. Failing to test a title on different devices can lead to platform-specific bugs, resolution issues, and touch responsiveness problems.
Solution: first, test your game on a variety of physical devices to imitate real-world conditions. You can do this using device labs: these are available both in-house or via cloud services.
Second, make sure that the core functionality, UI elements, and responsiveness are identical across different platforms. Keep in mind that the most common cross-platform issues regard graphics, touch controls, and in-app purchases, so pay special attention to these features. Also, run automated tests to cover a broader range of device configurations and catch platform-specific issues faster.
#3: Ignoring performance testing
Often, development teams focus on functionality testing and pay less attention to performance. However, while mobile games might seem less powerful and resource-intensive than PC and console ones, these days, they can also have issues such as frame drops, excessive memory usage, and slow loading times. All of these can quickly frustrate players and even cause them to stop playing your title.
Solution: don't skip load tests and stress testing. The first allows you to measure the game's performance under normal and high usage, while the second simulates heavy load scenarios to ensure the game can handle them.
It's just as important to set performance benchmarks for load times, frame rates, and memory usage. Testing against these benchmarks will help you ensure that each release meets performance standards across all targeted devices.
Case studies of successful mobile game QA
All the talks about the importance of quality assurance for video games wouldn't be efficient without examples. So, let's explore those mobile games that have benefited significantly from thorough testing, along with those that suffered from poor testing practices.
Pokémon GO vs. Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
Pokémon GO is one of the examples of successful mobile games with strong QA processes. The game developer, Niantic, made beta testing very extensive and included open testing phases in different regions. They focused on scalability, stability under high loads, and cross-platform compatibility across iOS and Android devices. As a result, Pokémon GO's launch was a major success.
This, however, didn't happen with the developer's second long-anticipated project, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite. Players reported frequent performance issues that caused lags, freezes, and crashes, especially on older devices. This, combined with the game's complex mechanics, led to frustration and declining engagements. The game was shut down two years after launch.
Genshin Impact vs. Blade & Soul Revolution
Genshin Impact, created by miHoYo/HoYoverse, is one of the most well-known examples of a truly cross-platform game: not only does it run on iOS and Android mobile devices, PCs, and consoles, but it also performs smoothly on all these devices. To achieve this, the game developer's QA team focused heavily on performance testing, device compatibility, and cross-platform functionality. They also ran beta testing and used feedback from it for gameplay optimization.
On the other hand, there is Blade & Soul Revolution by Netmarble, an ambitious MMORPG that could become successful but didn't, largely because of a poor QA. When the game was released, players often faced performance issues, including lag and crashes on mid-range and older devices, as well as poor network stability.
Conclusion
These days, quality assurance is no longer an optional stage in development that you can skip. QA is essential if you want to deliver a smooth gaming experience capable of exceeding player expectations and succeeding in the competitive mobile gaming market. Therefore, an experienced developer will always focus on investing in QA practices and continuous testing from the early stages of development to post-launch, as this can make the difference between a memorable hit and a missed opportunity.
At Mind Studios Games, our goal is to make games that stick with players for all the good reasons. That’s why, we believe testing is just as important as any other game development stage. And, of course, we have experienced and dedicated quality assurance specialists to do that.
If you’re looking for a partner to entrust your game’s bug hunting, get in touch with us — we’ll offer you an honest assessment of what types of testing will benefit your game, how long it will take, and how much it might cost.
