Playful Learning that works tor everyone? It's hard, but doable!

Avoiding the “meh” effect when your audience isn't as uniform as it seems.

You’ve been asked to create a learning experience for a specific audience. Let’s say:

• Teenagers

• New employees

• Teachers

• Care professionals

Seems clear enough, right?

But once you start designing, you notice something strange. What felt like a focused target group starts to split into subgroups.

Thirteen-year-olds are totally different from fifteen-year-olds.

Quiet introverts get drowned out by loud extroverts.

Teachers range from playful, open-minded experimenters to spreadsheet lovers who’d rather skip your playful solution.

Suddenly, your one-size-fits-all experience feels like a wobbly compromise.

Sound familiar?

Why this happens more often than you think

We love to segment audiences into neat boxes. But real people rarely fit that way.Even within a so-called “narrow” group, differences in personality, motivation, learning style, and social comfort can be huge.

In fact, some of the hardest groups to design for are the ones that seem homogenous at first glance.

And that’s where playful learning can shine. Well, if you design for it with care.

Common pitfalls when designing for groups that look similar

• Assuming one tone or style will resonate with everyone

• Aiming for the middle and losing the edges

• Making it safe and simple, but not exciting or personal

The result? A learning experience that’s technically fine… but emotionally flat. The kind where people say “yeah, it was okay” and never mention it again. Or worse: “It was kind of boring.”

Here’s how to make it meaningful for more people

These strategies help whether you’re working with a visibly broad audience or just a deceptively narrow one.

1. Design in layers, not one-size-fits-all

Think of your learning experience like an onion. Create a clear, simple core that everyone can access, but allow optional layers of complexity or challenge.

Example: In a card-based activity, you could design alternative sets for different reading levels, ages, or themes. Even subtle tweaks can help people feel like, “this was made for me.”

Yes, this takes extra time. But it can make the difference between polite participation and real engagement!

2. Use roles to invite different kinds of players

Not everyone wants to lead, solve, talk, or joke.

Give participants different roles or options within the same activity. Some may be the builders. Others the storytellers. Some the reflectors.

Roles give people permission to show up in a way that feels natural to them. And you get more variety in participation without needing five different activities.

3. Group intentionally, not randomly

When possible, group people by mindset, age, role, or familiarity. If that’s not possible, create ways for people to self-select into experiences that feel right for them.

Example: Let participants choose between different challenges or starting points. Or give them cards with challenges suited to different comfort levels.

4. Speak to multiple player types

Use Bartle’s Player Types as a check-in:

• 🎯 Achievers want to accomplish something

• 👥 Socializers want to connect

• 🤠 Explorers want to discover

• ⚡ Killers* want to leave a mark

*Killers sounds harsher than it is. Bartle's choice of words, not mine.

If your experience only speaks to one or two types, some people will drift. Offer an interesting mix with for example goals, surprises, cooperation, consequences, and you’ll reach a wider range of learners.

5. Ask: who might quietly opt out?

This is the question we ask in every design session. Who in this group might not feel seen? Who might think, “this isn’t really for me”?

And then: What can we change to gently invite them in?

Sometimes that means changing the theme.

Sometimes it’s offering choices.

Sometimes it’s just using warmer, more inclusive language.

Real inclusivity is subtle

It’s not just about demographics or accessibility checklists. It’s about understanding that even “similar” people show up with different needs, energy, and comfort levels.

Play creates space for that. But only if we don’t lock it down too tightly.

So don’t aim for something that works on average. Design something flexible, layered, and open. Something that lets different kinds of people light up for different reasons.

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Want help designing for a beautifully messy audience?

We do this all the time: from onboarding games for new employees to 3D story-driven games for teens in residential care.

If your learning experience needs to speak to more than just the middle of the bell curve, we’d love to help.

📅 Book a free 30-minute consult

🎲Explore our playful learning experiences