5 Mobile UX Mistakes That Will Cost You Players

Making a mobile game that people love isn’t just about great gameplay or charming art. It’s about usability.

The truth? You can have a brilliant idea, but if your user experience (UX) frustrates players -especially in the first 30 seconds- they’ll quit. And they aren't likely to come back.

In mobile casual games, where players expect instant engagement and intuitive controls, usability can make or break your success.

Here are five of the most common UX mistakes that drive players away—and how to avoid them.

1. You don’t teach how to play the game

The problem:
Players open your game, see some buttons, and have no idea what to do.

New players won’t read a long tutorial. They’ll tap around, try once, and if nothing makes sense they’re gone.

How to fix it:
Use a "level zero" onboarding. Teach through action and guide players with simple prompts to learn the controllers. A lot of creators skip level 0 and just add a "how to play" screen or wall of text but the reality is that players do not read.
Joe Yu integrates this principle in their game Katuba's Poacher where level 0 explains and trains the player to use the basic controllers. Show your players how to interact, don't tell.

💡 Pro tip:
Treat your level 0 as your "game pitch": players will not follow something they cannot play. Once you have level 0 and level 1 watch a friend play your game for the first time without saying a word. Where they get stuck is your UX blind spot.

2. Your UI is too cluttered

The problem:
Your screen is full of hard to recognize icons, overlapping menus, or… absolutely nothing.

Mobile screens are small. Buttons too close together or poorly labeled controls frustrate players fast. On the other hand, hiding everything behind cryptic icons forces guesswork.

How to fix it:
Design for thumb sizes. Keep essential buttons big and spaced. Use readable fonts. Prioritize actions like “Start,” “Retry,” and “Next Level.” Hide secondary actions behind a clean menu.

3. Your controls feel off

The problem:
The character jumps too slowly, swipes don’t always register, clicking the desired element is hard.

Bad controls create friction, and friction kills fun.

How to fix it:
Use native gestures players know and expect (tap, swipe, drag). Build a forgiving input system with generous hitboxes. Test on real devices with real people, not just in desktop preview mode.

A smooth control scheme feels satisfying. A clunky one feels like the game is broken.

4. You forget to give feedback

The problem:
Players tap a button, and… nothing happens.
Did it work?
Was that a mistake?
No idea. 🤷

Lack of visual or sound feedback leaves users confused and unsure whether their actions had an effect.

How to fix it:
Use animations, sound, and subtle vibrations to respond to actions. Buttons should bounce, flash, or pulse when pressed.

Feedback is reassurance. It tells players their action had been registered and that they’re in control.

💡 Pro tip:
Success and failure should feel different. Read our article on how to quickly improve your game's UI or follow our " UI/UX Essentials" course online.

5. You overwhelm new players with options

The problem:
Players launch your game and immediately face multiple controllers, game modes, currency and purchasing systems, leaderboards, and skins… before they’ve even played once.

Too many choices too early is a fast path to decision fatigue.

How to fix it:
Delay complexity: let players start playing in under 10 seconds, introduce features gradually, unlock modes after a few successful sessions...
Make sure to nail level 0 and build progressively from there.

Read ou article on how Merge Mansion does it: start simple. build depth over time.

Final Thought:

UX isn’t just a design detail; it IS the game

Most players won’t give you a second chance. A poor user experience isn’t just a missed opportunity, it’s the potential of a game losing traction before it even begins.

The good news? Small changes in UX can lead to big improvements in retention, engagement, and reviews.

If you're building your first mobile game, or trying to level up make usability a top priority.

Ready to go deeper?