2026-03-25 –, Full Room
“Make it more fun” is one of the most common pieces of feedback in game development - and one of the least useful. The problem is simple: “fun” is too broad to guide design decisions.
This talk introduces a practical framework for breaking down player enjoyment into distinct emotional experiences - such as mastery, surprise, social connection, and expression. By understanding the different ways games create enjoyment, design teams can communicate more clearly, diagnose problems faster, and build stronger player experiences.
Drawing on nearly two decades of experience across videogames, toys, and tabletop games, Jenna Hoffstein will share tools her teams have used to build a shared vocabulary of play and elevate design discussions.
Jenna Hoffstein is a game design leader with nearly 20 years of experience across videogames, toys, and tabletop games. Most recently she led a Game Design team at Hasbro, guiding a portfolio of 75+ annual board game titles across brands including Monopoly, Clue, and Avalon Hill while championing design excellence and innovation. She is passionate about understanding the many ways people experience play and building the systems that help creative teams do their best work.