Diary Study

A longitudinal UX research method where participants self-report their experiences, emotions, and frustrations over days or weeks, capturing how perception of the game evolves over time.

In games, this means

A single playtest captures one session. A diary study captures the arc, the excitement of day one, the confusion of day three when a new system unlocks, the frustration of week two when progression slows, and whether the player is still engaged at week four. This is the only research method that reveals how players experience a game across the full retention window.