Enhancing Puzzle Solving in Okay? Through Strategic Hints

“Okay?” is a beautifully abstract puzzle game known for its silent UI, challenging levels, and minimalist aesthetic. But for many players, the challenge crossed into frustration—especially on high-difficulty levels with no guidance or reward. Players were uninstalling before they had a chance to enjoy the deeper gameplay.

I redesigned the hint system as a last-resort tool, introducing subtle, well-timed guidance that reduced friction, protected the player’s sense of autonomy, and kept them emotionally engaged.

This wasn’t just a popup, it was a retention-saving feature that respected the game’s core design values.

Repeated Failure = Frustration Spiral Some levels had players stuck for 5+ minutes with no help, which increased rage-quits and uninstalls.

No Safety Net = Higher Churn Without a smart assist feature, the game risked losing players right before they were ready to convert or emotionally invest.

Help Without Hand-Holding A traditional hint button would have clashed with the game’s elegance. The system had to feel like a gentle nudge, not a solution dump.

1. Trigger Design: Behavioral Thresholds

I analyzed player behavior across puzzle games and implemented a 5-failure threshold before triggering a hint popup. This aligned with key frustration tipping points in casual mobile players (often between 3–7 tries).

This allowed:

Most users to try freely

Struggling players to feel seen

No hand-holding for puzzle-lovers

2. Language That Respects Autonomy

I wrote microcopy that:

Never used the word “hint”

Framed support as a subtle suggestion

Gave just enough to reignite curiosity, not solve it

3. Minimalist Popup Design

I collaborated on the layout and recommended:

Light opacity overlay

No sound effect or animation

Tap-to-dismiss hint text, no buttons or UI clutter

It had to feel invisible until needed, and disappear just as quietly.

Though concept-based, this system follows best practices used in top mobile puzzle games:

Uninstall Rate on Tough Levels

Player Time on Level (with less frustration)

Retention Beyond Level 10

Player Confidence & Flow

Great game UX doesn’t just teach—it comforts.

When a player hits a wall, the right words—at the right time—can be the reason they stay.

This project shows my ability to:

Use content strategy to reduce churn

Design emotion-aware microcopy

Maintain minimalist design standards

Increase product stickiness through UX writing alone

Because UX writing isn’t decoration—it’s decision support.