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Adjarabet: Solving retention with a gamified progression system
Gamified achievements module designed to boost long-term retention through timed missions, level progression, leaderboard competition, and an interconnected reward ecosystem.
App name
Adjarabet
My role
Product designer
Platform
iOS / Android
Overview
The Challenge
While Adjarabet successfully attracts new players, many users fail to develop long-term engagement habits.
Players interact with games in isolated sessions rather than experiencing
a continuous journey of achievement and status growth.
The opportunity is to introduce a gamified progression system that gives players clear goals, visible progress, and reasons to come back, while keeping the experience enjoyable and not pushy or overwhelming. not by adding isolated features like a badge here or a leaderboard there, but by creating an interconnected ecosystem where timed missions, level progression, achievements, and competitive rankings all feed into each other, giving players meaningful reasons to return daily.
Root Cause
Lack of goals
- Players do not know what to aim for
- Instead of "Play slots" Users should see "Complete 3 missions today" (long-term motivation)
No Daily Hooks
The lack of time-sensitive engagement triggers that create habit-forming daily login patterns.
Lack of social motivation
- Players cannot see their rank, status or achievements (No social competition)
- Humans are strongly motivated by comparison and status in order to maintain activity
No sense of progress
- Players do not feel they are moving forward
- Winning money is random (not earned)
- Lack of progress outside individual game outcomes, leading to a feeling of stagnation or loss.
Design Challenge
How might we introduce a gamified progression system (including time-based missions, levels, rewards, and leaderboards) that creates long-term motivation and encourages players to return daily while keeping the experience intuitive and exciting?
What player wants
Players stay longer when they feel progress, not just luck
Motivation
Users crave recognition for their skill and
frequency of play, beyond just the winnings.
- Winning
- Status
- Competition
- Completion
- Collection
Examples
Tier-based exclusive events, visible profile
badges, and personalized milestone
bonuses.
- Money
- Leader boards
- Rankings
- Achievements
- Badges
Core psychological drivers
Social Comparison
Players are motivated by status and competition. Seeing other players perform better often triggers increased effort to climb the leaderboard.
Leaderboards introduce: ranking, prestige and competition
Key player personas
🔥
Achievement oriented
Motivation:
completing goals | level up | collecting badges
They respond well to:
- achievements
- mission systems
- level progression
👑
Competitive
Motivation:
outperforming others | climbing ranks | status
They respond well to:
- leaderboards
- leagues
- seasonal rankings
🎁
Reward-Oriented
Motivation:
rewards | bonuses | unlockables
They respond well to:
- reward tracks
- milestone prizes
- surprise bonuses
Direct & Indirect Competitor analyses
Analyzed various type of products in mentioned direction such as Achievement - Leaderboard and etc. What were they doing right and what could be improved.
Arc Raiders
One of the biggest game on the market at this moment - Analyzed their gamification’s Core loop ecosystem.
Gamification ecosystem
Hook for players
Results
Daily, weekly, and event tasks with countdown timers.
Creates multi-cadence return habits
FOMO Timer
3 Cadences
Recently played
Game shortcuts with free
play badges. Reduces friction to re-engage
Low friction
Lucky wheel
Free daily spin.
Zero-effort re-engagement anchor
Daily anchor
What players EARN
XP
75 XP per mission.
Feeds level + leaderboard
Free spins
+2 to +4 spins.
Loops back into play
Mystery box
Weekly at Gold+.
Variable reward
Cash bonus
$5/mo at Gold.
Tangible value
Progression system
Level progression
Bronze → Silver → Gold → Platinum → Ruby → Legend.
Each tier unlocks perks + gated content
Progressive Gated content
Achievements
Behavioral milestones. Some locked behind levels.
Earnable XP + reward claims
Level-gated
Leaderboard
Monthly XP ranking. Position #55 → Silver tier goal. Social pressure + competition
Social & Award driver
PAYOFF - Reasons to keep climbing
Level perks
2X slot XP, exclusive Platinum missions, new achievements, $5 monthly bonus
Leadeboard awards
Diamond: $reward + frame + 2X XPGold: $reward + frame + 1.5XSilver: $reward + badge + 1.25X
Why player returns tomorrow?
> Timed missions reset (daily / weekly / event)
> Free spins to use
> 1720 XP to Platinum
> 45 positions to Silver tier
> Achievement at 24/50 (near miss)
> Lucky wheel available
TimeFree spins → gameplay → more XP → level up → unlock missions → more spins
XP multiplier reward → faster leveling → higher leaderboard → better rewards
Design
Prototype Link
Thank You.
For diving deep into the Gamification Ecosystem. This journey is
about more than just points. it's about crafting experiences that
resonate.
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