Mobile Game Testing: Types, Stages, and Checklist

The mobile gaming industry is a behemoth, with billions of players worldwide. But what separates a captivating game from a frustrating flop? Quality Assurance (QA) or testing is the secret weapon! Thorough testing ensures a smooth, engaging experience for players, translating to positive reviews, loyal users, and ultimately, a successful game.

This blog equips you with the knowledge of various types of game testing to perform for mobile games, multiple stages involved in mobile game testing, and a checklist to remember.

Types of mobile game testing

This section explores distinct testing methodologies which are tailored specifically for mobile game development, all for the betterment of a mobile video game that competes with the tight mobile gaming industry, and not only compete but dominates.

• Device interaction testing
  Device interaction testing focuses on evaluating how well the game responds to different input methods, such as touch, tilt, swipe, and multi-touch gestures specific to mobile devices.Testers assess the accuracy and responsiveness of touch controls, gyroscopic movements, and other device interactions to ensure expected gameplay experiences.
  ‍Example: Verifying that touch gestures like tapping, dragging, and pinching respond prompts and accurately in a puzzle game requiring precise input.
• ‍Network latency testing
  Network latency testing measures the game’s performance under various network conditions and regional ping latency verification. Across different connectivity environments, such as Wi-Fi, 4G, and 5G.Testers simulate low-bandwidth or high-latency network scenarios to evaluate how the game handles real-time multiplayer interactions, asynchronous updates, and in-game transactions.
  ‍Example: Testing a multiplayer first-person shooter to ensure minimal lag and synchronized gameplay actions even under poor network conditions. The tester's focus will also be the input lag.
• ‍In-App purchase testing
  In-app purchase testing validates the functionality and integrity of in-game purchasing systems, ensuring that players can safely and seamlessly make transactions for virtual goods, currency, or premium content.Testers verify the reliability of payment gateways, purchase confirmation processes, receipt generation, and currency exchanges with the game’s ecosystem.
  ‍Example: Testing the purchase flow in a free-to-play game to ensure that players can buy virtual currency bundles securely and receive corresponding in-game items/currency without errors.
• ‍Battery consumption testing
  Battery consumption testing evaluates the game’s impact on device battery life, optimizing resource utilization to minimize power consumption and prolong gameplay sessions without draining the device’s battery excessively.Testers measure the game’s energy consumption during different gameplay scenarios, including different graphics settings, graphics rendering, audio playback, network activity, background processes, and various monitoring tools.
  
  • ‍Scenarios: 
    • Scenario 1: Run the game with maximum graphics settings for 1 hour.
    • ‍Scenario 2: Play the game with audio at full volume for 1 hour.
    • ‍Scenario 3: Engage in online multiplayer mode for 1 hour.
    • ‍Scenario 4: Leave the game running in the background with notifications active for 1 hour.
• ‍Memory management testing
  Memory management testing assesses how efficiently the game uses device memory (RAM), optimizing memory allocation and deallocation to prevent crashes, freezes, or performance degradation on low-memory devices.Testers, specifically memory management testers monitor memory usage patterns, identify memory leaks, and optimize asset loading, caching, and unloading strategies to ensure smooth and stable gameplay experiences.
  ‍Example: Stress testing the game by running multiple instances or switching between resource-intensive levels to detect memory-related issues and assist in optimizing memory usage accordingly.
• Social integration testing
  Social integration testing validates the seamless integration of social features, such as leaderboards, achievements, social sharing, and multiplayer matchmaking, enhancing player engagement and retention through social interactions.QA individuals will verify that players can connect with friends, compare their progress with leaderboards, invite others to play, and participate in social challenges or events within the game.
  ‍Example: Testing the integration of social media APIs to enable players to share their achievements or invite friends to join multiplayer matches seamlessly.
• ‍Cross-platform compatibility testing
  Cross-platform compatibility testing ensures that the game functions consistently across different mobile platforms (iOS, Android, or any other platform) and device configurations, maintaining feature parity and performance standards across diverse hardware and software environments.Testers will validate that the game adapts dynamically to platform-specific requirements, resolutions, aspect ratios, input methods, and performance variations.
  ‍Example: Testing the game on various smartphones, tablets, and operating system versions to confirm consistent gameplay experiences and visual fidelity across all supported platforms.Learn more about how to write test cases for game testing.

Mobile game testing process

The goal is to ensure a polished, bug-free, and enjoyable gaming experience for your users.  This journey involves meticulous planning, crafting test cases, setting up the environment, rigorous execution, and insightful analysis.  Throughout the process, feedback is collected, issues are addressed, and the game is continuously refined.

