Show Juicy Feedback to Indicate Player Damage in Video Games

First published as The Acagamic Tip Tuesday #4 on acagamic.com. Edited for this archive.

Use UI iconography, text size, colour coding, timing, and audio to show feedback of impactful player damage in your combat designs.

Combat feels good when every hit lands with clear, satisfying feedback. Players call this feedback “juicy”: the visual, audio, and haptic cues that show what an attack did. Too much juice can pull players out of the world, so finding the right mix takes user testing. Diablo 3, Minecraft Dungeons, and the Final Fantasy 7 remake each strike that mix differently.

Diablo 3: bursts, numbers, and sound

Diablo 3 is a hack-and-slash action RPG known for fast, punchy combat. When a hit lands, particles burst from the enemy, a sound effect fires, and damage numbers float above the enemy’s head. Players always know how hard they hit.

Some argue these effects break immersion. Playtests and the game’s reception suggest players love them. The cues reward each action and keep players invested.

Minecraft Dungeons: blocky brawls in bright colours

Minecraft Dungeons brings Minecraft’s blocky style to a dungeon-crawling action RPG. Like Diablo 3, it shows particles and damage numbers on a hit, and it adds exaggerated animations and bright colours to sell each impact.

The approach fits the game’s cartoon look. The feedback helps players judge how well their attacks work and adjust their strategy, though the impact indicators could be stronger.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake: feedback for real-time and turn-based combat

The Final Fantasy 7 remake blends real-time action with turn-based tactics. Heavy animations, colourful particles, and crunchy sound effects make each hit felt.

The remake adds a stagger mechanic. When a player deals enough damage, the enemy visibly and audibly staggers, moves more slowly, and takes extra damage for a short time. Players see their progress in the fight without reading a single number.

All three games show that visual and audio embellishments can convey the impact of combat without wrecking the game world.

Further reading

• The UX lessons I learned from video games
• How video games inspire great UX