What is tested in games?
By now, we already know that there are lots of similarities between general software and games. In practice, this means that games must go through the same vigorous testing as any other software. We have also established that games have their own unique characteristics. Looking at games as a whole, they lie at the intersection of technology, art, and business. This makes them a unique type of software that requires us to consider a broader picture when talking about testing games.
The gaming industry is notorious for its lack of documentation, and very often testers need to figure out themselves what to test and how. It’s advisable to get any design documents or use cases to help you determine the scope of testing and the expected results. In general terms, we are testing the following:
- Stability
- First-time user experience (FTUE)
- Core game loops
- Level progression
- Game physics (if the game has physics)
- Game logic
- AI...
