The 31 Core Gamification Techniques (Part 1: Progress & Achievement Mechanics)
What Is A Gamification Technique?
A gamification technique is a design pattern borrowed from games that makes an app or product more engaging. But it’s not just slapping points onto existing features. Real gamification techniques create meaningful feedback loops that drive specific user behaviors.
Think of them like ingredients in a recipe. Adding sugar makes food sweeter, but a pastry chef knows exactly how much to use, when to add it, and what it does to the chemistry of the dish. Similarly, each gamification technique has specific uses, contexts where it shines, and ways it can go wrong.
Why Consider Gamification?
The most successful apps in the world use gamification, and for good reason. DuoLingo boasts a 60 day retention rate that is three times as strong as its non-gamified competitors. Calm built a billion-dollar business by making meditation feel achievable and rewarding. Starbucks turned buying coffee into a compelling game of status and collection.
But these successes hide a graveyard of failed attempts. For every Starbucks Stars success story, there are dozens of forgotten points systems and dead leaderboards. The difference isn’t in which techniques they chose, but in how thoughtfully they implemented them.
This is why understanding gamification techniques matters. The right technique, properly implemented, can transform your product from a tool into a habit. The wrong one can drive users away forever.
Progress & Achievement Mechanics
In this first part of our series on gamification techniques, we’ll explore nine core mechanics that tap into our fundamental desire to grow, improve, and see tangible results. These are some of the most common techniques in gamification, and some of the most frequently misused.
When implemented thoughtfully, these mechanics make progress visible and meaningful. When implemented poorly, they create noise that users quickly learn to ignore. Let’s look at how to use them right.
1. Progress Bars
What it is: A visual representation of advancement toward a defined goal. Usually depicted as a bar or circle that fills up based on user actions. Can track overall progress or completion of specific tasks.
Why it works: Progress bars make abstract advancement concrete and visible. They also leverage the Zeigarnik Effect — our psychological need to complete unfinished tasks. A partially filled bar creates a subtle but powerful urge to fill it completely.
Best uses: Progress bars shine in onboarding flows, multi-step processes, and skill development tracking. They’re particularly effective when tracking project or task completion where each step has clear value.
Watch out for: Progress bars fail when advancement feels arbitrary or meaningless. Don’t use them when goals are too distant or updates are too infrequent. Users will ignore bars that move in unpredictable ways.
Warning Signs:
- Users report confusion about what actions advance the bar
- Progress feels inconsistent or unpredictable
- Users complete bar but express no satisfaction
- High abandonment on partially filled bars
The key is making sure each increment feels meaningful and achievable. LinkedIn’s profile strength indicator works because each step clearly improves your profile. A progress bar tracking “overall health” would feel arbitrary and demotivating.
Real world example: Headspace’s meditation course progress bars excel by breaking advancement into small, clear segments. Each completed session moves the bar noticeably. The goal always feels within reach, and progress is never lost.
2. Experience Points (XP)
What it is: A numerical representation of user progress or expertise, typically accumulated through performing desired actions. Unlike simple points, XP implies growth and mastery over time.
Why it works: XP systems create a sense of constant progress — every action moves you forward. Unlike binary achievements or level systems, XP provides granular feedback that makes even small actions feel worthwhile. The steady accumulation mirrors how we actually build skills and expertise.
Best uses: XP systems excel in learning applications, skill development platforms, and complex systems with many possible actions. They’re especially powerful in communities where expertise matters and can be meaningfully tracked.
Watch out for: XP fails when points feel meaningless or arbitrary. Avoid systems where inflation makes early progress seem worthless or where users can game the system too easily. There must be a clear relationship between XP and actual mastery.
Warning Signs:
- Users stop caring about XP after initial excitement
- Early achievements feel worthless compared to later ones
- Users find ways to game the system for quick XP
- Engagement drops once users hit high XP levels
The key is tying points to genuine progress. DuoLingo’s XP works because it’s tied to actual language practice. But many apps just assign arbitrary point values to actions, creating a system users quickly learn to ignore.
Real world example: Stack Overflow’s reputation system is essentially XP done right. Points are earned through genuinely helpful contributions, unlocking real privileges in the community. Higher scores reflect actual expertise, making the numbers meaningful to both earners and viewers.
3. Levels/Rank Progression
What it is: A tiered system of advancement that groups progress into distinct stages, often with clear thresholds and new privileges or content at each level. Unlike pure XP, levels create meaningful breakpoints in user progression.
Why it works: Levels chunk progress into digestible milestones. Reaching a new level creates a clear moment of achievement — what game designers call “fiero.” They also provide natural points to introduce new features or challenges, preventing overwhelm while maintaining engagement.
Best uses: Leveling systems thrive in complex products that require gradual onboarding and systems where user capability should grow over time. They’re perfect for communities that benefit from clear status indicators or platforms with tiered content.
Watch out for: Levels backfire when requirements feel arbitrary or unclear. Avoid systems where progress becomes too slow in higher levels or where new levels don’t provide meaningful changes. Be careful of creating unhealthy competition.
