Playtesting

In order to really understand how your game is perceived, you must test it. Often. Preferably with different groups of people, who shine new lights on the development process. It can be a tricky subject, since the game isn’t done yet and that means, people can be dead honest (or worse yet, not honest at all). It’s important to take this feedback and not try to explain what you are making or defending your prototype. You don’t want to make your playetesters bias. Here are some great sources regarding playtesting:

First playtests by One Thousand Experience and How to playtest your Board Game by Adam in Wales area great sources as to why you would want to playtest and some early tips on how to start

5 steps of getting honest player feedback by One Thousand Experience is a great source explaining five steps you can take to improve your playtesting skills.

MDA: A Formal Approach to Game Design and Game Research by Robin Hunicke, Marc LeBlanc, Robert Zubek is a great framework to think about your game from three different perspective (Mechanics, Dynamics and Aesthethics). The problem is that designers usually work from the mechanics side (defining the rules and the turn structure), while players look at the game from the aesthetics side (how the game makes them feel). Being aware of this disconnect can really help when doing playtests.