Qualitative Indie Game Playtesting

Find out why players react the way they do.

A bug report can tell you what broke. Player data can tell you where people stopped. Qualitative playtesting helps explain what they were thinking and feeling when it happened.

I personally play your game with fresh eyes, study the full player experience, document bugs and friction, and turn what I find into clear feedback you can actually use.

Request a Playtest View Playtesting Pricing

Qualitative vs Quantitative

Different playtests answer different questions.

The best option is not always the one with the most testers. It is the one that gives you the information needed for your next decision.

D Rock Games Focus

Qualitative testing explains why.

This is a close look at the experience itself. I explain why an objective may be unclear, why a mechanic feels unsatisfying, why the pacing drags, or why a strong moment works.

  • Detailed first-time player reactions
  • Onboarding, controls, pacing, difficulty, and clarity
  • Bugs, Quality Assurance concerns, and UX friction
  • Specific reasoning and priority recommendations

Larger Testing Platforms

Quantitative testing measures how many.

This is usually the better fit when you need broad behavior from a larger sample, such as completion rates, survey scores, average playtime, retention, or statistically useful trends.

  • More players and broader samples
  • Completion rates and behavior patterns
  • Survey results and measurable trends
  • Confidence that a problem is common across an audience

Many games eventually benefit from both. Qualitative feedback helps you understand and improve the experience. Quantitative testing helps you measure how that experience performs across more players.

When To Hire Me

You need more than a list of bugs.

My service is strongest when you need someone to slow down, pay attention, and explain what is helping or hurting the game from a real player's point of view.

  • You are unsure whether the tutorial, controls, UI, objectives, or progression are clear.
  • You need to understand why a section feels boring, frustrating, confusing, or harder than intended.
  • You are preparing a public demo, Steam Next Fest build, publisher pitch, major update, or launch.
  • You have been working on the game too long to experience it with fresh eyes.
  • You want detailed feedback that respects the work already in the game and gives you a practical next step.

What I Look For

The full player experience, not just technical failures.

Every project is different, but these are the areas I consistently study while playing.

Onboarding and clarity

Whether players understand the goal, mechanics, UI, terminology, and what they are expected to do next.

Controls and game feel

Responsiveness, input feedback, movement, combat, camera behavior, and whether actions feel good to perform.

Pacing and difficulty

Where the experience drags, rushes, repeats itself, becomes unclear, or creates difficulty for the wrong reason.

UX and presentation

Menus, settings, readability, feedback, navigation, visual hierarchy, and anything that makes the game harder to use.

Bugs and polish

Blockers, broken interactions, visual issues, audio problems, edge cases, and smaller details that can hurt player trust.

What already works

The strongest moments, mechanics, presentation choices, and ideas worth protecting as the game continues to change.

Playtesting Services

Choose the depth that fits your current build.

Every option is handled directly by me. I confirm the scope and delivery date before payment.

Written Playtest

$50 per gameplay hour

A detailed written analysis without a gameplay recording.

  • Independent first-time playtest
  • Detailed written PDF report
  • Player experience, UX, pacing, game feel, and clarity feedback
  • Bugs and Quality Assurance observations
  • What worked well and priority improvements
  • Follow-up questions after delivery
Request a Written Playtest
Most Complete

Complete Playtest

$70 per gameplay hour

The written report plus the full silent playthrough.

  • Everything included in the Written Playtest
  • Full silent gameplay recording
  • No voiceover commentary
  • No timestamps
  • Recording delivered separately from the report
Request a Complete Playtest

Demo Readiness Review

$65

A focused pre-release check for a public-facing demo.

  • First-time demo playthrough
  • Written PDF report
  • Onboarding, tutorial, pacing, and stopping-point feedback
  • Settings, display, audio, graphics, and input checks
  • Bugs, blockers, and priority fixes before release
Request a Demo Review

Multiplayer Testing

Custom quote

Testing built around the number of players and the setup your game requires.

  • Local or online co-op, PvP, split-screen, or Remote Play Together
  • Lobby, invites, matchmaking, connections, and controllers
  • Independent testers added when needed
  • Written findings, recordings, or a custom combination
Request a Multiplayer Quote

Trailer Direction can be added to eligible playtests for $30. After playing, I will recommend what the trailer should showcase and provide a basic clip order.

How It Works

Simple process. No mystery handoff.

You deal directly with me from the first message through delivery and follow-up.

Step 1

You tell me what matters

Share the build, current stage, requested gameplay time, and any concerns you want me to keep in mind.

Step 2

I play with fresh eyes

I approach the build as a first-time player, take detailed notes, test beyond the obvious path when useful, and pay attention to both problems and strengths.

Step 3

You receive clear feedback

I deliver the agreed report and recording, then remain available for follow-up questions so nothing in the feedback is left unclear.

Why D Rock Games

Your game is not passed to a random tester.

I am the person you speak with, the person who plays the build, and the person who writes the feedback. I also build games myself, so I understand that every recommendation has a cost and that feedback needs to be useful, not just technically correct.

Read Developer Testimonials
Founder-led from start to finish No outsourced handoff and no support queue between you and the tester.
A developer's perspective I understand scope, priorities, tradeoffs, and how hard it can be to see your own game clearly.
Honest about the right fit I will tell you when a larger quantitative test would serve your goal better.
Available after delivery You can ask questions and discuss the reasoning behind the report instead of being left with a document alone.

Developer Feedback

“Derek gave the Scales of Silence demo a careful, detailed pass and delivered one of the most useful reports I've gotten. No filler and no padding to look busy.”

Scales of Silence, Aggro Games

See more developer feedback

Ready For Fresh Eyes?

Tell me what you need tested.

Not sure which option fits? Choose Not Sure Yet on the quote form and tell me about the build. I will recommend the scope that makes the most sense.

Request a Quote