# playtest-report

Generates playtest report templates or turns raw playtest notes into structured findings with design checks. Useful for running and documenting game tests.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 589 installs · ★ 27473
- Author: Donchitos
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/Donchitos/Claude-Code-Game-Studios/tree/HEAD/.claude/skills/playtest-report/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-19
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/playtest-report

## What it does

The skill operates in two modes: it outputs a blank report template or structures raw playtesting notes. In analysis mode, the agent parses tester notes, scans headings in design documents with `Grep`, and contrasts player feedback with intended mechanics. Crashes and performance drops go straight to the bug table, keeping subjective friction separate under gameplay flow.

Findings are routed into dedicated buckets for design changes, balance adjustments, bugs, and polish. The workflow recommends follow-up actions like `/balance-check` or `/propagate-design-change`. In full review mode, it spawns the creative director subagent through gate `CD-PLAYTEST` to review the tester experience against project pillars.

If `game-concept.md` is missing, the director gate will fabricate pillars unless explicitly warned, so the prompt instructs it to evaluate the test hypothesis alone. Once confirmed, the final report is saved to `production/qa/playtests/`.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add Donchitos/Claude-Code-Game-Studios --skill playtest-report -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/playtest-report/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/playtest-report/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add Donchitos/Claude-Code-Game-Studios --skill playtest-report -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/playtest-report/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add Donchitos/Claude-Code-Game-Studios --skill playtest-report -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/playtest-report/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install Donchitos/Claude-Code-Game-Studios playtest-report
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/playtest-report/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add Donchitos/Claude-Code-Game-Studios --skill playtest-report -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/Donchitos/Claude-Code-Game-Studios --path .claude/skills/playtest-report
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/playtest-report/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add Donchitos/Claude-Code-Game-Studios --skill playtest-report -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/Donchitos/Claude-Code-Game-Studios/tree/HEAD/.claude/skills/playtest-report/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- structure raw playtest notes into a standardized game report
- compare playtest observations against game design documents
- separate technical defects from player friction and feel issues
- route feedback into balance tweaks, design changes, and polish tasks

## Example prompts
- /playtest-report new
- /playtest-report analyze notes/first-session.md --review solo
- Analyze playtest notes from notes/boss-fight.md using playtest-report --review full

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 1a62ee3dbca0c245.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 1a62ee3dbca0c245
````text
---
name: playtest-report
description: "Structured playtest report template, or turn existing playtest notes into structured feedback."
argument-hint: "[new|analyze path-to-notes] [--review full|lean|solo]"
user-invocable: true
allowed-tools: Read, Glob, Grep, Write, Agent, AskUserQuestion, Bash(bash "*/.claude/skills/playtest-report/../../hooks/yaml-helper.sh" resolve_config *)
model: sonnet
---

!`bash "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/../../hooks/yaml-helper.sh" resolve_config --keys review_mode,automation`

Resolved above — use as-is; `--review` overrides `review_mode` for this run. No
block → defaults in `.claude/docs/config-resolution.md`.

# Playtest Report



## Phase 1: Parse Arguments


See `.claude/docs/director-gates.md` for the full check pattern. Individual gate definitions live in `.claude/docs/director-gates/[gate-id].md` — the spawned agent reads its own gate file; do not read it in the parent session.


Every `AskUserQuestion` call follows `.claude/docs/automation-modes.md`
(collaborative asks always · guided major-only · autonomous logs and proceeds;
`automation_always_ask` categories always prompt).

Determine the mode:

- `new` → generate a blank playtest report template. This mode ends after
  Phase 2A: a blank template has nothing to route, review or save.
- `analyze [path]` → read raw notes and fill in the template with structured findings
- No argument → ask via `AskUserQuestion`: `[A] New blank template` /
  `[B] Analyze notes — I'll give you the path`

---

## Phase 2A: New Template Mode

Generate this template and output it to the user:

```markdown
# Playtest Report

## Session Info
- **Date**: [Date]
- **Build**: [Version/Commit]
- **Duration**: [Time played]
- **Tester**: [Name/ID]
- **Platform**: [PC/Console/Mobile]
- **Input Method**: [KB+M / Gamepad / Touch]
- **Session Type**: [First time / Returning / Targeted test]

## Test Focus
[What specific features or flows were being tested]

## First Impressions (First 5 minutes)
- **Understood the goal?** [Yes/No/Partially]
- **Understood the controls?** [Yes/No/Partially]
- **Emotional response**: [Engaged/Confused/Bored/Frustrated/Excited]
- **Notes**: [Observations]

## Gameplay Flow
### What worked well
- [Observation 1]

### Pain points
- [Issue 1 -- Severity: High/Medium/Low]

### Confusion points
- [Where the player was confused and why]

### Moments of delight
- [What surprised or pleased the player]

## Bugs Encountered
| # | Description | Severity | Reproducible |
|---|-------------|----------|-------------|

## Feature-Specific Feedback
### [Feature 1]
- **Understood purpose?** [Yes/No]
- **Found engaging?** [Yes/No]
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 1a62ee3dbca0c245

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the 1a62ee3dbca0c245 tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

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---
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