Warning signs:
- Users plateau at specific levels and don’t return
- Level-ups feel meaningless with no new capabilities
- Progress becomes too slow in higher levels
- Users create new accounts to experience early progression
Each level should feel like a genuine advancement. DuoLingo’s crown system works because higher levels introduce genuinely harder content. A fitness app that just adds bigger numbers to the same exercises will feel hollow.
Real world example: Peloton’s rider levels succeed because they match natural fitness progression. Early levels come quickly, encouraging new riders. Higher levels require genuine dedication, making them meaningful achievements that reflect real expertise.
4. Achievements/Badges
What it is: Visual or virtual rewards given for completing specific actions or reaching defined milestones. Unlike levels or XP, achievements mark specific accomplishments rather than general progress.
Why it works: Achievements break big goals into concrete challenges. They guide user behavior by highlighting desirable actions, and provide clear acknowledgment when those actions are completed. A well-designed achievement system doubles as a discovery tool, showing users what’s possible in your app.
Best uses: Achievement systems excel at feature discovery, encouraging specific behaviors, and marking meaningful milestones. They’re particularly effective when creating “collectible” moments that users want to share or display.
Watch out for: Achievements fail when they’re given out too freely or when requirements are too obscure. Avoid marking trivial accomplishments or creating so many badges that users can’t track them meaningfully.
Warning signs:
- Users ignore achievement notifications
- Completion rates drop sharply for later badges
- Users express confusion about how to earn badges
- Achievement announcements generate no social shares
This technique works well when each achievement feel significant. Steam’s achievement system shows both extremes. Some games offer meaningful achievements for impressive feats. Others spam users with badges for clicking buttons. Users quickly learn to ignore the latter.
Real world example: Strava’s achievement system works because each badge marks a genuine athletic accomplishment. Breaking your distance record or completing your first marathon creates a moment worth marking. The badges feel earned rather than given.
5. Collections/Sets
What it is: Systems that encourage users to gather related items or complete defined groups of accomplishments. Unlike simple achievements, collections create relationships between items and reward completion of meaningful sets.
Why it works: Humans are natural collectors. We’re driven to complete sets and find patterns. Collections tap into both our completionist tendencies and our desire to create order from chaos. The “near miss” of an almost-complete collection is a powerful motivator.
Best uses: Collections excel at driving feature exploration, content discovery, and long-term engagement. They’re particularly effective when building investment in a platform or ecosystem.
Watch out for: Collections fail when sets feel random or meaningless. Avoid systems where completion is too difficult or expensive, where items have no utility beyond collection, or where the collection process itself isn’t engaging.
Warning signs:
- Users never complete their first set
- Collection progress stalls after initial engagement
- Users complain about impossible-to-find items
- Completed sets drive no further engagement
Collections only work when both individual items and completed sets meaningful. Pokemon succeeds because each creature is interesting alone, but collecting related types or completing the set adds extra value.
Real world example: Starbucks’ rewards program uses collections masterfully. Special edition cups and seasonal items create natural sets that drive purchases without feeling manipulative. Each item has value alone, but completing sets unlocks special benefits.
6. Personal Records/High Scores
What it is: Tracking and celebrating a user’s best performances or achievements. Unlike leaderboards which focus on competition, personal records emphasize self-improvement and individual progress.
Why it works: Personal records create intrinsic motivation through self-competition. They provide clear metrics for improvement while avoiding the potential discouragement of direct competition. They also create natural goals — beating your own best.
Best uses: Personal records shine in fitness and performance apps, skill development platforms, and productivity tools. They work best when tracking clearly measurable activities with room for improvement.
Watch out for: Records fail when metrics are easily gamed or feel meaningless. Avoid systems where progress becomes impossible or tracking is inconsistent. Choose metrics that encourage healthy behavior.
Warning signs:
- Users manipulate activities to force higher scores
- Record-breaking becomes impossible
- Users give up after failing to beat records
- Quality decreases as users optimize for metrics
You need to think carefully about what measurements are actually meaningful. Apple’s Activity rings work because they track meaningful health metrics. A meditation app tracking “longest session” might encourage counterproductive behavior.
Real world example: Fitbit’s approach to personal records shines by tracking multiple metrics and celebrating improvements in any area. Users can focus on steps, active minutes, or sleep quality, creating multiple paths to success.
7. Milestone Celebrations
What it is: Special recognition of significant moments or achievements in a user’s journey. Unlike regular achievements, milestones mark major breakpoints that represent meaningful progress.
Why it works: Milestone celebrations create memorable moments that reinforce progress and commitment. They transform abstract advancement into concrete achievements, while providing natural sharing opportunities that can drive viral growth.
Best uses: Milestones excel at driving long-term engagement, habit formation, and community building. They’re particularly effective for marking major accomplishments that represent genuine progress.
