What’s the best guide structure for new players vs. 100% completionists?

Creating a comprehensive guide for a video game is an art form, especially when you consider the vastly different needs of its audience. On one hand, you have new players seeking a gentle introduction to the game’s world and core mechanics. On the other, dedicated 100% completionists demand every secret, every optimal path, and every last collectible documented. Reconciling these divergent requirements into a single, cohesive guide structure is the central challenge for any guide writer.

Guiding the Novice: Simplicity and Progression

New players often come to a game with little to no prior knowledge. Their primary goal is typically to understand the basics, follow the main storyline, and progress without getting lost or overwhelmed. For this audience, a guide needs to be linear, accessible, and spoiler-light. It should focus on crucial information: controls, early-game strategies, key quest objectives, and explanations of fundamental game systems. Excessive detail about optional content, missable items, or intricate lore can be a significant deterrent.

The best structure for new players is often a sequential walkthrough that mirrors the game’s main narrative progression. Each section should clearly outline the next steps, offering just enough information to overcome challenges without trivializing the experience. Crucially, such guides should include warnings for potential spoilers and clearly delineate between main story progression and optional diversions. Keeping the language straightforward and encouraging exploration within safe boundaries helps build confidence.

Serving the Completionist: Exhaustive Detail and Optimization

In stark contrast, 100% completionists are motivated by the desire to uncover every secret, earn every achievement, and master every facet of a game. They thrive on exhaustive checklists, optimal routing strategies, and detailed explanations of complex mechanics. For them, a guide isn’t just about finishing the game; it’s about dissecting it and extracting every last drop of content, often with an emphasis on efficiency and avoiding permanent misses.

A completionist guide demands a highly organized, often modular structure. This might involve sections dedicated to specific areas, quests, collectibles (e.g., “all Gwent cards,” “all korok seeds”), or achievement categories. Checklists, tables, and maps with marked locations are invaluable tools. Furthermore, these guides often delve into advanced strategies for boss fights, minigames, or character builds that new players might find overwhelming. The focus shifts from simply telling players what to do, to showing them how to do it perfectly and efficiently, often highlighting missable opportunities.

The Hybrid Approach: Modular Design and Clear Navigation

The ideal guide often finds a way to serve both audiences without alienating either. This is where modular design and robust navigation become paramount. A single guide can be structured to offer a “main story path” that is easy for new players to follow, while simultaneously providing clearly marked and easily accessible “side content,” “collectibles,” or “advanced strategy” sections for completionists.

Key strategies for a hybrid guide include:

• Table of Contents: A detailed, interactive table of contents allowing users to jump directly to relevant sections, whether it’s a specific main quest or a list of all hidden items.
• Section Tagging: Clearly label sections as “Main Story,” “Optional,” “Collectible Guide,” “Spoiler Warning,” etc.
• Progressive Revelation: Introduce basic concepts early, then layer on advanced details in later, optional sections.
• Maps and Overlays: Provide clean, main-path maps for new players and detailed, annotated maps for completionists.
• Search Functionality: Essential for completionists looking for specific items or quests.

Crafting Effective Guide Content

Regardless of the target audience, several principles remain universal for effective guide writing:

• Clarity and Conciseness: Avoid jargon where possible, or explain it clearly. Get straight to the point.
• Visual Aids: Screenshots, diagrams, and video embeds (even if just indicated by anchors here) can significantly enhance understanding.
• Regular Updates: Games evolve, and so should guides, especially for live service titles.
• Player-Centric Language: Write from the perspective of helping the player succeed and enjoy the game.

For new players, less is often more, providing just enough information to keep them moving forward. For completionists, more is always more, with exhaustive detail being highly valued. The challenge is in presenting this wealth of information in an organized way that doesn’t overwhelm the former while satisfying the latter’s deep dive requirements.

Conclusion

The best guide structure isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution; it’s a dynamic framework designed to adapt to diverse player needs. By understanding the distinct motivations of new players and 100% completionists, guide creators can craft resources that are both welcoming and comprehensive. A well-designed guide prioritizes clear navigation, thoughtful segmentation, and a commitment to providing the right amount of information at the right time, ensuring every player finds their ideal path through the game.