University of Lancashire

When Fun Becomes Exploitation: Player Perceptions of Deceptive Design Patterns in Games

The gaming industry faces a critical tension between engagement strategies and ethical design, characterized by the prevalence of deceptive patterns that prioritize monetization over player agency.

• Players recognize deceptive design patterns like loot boxes and UI misdirection, yet they continue to engage due to powerful hedonic and social reinforcements, a phenomenon termed the 'dark pattern paradox.'
• Cognitive awareness of manipulative tactics is insufficient to prevent problematic engagement or symptoms of Internet Gaming Disorder, as these systems are engineered to bypass rational decision-making.
• Research involving over 300 adult participants in the UK confirms that players perceive current monetization models as exploitative, specifically noting that they undermine fair gameplay and skill-based progression.