Gamification isn’t just about making your SaaS Product Design fun—it’s a powerful way to keep users engaged, encourage return visits, and increase the value of your product.
You’ve seen gamification in action if you’ve used apps like Duolingo, Fitbit, or even Trello.
These features make your experience feel more like a game—and they’re not just for fun. When used smartly, they keep users engaged, motivated, and coming back for more.
Here are nine game-inspired features that can help your SaaS platform grow stickier, boost retention, and make your users love using your product.
1. Progress Bars
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Everyone loves seeing progress—it’s satisfying. That’s why progress bars work so well. Whether during onboarding, setting up a profile, or completing a project, showing users how far they’ve come (and what’s left) motivates them to keep going.
💡 Tip: Break big goals into smaller steps. Show micro-progress—it’s surprisingly powerful. Bonus points if reaching milestones unlocks something new, like a badge or feature.
- Example: LinkedIn’s profile completion meter encourages users to add more details.
- Pro Tip: Break big goals into smaller steps so users feel constant progress.
2. Points & Rewards
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People love earning points—it feels like a win. Assign points for key actions like completing tasks, inviting teammates, or hitting usage goals. Then, let users redeem those points for perks like discounts, special features, or fun virtual goodies.
You can also add a leaderboard to show who’s most active. A little friendly competition can drive engagement.
- Example: Duolingo gives XP for daily lessons.
- Pro Tip: Let users redeem points for discounts, premium features, or real-world perks.
3. Leaderboards & Rankings
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Humans are naturally competitive. When users can see where they stand compared to others, they’re more likely to push themselves to improve.
Group users by skill or experience level to ensure fair competition. Highlight top performers, reset the board regularly, and keep things fresh with new challenges or time-based goals.
- Example: Fitbit shows how you stack up against friends.
- Pro Tip: Keep leaderboards fresh by resetting them weekly or monthly.
4. Badges & Achievements
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Think of badges as digital trophies. When users complete actions—big or small—reward them with a badge. It’s a visual way to celebrate wins, encourage exploration, and highlight progress.
Use different levels (bronze, silver, gold) and let users share their badges publicly. This boosts motivation and can even bring in new users through word-of-mouth.
- Example: Foursquare awards badges for checking in at locations.
- Pro Tip: Make badges shareable on social media to boost referrals.
5. Challenges & Quests
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Turn tedious tasks into fun missions. Daily, weekly, or monthly challenges give users a reason to return regularly. A project management app might offer questions like: “Complete five tasks today” or “Collaborate with three teammates this week.”
Make it rewarding. When users complete a challenge, please give them a small prize or unlockable feature. This will make your product more fun and valuable.
- Example: Asana’s “Complete 5 Tasks” quests.
- Pro Tip: Offer real rewards (free month, bonus features) for completing challenges.
6. Levels & Tiers
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Let users “level up” by using your product. Each level can unlock cool stuff, such as exclusive content, advanced features, priority support, etc.
Use visuals like bars or badges to show users where they stand and how close they are to leveling up. This system gives users something to work toward, making your app feel more personalized and rewarding.
- Example: Slack’s paid plans offer more storage and integrations.
- Pro Tip: Make higher tiers feel exclusive with VIP support or early access.
7. Social & Team Features
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Gamification isn’t just about individual wins—it’s about community, too. Add social elements like:
- Leaderboards with social sharing (to show off)
- Team challenges (where people work together)
- Group competitions (to build camaraderie)
These features encourage collaboration, drive adoption, and create a sense of belonging inside your product.
8. Virtual Currency
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Please create your in-app currency and let users earn it by completing actions. Then, let them spend it on upgrades, special features, or real-world rewards.
It adds a game-like economy to your product and gives users tangible goals to strive toward.
- Example: Reddit’s “Reddit Gold” for premium perks.
- Pro Tip: Allow users to buy, earn, or gift currency.
9. Personalized Avatars
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Let users create and customize their avatars. This will help them feel more connected to your product and add a layer of fun and self-expression.
Give users options to unlock new outfits, accessories, or avatar perks as they progress. The more personal and fun your product feels, the more users want to stay.
- Example: Discord’s avatar customization.
- Pro Tip: Offer rare avatar items as rewards.
📰 Good reads about Gamification
Final Thoughts
Gamification isn’t just bells and whistles—it’s a proven way to make SaaS platforms more engaging and enjoyable. Start with progress bars or points, then explore adding things like leaderboards, team quests, or avatar customization as your platform grows.
The goal? Make your SaaS not just functional—but fun. That’s how you turn users into loyal fans.