Watch out for: Celebrations fail when they feel forced or trivial. Avoid celebrating achievements that aren’t meaningful, making recognition too frequent, or creating celebrations that are too elaborate for the accomplishment.
Warning signs:
- Users skip or rush through celebration moments
- Later milestones generate less excitement
- Users express annoyance at celebration frequency
- Milestones fail to generate social sharing
The key is matching celebration to achievement. Calm’s “7 Days of Calm” completion deserves recognition. Celebrating every single meditation would diminish the impact.
Real world example: Duolingo’s milestone system excels by matching celebration to achievement. Completing your first lesson gets a quick congratulations. Maintaining a 365-day streak triggers a major celebration complete with animation and sharing options.
8. Mastery Paths
What it is: Structured progression systems that guide users from novice to expert status through clear, sequential advancement. Unlike simple levels, mastery paths focus on skill development and practical capabilities.
Why it works: Mastery paths provide clear direction while satisfying our desire for growth and competence. They break complex skills into manageable steps while showing the path ahead, making advancement feel both achievable and meaningful.
Best uses: Mastery paths shine in educational platforms, skill development apps, and professional development systems. They’re particularly effective for complex tools where expertise develops over time.
Watch out for: Paths fail when progress feels artificial or steps are too large or small. Avoid systems that are too rigid or where advanced levels lack depth. Each step should build meaningfully on previous learning.
Warning Signs:
- Users get stuck at specific progression points
- Advanced users complain about lack of challenge
- Path completion doesn’t reflect real skill gain
- Users skip important steps to advance faster
The progressions you design need to feel natural. Duolingo’s language paths work because each step builds naturally on previous learning. A fitness app with arbitrary progression won’t create real mastery.
Real world example: Codecademy’s learning paths excel by combining clear progression with practical skills. Each step teaches something useful while building toward larger capabilities, making the journey feel meaningful at every stage.
9. Skill Trees
What it is: Branching progression systems that allow users to specialize and choose their development path. Unlike linear mastery paths, skill trees offer choice in how users advance.
Why it works: Skill trees combine the satisfaction of progression with the engagement of meaningful choice. They create investment through specialization while allowing users to shape their experience. The visualization of possible paths creates natural goals.
Best uses: Skill trees excel in complex learning systems, professional development platforms, and deep engagement products. They’re particularly effective when users benefit from specialization.
Watch out for: Trees fail when choices feel meaningless or branches are unbalanced. Avoid systems where progression is too linear or specialization lacks impact. Each path should lead to valuable expertise.
Warning Signs:
- Users always choose the same paths
- Certain branches see no engagement
- Users feel forced into specific progressions
- Specialization provides no meaningful advantage
The key is making choices meaningful. LinkedIn Learning’s skill paths work because each branch leads to valuable expertise. A meditation app with artificial specialization paths would feel forced.
Real world example: Duolingo’s Stories feature effectively uses a skill tree structure by unlocking new content based on both progress and user choices. Each branch feels meaningful while maintaining appropriate difficulty progression.
Pattern Combinations: Progress & Achievement
The most successful apps rarely use these patterns in isolation. Here’s how they work together:
Progress Bars + Milestones
Combine these when you want to balance short-term motivation with meaningful achievements. The progress bar pulls users through individual sessions while milestones mark genuine advancement. This creates both immediate satisfaction and memorable moments.
XP + Levels
This classic combination works when you want to reward both consistency and breakthrough moments. XP provides continuous feedback while levels create clear status jumps. Users always feel forward momentum while working toward concrete goals.
Personal Records + Achievements
Pair these when you want to transform individual improvement into lasting recognition. Personal records create self-competition while achievements mark notable accomplishments. This helps users track growth while building a collection of meaningful moments.
Skill Trees + Mastery Paths
Combine these when users benefit from both specialization and structured progression. Skill trees provide choice in direction while mastery paths ensure genuine skill development. This creates engagement through both autonomy and achievement.
And bridging to next week’s Social & Competition mechanics:
Personal Records + Leaderboards
This combination works when you want to encourage both self-improvement and healthy competition. Personal records keep users focused on their own growth while leaderboards add optional social comparison.
What Comes Next?
These nine progress and achievement mechanics form the foundation of many gamified systems. But they’re not just a checklist to implement. The key is understanding how they work together.
For instance, progress bars work naturally with mastery paths to show advancement. Experience points pair perfectly with levels to create both continuous and milestone-based feedback. Personal records can trigger achievements, which then become part of collections.
In the next part of this series, we’ll explore Social & Competition mechanics — techniques that turn individual progress into shared experiences. We’ll look at how leaderboards, leagues, and social challenges can drive engagement when used properly (and drive users away when implemented poorly).
Want to make sure you don’t miss it? Follow me here on Medium. And if you’re implementing gamification in your product right now, I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments.
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Sam Liberty is a gamification expert, game designer, and consultant. He teaches game design at Northeastern University and was formerly Lead Game Designer at Sidekick Health. His clients include The World Bank, Click Therapeutics, and DARPA.
