The Bartle Test of Gamer Psychology

The Bartle Test classifies players of multiplayer online games (including MUDs and MMORPGs) into categories based on Bartle's taxonomy of player types. Each player type (Socialiser, Explorer, Achiever and Killer) is defined by the gaming elements which they find most enjoyable.

You can also take the test in German and in French!

Which is more enjoyable to you?

Killing a big monster Bragging about it to your friends

Which do you enjoy more in quests?

Getting involved in the storyline Getting the rewards at the end

Would you rather be:

Popular? Wealthy?

Which do you enjoy more in an online game?

Getting the latest gossip Getting a new item

Which would you rather have, as a player in an online game?

A private channel, over which you and your friends can communicate Your own house, worth millions of gold coins

Which would you enjoy more as an online game player?

Running your own tavern? Making your own maps of the world, then selling them

What's more important in an online game to you?

The number of people The number of areas to explore

What's more important to you?

The quality of roleplaying in an online game The uniqueness of the features, and game mechanic

You are being chased by a monster in an online game. Do you:

Ask a friend for help in killing it Hide somewhere you know the monster won't follow?

You're a player in an online game, and about to go into an unknown dungeon. You have your choice of one more person for your party. Do you bring:

A bard, who's a good friend of yours and who's great for entertaining you and your friends A wizard, to identify the items that you find there?

Would you rather

Vanquish your enemies Convince your enemies to work for you, not against you?

Which is more exciting?

A well-roleplayed scenario A deadly battle

Which would you enjoy more?

Winning a duel with another player Getting accepted by a clan (a group of other players)

What's worse:

To be without power To be without friends?

Would you rather:

Hear what someone has to say Show them the sharp blade of your axe?

In an online game, a new area opens up. Which do you look forward to more?

Exploring the new area, and finding out its history Being the first to get the new equipment from the area

In an online game, would you rather be known as:

Someone who can run from any two points in the world, and really knows their way around The person with the best, most unique equipment in the game?

Would you rather:

Become a hero faster than your friends Know more secrets than your friends?

Would you rather:

Know where to find things Know how to get things?

Which would you rather do:

Solve a riddle no one else has solved Getting to a certain experience level faster than anyone else?

In an online game, would rather be known for

Knowledge Power?

Would you rather:

Defeat an enemy Explore a new area?

If you're alone in an area, do you think:

It's safe to explore You'll have to look elsewhere for prey?

You learn that another player is planning your demise. Do you:

Go to an area your opponent is unfamiliar with and prepare there Attack them before he attacks you?

You meet a new player. Do you think of them as:

Someone who can appreciate your knowledge of the game As potential prey?

In an online game, would you rather:

Have a sword twice as powerful as any other in the game Be the most feared person in the game?

In an online game, would you be more prone to brag about:

How many other players you've killed Your equipment?

Would you rather have:

A spell to damage other players A spell that increases the rate at which you gain experience points?

Would you rather have:

Two levels of experience An amulet that increases the damage you do against other players by 10%?

When playing a video game, is it more fun to:

Have the highest score on the list Beat your best friend one-on-one?

Background & Acknowledgements

The Bartle Test is based on the player types identified by the legendary Richard Bartle in his paper, Hearts, Clubs, Diamonds, Spades: Players Who Suit MUDs. It is strongly recommended that you read this paper if you wish to find out more about your player type, and what it all means. Bartle revisits and expands upon these ideas in his book, Designing Virtual Worlds, which is also recommended if you wish to delve a little deeper.

The original Bartle Test was created by Erwin S. Andreasen and Brandon Downey and this implementation is based on the question data which Andreasen has made available at http://www.andreasen.org/bartle/.

The impetus behind creating this version was the demise of the version hosted at GamerDNA, which I previously used when teaching.

Games research:

New paper published: 👉Playing Video Games During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Effects on Players' Well-Being👈https://t.co/eYmEn38Axw TL;DR: We identify seven ways that #videogames have had a positive effect on players' #wellbeing & #mentalhealth during the #COVID19 #lockdown. pic.twitter.com/8qPWHUkyfz — Matthew Barr (@hatii_matt) May 7, 2021

Here are the papers that describe our games research in more detail. 'Video games can develop graduate skills in higher education students: A randomised trial': https://t.co/gS8sBEHJID & 'Student attitudes to games-based skills development': https://t.co/Mxf24y3HAN #edudays18 — Matthew Barr (@hatii_matt) October 17, 2018