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The design problem
Traditional crash games rely on a simple loop: place a bet, watch the multiplier increase, and cash out before it crashes.
While effective, this creates predictable behaviour and limits opportunities to influence player emotion.
The challenge was to introduce a new mechanic that increases tension and engagement, without breaking familiarity or adding complexity.
Designing for player psychology
The surge mechanic was designed around FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) and forced commitment.
During a surge:
• Players cannot cash out
• The multiplier increases rapidly
• Risk and reward escalate at the same time
All players can see the surge, including those who have already cashed out. This reinforces a sense of missed opportunity and encourages players to stay in longer in future rounds.
Once the surge ends, a short countdown returns control, creating urgency and decision pressure.
This combination increases emotional engagement while keeping the core gameplay simple.
The surge mechanic
The surge acts as a mid-round event that changes the pacing of the game.
It can trigger dynamically during gameplay, temporarily removing player control while accelerating the multiplier.
From a UX perspective, this required:
• Clear communication that cash out is disabled
• Strong visual feedback during the surge
• Reassurance that control will return
The mechanic needed to feel intentional and exciting, not confusing or unfair.
Interaction and flow design
I worked closely with product and development to define the flow of the surge mechanic.
The interaction needed to remain simple and predictable:
Player places bet
Game begins
Surge may trigger
Cash out disabled
Surge ends
Countdown window
Player cashes out or loses
This ensured the mechanic added depth without increasing cognitive load.
Narrative and progression
The experience was designed with a subtle narrative inspired by Zeus and Greek mythology.
The round begins in a grounded, enclosed environment, representing restrained power.
As the multiplier increases, the environment evolves, leading toward a palace in the sky inspired by Mount Olympus.
Reaching the highest multipliers represents ascension to Zeus’s full power, although this outcome is intentionally rare.
This narrative layer adds a sense of progression and purpose to the round, reinforcing the idea of building toward something greater rather than simply reacting to the multiplier.
Tutorial system and reusable templates
I designed the first reusable “How to play” template to support onboarding across all games.
The previous approach was limited to a small number of steps, which restricted how clearly more complex mechanics could be explained.
I introduced a carousel-based system that allows for greater flexibility, including:
• Additional steps without layout constraints
• Larger visual examples
• The ability to incorporate animation where needed
This made it easier to communicate gameplay clearly while supporting more complex mechanics such as the surge.
I worked closely with product and development to ensure the system could be reused across future titles, improving both consistency and speed of delivery.
This established a consistent onboarding pattern that could scale across the product portfolio.
Visual design evolution
This was the first project where I worked with a dedicated artist Sam, significantly increasing the visual quality of the game.
Compared to previous titles:
• Environments became more dynamic
• Character animation was more refined
• Effects and lighting added a stronger sense of energy
The Zeus theme allowed for a more dramatic and high-impact visual style, supporting the intensity of the surge mechanic.
This marked a shift from purely functional visuals to a more experience-driven approach.
Collaboration
This project was highly collaborative.
I worked with:
• Product to define the mechanic and player behaviour
• Developers to ensure feasibility and performance
• Artists to elevate the visual quality
My role focused on shaping the interaction flows, defining the player experience, and ensuring clarity during high-intensity moments.
Outcome and learnings
The surge mechanic introduced a new way to increase engagement within crash gameplay.
It demonstrated how restricting control at key moments can heighten tension and create more memorable experiences.
Key learnings:
• Limiting control can increase emotional impact
• Timing and pacing are critical to engagement
• New mechanics must feel intuitive within seconds
The result is a more dynamic crash experience that builds on familiar gameplay while introducing meaningful variation.
Future opportunities
The surge mechanic could be expanded through:
• Multiple surge types
• Visual anticipation cues
• Player-driven triggers
This opens up opportunities for deeper engagement without increasing complexity.
