# Gamification 2.0. Beyond Points and Badges: Designing for Players, Not Metrics. Chapter 1: The Problem

DevFeed: [Gamification 2.0. Beyond Points and Badges: Designing for Players, Not Metrics. Chapter 1: The Problem](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/gamification-2-0-beyond-points-and-badges-designing-for-players-not-metrics-chapter-1-the-problem-9076.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://uxmag.com/articles/gamification-2-0-beyond-points-and-badges-designing-for-players-not-metrics-chapter-1-the-problem>)

Author: Montgomery Singman

Published: 2026-05-12T03:41:36Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [UX Magazine](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/ux-magazine.md>)

Topics: [User experience (UX)](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ux.md>), [App](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/app.md>)

Tags: [apps](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/apps.md>), [best-practices](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/best-practices.md>), [ux](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ux.md>)

## AI overview

This opinion article argues that superficial gamification often relies on copied mechanics such as points, badges, and leaderboards, producing short-term engagement followed by abandonment. It advocates designing around players' motivations and game understanding rather than product metrics.

## Source excerpt

Part 1 of the "Gamification Series." The gamification cargo cult Let me tell you about a phenomenon I see everywhere: apps with "gamification" that no actual gamer would tolerate for five minutes. Duolingo guilt-trips you about broken streaks. LinkedIn congratulates you for reaching "All-Star Profile" status -- a meaningless label that optimizes for LinkedIn's data The post Gamification 2.0. Beyond Points and Badges: Designing for Players, Not Metrics. Chapter 1: The Problem appeared first on UX Magazine.