Game surveys can be run at any stage of development, depending on what you need to learn.

During pre-production, surveys help validate concepts, test themes, gauge player interest in mechanics or features, and understand market preferences before committing to development. During production, surveys can test monetization ideas, evaluate art direction, or gather feedback on specific design choices. Post-launch or during live operations, surveys help measure player satisfaction, understand sentiment around updates, and identify areas for improvement.

Surveys are especially useful when you need directional feedback from a large player base rather than in-depth behavioral insights from playtesting.

Lysto offers both standalone surveys and post-playtest surveys.

Standalone surveys allow studios to gather high-level information on concepts, themes, mechanics, market preferences, or competitor perceptions without requiring a playable build. These surveys can be used for concept validation, feature prioritization, monetization testing, or understanding player attitudes at scale.

Post-playtest surveys are integrated into playtesting sessions, allowing studios to capture player reflections immediately after gameplay. These surveys help focus feedback on specific questions, such as what players liked about the tutorial, how difficult they found a mechanic, or what stood out during the session. Studios can choose to include post-playtest surveys or run playtests without them.

Lysto supports survey creation using the platform's built-in survey tool or third-party tools like Alchemer.

Surveys and playtesting serve different purposes and provide different types of insights.

Surveys gather self-reported opinions, preferences, and attitudes from players at scale. They provide high-level directional feedback on what players think, feel, or prefer, but do not capture actual behavior during gameplay. Surveys are useful for concept validation, measuring sentiment, testing ideas, or understanding market preferences.

Playtesting captures real player behavior during gameplay, including what players do, where they struggle, how they react, and how their experience evolves over time. Playtesting provides in-depth insights into usability, friction points, engagement, and player decision-making that surveys cannot reveal.

Post-playtest surveys combine both approaches, allowing studios to observe behavior during gameplay and then ask specific follow-up questions to focus feedback on particular aspects of the experience.

Survey respondents are recruited from Lysto's 1M+ player panel. Players receive a survey link, log into their account, and complete the survey.

While survey respondents are not individually verified like playtesters, Lysto screens the panel for gamer profile to ensure respondents are relevant to the survey's goals. This helps ensure feedback comes from players who match the intended audience rather than random or non-gaming participants.

Yes. Lysto allows studios to target survey respondents using criteria such as age range, gender, region, gamer profile, genres played, and experience level, similar to playtesting targeting.

This ensures survey responses come from players who match your target audience, making the feedback more relevant and actionable. Additional targeting requirements can also be added if your survey needs more specific player criteria.

Standalone surveys typically take 2–3 days to complete, depending on the sample size and targeting criteria.

Larger sample sizes or more specific targeting may require additional time to recruit and collect responses. Post-playtest surveys are completed immediately after gameplay sessions, with responses available as soon as players finish the survey.

The recommended sample size depends on your survey goals and the type of information you're looking for.

Smaller sample sizes may be sufficient for directional feedback or early concept validation, while larger samples provide stronger confidence when making decisions that affect broader player populations. Lysto's team can help determine the appropriate sample size based on your research objectives.

For guidance on sample size for your survey, contact your Games Partnership Manager or reach out to us at contact@lysto.io.

After a survey completes, studios receive survey responses and charts visualizing the data.

Lysto provides data collection and visualization, but does not generate AI-driven inferences or analysis for surveys. Studios receive raw response data and visual summaries, allowing them to interpret findings based on their specific context and goals.

Post-playtest surveys provide focused feedback on specific questions asked immediately after gameplay, helping studios understand player sentiment and opinions alongside behavioral data from the playtest itself.

Yes. Lysto offers player interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) as separate services that can be combined with surveys in one research plan.

This approach allows studios to gather quantitative data from surveys at scale and then dive deeper into specific topics through qualitative interviews or group discussions. Combining methods provides both directional insights and in-depth understanding of player motivations, expectations, and reasoning.

For more information on combining surveys with interviews or FGDs, contact your Games Partnership Manager or reach out to us at contact@lysto.io.

No. Surveys can be run at any stage, including before your game exists.

Standalone surveys are commonly used during the concept stage to validate ideas, test themes, gauge player interest, or understand market preferences without requiring a playable build. Surveys can also be run for live games to measure player satisfaction or gather feedback on updates, and can be used to understand competitor games or conduct broader market research.

To create a standalone survey, log into your dashboard and click Create a Playtest Request, then select the standalone survey option. Define your survey goals, upload survey questions using Lysto's built-in tool or a third-party tool like Alchemer, and set your targeting criteria for survey respondents.

To add a post-playtest survey, turn on the survey option when setting up a playtest and upload your survey questions. Players will complete the survey immediately after their gameplay session.

For pricing details and to get started with surveys, contact your Games Partnership Manager or reach out to us at contact@lysto.io.