Why a Website Should Invite You to Play

Most websites are read. Very few are experienced. The difference is interaction: the site responding to what you do, offering you something and letting you discover things on your own.

What I did in my portfolio

My portfolio doesn’t open with a list of services but with a journey: from a galaxy, past Earth, down to a 3D room with my desk. Almost everything in that room can be touched:

• A Game Boy on the nightstand with classic mini-games: Tetris, Snake, Pong, Space Invaders and more.
• An astronaut and an alien who take you to fly a ship through the solar system.
• A mirror that, if you allow it, shows you inside the room with different effects.
• A workbench with real tools to use and a notebook with these notes.

The “serious” content, projects and contact, lives on the laptop screen.

Why it works

When people play, they lower their guard. They stop “evaluating” and start enjoying. Time on site multiplies, people explore sections they wouldn’t otherwise see and, above all, they leave with a memory. A portfolio with a mini-game gets talked about; one with a list of technologies rarely does.

Play also demonstrates skills without explaining them. A visitor who flies a ship in the browser already understands that I can work with 3D, sound and performance.

It isn’t for every site

A bank or a hospital needs clarity above all. But even there, small gestures fit: an animation confirming an action, a form that responds kindly, a detail that surprises. Interaction isn’t always a full game; sometimes it’s just a warm response.

The golden rule

Play should never be a barrier. In my portfolio there’s always a button to skip the intro and go straight to the content. Inviting people to play is great; forcing them isn’t.

Source of inspiration: Guide to website gamification with examples and best practices (Wix Blog, 2024) – https://wix.com/blog/website-gamification