Richard Bartle’s Four Player Types

Another very well known study in the realm of game design is Richard Bartle’s Four Player Types²⁷³. Richard Bartle is a game researcher who invented the first MUD (Multi-User Dungeon) game during the 1970’s, which evolved into the role-playing games (RPGs) we know today. He realized that within a virtual environment there tends to be four main groups of players doing four distinct types of activities.

There are the Achievers who try to master everything there is to do within the game system. There are the Explorers that just want to go out and explore all the content in the world but aren’t as focused on overcoming challenges. There are the Socializers who are really in the virtual world just to interact with each other, have conversations, and build companionship. And then there are the Killers - players that not only strive to reach the top, but take glory in beating down the competition in the process. Furthermore, they...