Design UI/UX Mobile Games for Left Hand Dominant People

This research investigates the relationship between hand dominance and user interface (UI) layout preferences in mobile gaming, specifically focusing on how left-handed users interact with standard, right-hand-centric game designs. The study aims to determine if a modified interface layout—designed to accommodate left-handed users—improves the gaming experience compared to the standard layouts provided by developers.

The study utilized a quantitative methodology involving 22 left-handed participants, primarily university students and lecturers in West Jakarta, Indonesia. Participants played the mobile game PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) for 10 minutes using both the standard developer layout and a modified layout where the action and movement controls were mirrored. Satisfaction was measured on a five-point scale, and the results were analyzed using mean scores.

The findings indicate that the standard developer layout, which is designed for right-handed users, received a significantly higher mean satisfaction score of 4.18 compared to the modified layout, which scored 2.41. Despite the expectation that left-handed users would prefer a mirrored interface, the majority of participants reported higher satisfaction with the original design, suggesting that left-handed individuals have developed a high degree of adaptability to right-handed interfaces in daily life.

The research concludes that there is no universal "best" layout for left-handed gamers, as individual preferences and experiences vary significantly. Consequently, the study advocates for the inclusion of customizable UI features in mobile games, particularly in genres like Battle Royale and MOBA. By allowing players to adjust the position, size, and transparency of on-screen buttons, developers can provide an inclusive experience that accommodates the unique needs of both left-handed and right-handed players.