1. Planning phase
   
   • Define testing objectives, scope, target platforms, key features, game mechanics, and critical paths.
   • Establish test environments, tools, and resources.‍
2. Test case design
   • Create test scenarios covering gameplay mechanics, UI elements, and user interactions.
   • Incorporate edge cases, boundary conditions, and negative scenarios.
3. ‍Preparations
   • Set up testing devices, emulators, and development, and install the necessary testing frameworks.
   • Configure network conditions, sensors, and device settings for realistic testing.
4. ‍Execution
   • Conduct all types of testing related to requirements to verify game mechanics and controls.
   • Evaluate game performance, including frame rates, loading times, and resource usage.
5. ‍Feedback collection
   • Gather feedback from all the testers on board.
   • Document issues, bugs, and enhancement suggestions for further analysis.
6. ‍Issue resolution
   • Prioritize and address reported issues based on severity and impact.
   • Collaborate with developers to fix reported issues and ultimately enhance gameplay.
7. ‍Validation
   • Re-test fixed issues to ensure they have been successfully resolved.
   • Validate game improvements and enhancements against the original requirements.
8. ‍Analysis and reporting
   • Analyze test results, metrics, and trends to identify areas for improvement.
   • Prepare test summary reports for stakeholders and project stakeholders.
9. ‍Project closure
   • ‍‍Finalize testing documentation, reports, and deliverables.
   • Obtain approvals for game releases or further development iterations.
   • Conduct post-release monitoring and support as needed.

Stages of mobile game testing

The testing process is not a single event but a series of stages that align with the game development lifecycle, all the stages are meant to be followed in order to ensure quality at every phase. In this section, we will look at six different stages of mobile game testing.

1. ‍Pre-production testing
   This stage focuses on confirming the game’s concept and design documentation to prevent any difficulties before development begins.
   ‍Example: Reviewing game design documents and prototypes for usability, feasibility, and alignment with project objectives.
2. ‍Production testing
   Continuous testing is used throughout the development process to discover and fix issues early on.
   ‍Example: Regularly testing new builds and features for functionality, performance, and compatibility as they are implemented by the development team.
3. ‍Post-production testing
   After the game's development has finished, beta testing with real players is typically used to gather opinions and identify any lingering flaws.
   ‍Example: Distributing the game to a limited group of external testers or beta users to collect feedback on gameplay experience, performance, and usability.
4. ‍Release testing
   This stage focuses on ensuring the game is ready for public release by thoroughly testing all aspects of the game across various mobile devices and platforms. Always prefer real devices for testing, as they will give the maximum testing accuracy. Rely on emulators or cloud devices if you want to achieve testing on a massive array of devices.
   ‍Example: Conducting final rounds of testing to verify game stability, compatibility, and performance on different devices and operating systems.
5. ‍Live operations testing
   It involves ongoing testing and monitoring of the live game environment to address any issues that may arise after the release of the video game.
   ‍Example: Monitoring server performance, player metrics, and user feedback to identify and resolve any post-launch issues promptly.
6. ‍Maintenance testing 
   Conducted periodically after release to address bug fixes, updates, and optimization to ensure the game’s continued success and longevity.
   ‍Example: Re-testing fixed issues, implementing regular patch fixes, accepting player feedback, and monitoring market trends.

The mobile game testing checklist

The checklist will serve as a navigational tool that will guide your talented testers throughout the testing process, marking various points to keep in mind at different phases of testing. We will look at different types of testing and what checklist points we should not miss, even by mistake.

• Functional Testing Checklist
  
  • Verify that game startup and loading times are within acceptable limits.
  • Check that all user inputs (swipes, taps, and multi-touch) are registered accurately.
  • Ensure all game levels load correctly and maintain their state during interruptions.
  • Test in-app purchases and currency transactions for security and accuracy.
  • Confirm that the game saves and loads progress reliably across sessions.
    
• Performance Testing Checklist
  
  • Assess game performance on various devices with different specifications.
  • Monitor frame rates during graphically intensive scenes.
  • Evaluate the game’s battery consumption on different devices.
  • Check for overheating issues on hardware during extended play sessions.
  • Test network performance for online features and multiplayer components.
    
• Compatibility Testing Checklist
  • Ensure the game operates on various OS versions, including outdated ones.
  • Test on devices with different screen sizes and aspect ratios.
  • Validate game behavior in different orientations (portrait or landscape).
  • Check for UI consistency and responsiveness across devices.
  • Verify audio and visual elements are rendered correctly on all supported devices.
    
• Security Testing Checklist
  • Conduct vulnerability assessments for the game’s backend infrastructure.
  • Test for secure data transmission during gameplay and transactions.
  • Implement checks for data encryption methods used in the game.
  • Verify compliance with relevant data protection regulations.
  • Perform penetration testing to uncover potential security threats.
    
• Localization Testing Checklist
  
  • Confirm translation accuracy for all in-game text and user interface elements.
  • Test the cultural appropriateness of content, symbols, and colloquialisms.
  • Ensure localized versions adhere to regional legal and rating requirements.
  • Verify that the formatting of dates, currencies, and units is region-specific.
  • Check for text-overflow or truncation issues in different languages.

Conclusion

We’ve explored the critical role of testing in mobile game development, the various types and stages of testing, and provided a checklist to guide you throughout the testing process.

Thorough testing is the backbone of a successful mobile game, ensuring reliability, security, and an exceptional user experience that will make gamers feel nostalgic when they return to the game after years and revisit one of their favorite games with their friends.

If you have any queries regarding mobile testing or mobile game testing, feel free to reach out to Alphabin for guidance.