National Video Game Day isn’t just an excuse to dust off your old Super Mario Bros. cartridge or finally conquer that boss level in Elden Ring. It’s a moment to appreciate how games—from retro classics to today’s mobile hits like Candy Crush—are masterfully designed to keep players hooked, motivated, and coming back for more. These games offer valuable insights that go beyond entertainment; they serve as a blueprint for creating intentional user journeys that can drive engagement across industries.

From the moment a player picks up a controller (or taps a screen), they’re guided through a carefully crafted experience that keeps them invested—whether it’s by leveling up a character, unlocking new abilities, or solving a puzzle. But here’s the thing: this same thoughtful design can be applied to businesses and organizations, transforming customer experiences, employee engagement, and user retention. In essence, video games are more than just fun—they’re a masterclass in engagement.

So, in the spirit of National Video Game Day, let’s take a look at how the principles of game design—specifically gamification and user journey mapping—can help create intentional, engaging experiences that lead to long-term success in the real world.

Disclaimer: Whether you’re a lifelong gamer or someone who thinks ‘Fortnite’ might be a misspelling of a Taylor Swift song—this post is designed to speak to all skill levels. The concepts go beyond gaming and can apply to anyone looking to create engaging experiences.

Gamification: Beyond Just Points and Badges

While the idea of gamification might conjure images of leaderboards, badges, or points, true gamification digs deeper than surface-level rewards. In video games, success hinges on providing players with the right mix of challenge, feedback, and reward. Whether it’s advancing to the next level in Clash of Clans or completing a daily quest in Genshin Impact, these games motivate players to keep progressing.

In the world of business, gamification works in much the same way. Whether it’s onboarding employees or guiding customers through a product demo, gamifying key processes can transform an otherwise tedious journey into something engaging and even enjoyable. There is more to it than simply throwing rewards at users—it’s about creating a sense of accomplishment and progression.

Consider customer loyalty programs, for example. Retailers like Starbucks have gamified their app experience, offering rewards for repeat purchases and creating a system that keeps customers engaged. This same principle can be applied across industries, whether you’re driving sales, improving employee training, or increasing customer engagement. The lesson from games? Keep users motivated by creating meaningful milestones and providing clear, achievable goals.

User Journey Mapping: The Quest for Engagement

If gamification is the fuel that keeps users engaged, then user journey mapping is the road that guides them. In video games, this journey is often meticulously mapped out—from the early tutorial stages of Minecraft to the intricate quests in The Legend of Zelda. Players are intentionally guided through increasingly challenging levels, and their progress is supported with helpful feedback, checkpoints, and rewards.

In business, user journey mapping allows organizations to visualize how users interact with their product, service, or platform from beginning to end. Whether it’s a customer exploring an e-commerce site, an employee navigating a new software platform, or a student engaging with an online learning module, the goal is the same: to create a seamless experience that guides them from point A to point B with as few obstacles as possible.

For example, in the tech industry, journey mapping often begins by identifying key touchpoints where users may encounter challenges or friction. This allows for intentional design improvements, ensuring that each stage of the journey provides value and keeps users moving forward. Retailers have long mastered this technique, crafting shopping experiences that guide customers through discovery, decision-making, and purchasing with minimal resistance—much like a well-designed game progression.

The Boss Level: Combining Gamification and Journey Mapping

While gamification and journey mapping are powerful tools on their own, they’re even more effective when combined. Video games excel at this. They seamlessly blend engaging rewards with intentional user journeys, immersing players in a world where every action has meaning and progression is always within reach. In Fortnite, for example, players are rewarded with in-game achievements for advancing through increasingly complex challenges, but the path is clear and purposefully designed to guide them along.

Organizations can harness this same power by blending gamification with user journey mapping to create experiences that not only engage but also guide users toward specific goals. Whether it’s helping new hires navigate onboarding or guiding customers through a product demo, combining these elements can drive better outcomes and higher satisfaction levels.

In education, this approach is already proving effective. Schools and universities are using gamification to boost student retention and journey mapping to design learning paths that ensure students stay engaged. But these concepts are just as applicable in industries like healthcare, where patient engagement apps are gamified to encourage wellness habits, or in finance, where investment platforms use journey mapping to guide users through complex financial decisions.

Ready to Level Up?

As we celebrate National Video Game Day, it’s a good time to reflect on how the principles behind some of the most engaging games—whether it’s the nostalgic Pac-Man or today’s mobile powerhouse Pokémon GO—can teach us about intentional user design. Video games are experts at guiding players through complex tasks, keeping them motivated, and rewarding them at key moments. When applied to business, education, non-profit work (anything!), these same strategies can create more engaging and effective user experiences.

Whether you’re leading a customer through their onboarding process, guiding an employee through a training module, designing an intentional student journey, or mapping out a new product launch, think like a game designer. Craft an experience that’s not only functional but also engaging, intentional, and fun. After all, if video games have taught us anything, it’s that the journey is just as important as the destination.

If you’re interested in learning more about user journey design consulting services, let us know!