The Gamer's Brain, 2nd Edition by Celia Hodent - ISBN: 9780367638184
Paperback
Design engaging games with cognitive science and UX expertise.

The Gamer's Brain, 2nd Edition

How Neuroscience and UX Can Impact Video Game Design

$98.40

  • Paperback

    315 pages

  • Release Date

    6 March 2026

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Summary

Creating a successful video game requires more than just great ideas—it demands a deep understanding of user experience (UX). Successful games like Fortnite thrive because of their refined UX strategy, which prioritizes player engagement and satisfaction. This book equips readers with cognitive science insights and UX methodologies to design fun and engaging games that are inclusive, accessible, and ethically sound, while staying true to the artistic and design vision. Whether you’re…

Book Details

ISBN-13:9780367638184
ISBN-10:0367638185
Author:Celia Hodent
Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:CRC Press
Format:Paperback
Number of Pages:315
Edition:2nd
Release Date:6 March 2026
Weight:702g
Dimensions:23mm x 238mm x 170mm
What They're Saying

Critics Review

Praise for the First Edition…

“The beauty of this book is that it is two things at the same time:

1. An amazingly complete introduction to psychology, using examples from video games to make the concepts clear and memorable.

2. An amazingly complete introduction to video game design, using psychology to help design more compelling games.

So whether you are a game designer, a player, or someone wishing to understand psychology, this is the book for you.”

-Don Norman, Director, the Design Lab at the University of California, San Diego, Author of The Design of Everyday Things

“By blending up-to-date brain science with game-relevant UX design principles, this book doesn’t just give great tips about how to make better games, it gives designers the mental tools to get better at thinking about games. Read this, and suddenly you’ll know what you’re talking about.”

-Jesse Schell, Game Designer, author of The Art of Game Design

“This book is an invaluable asset for game developers, whether you work in game design, user experience, or programming. With a lucid overview of the current best knowledge from cognitive psychology, Hodent provides guidelines and approaches to improve the game experience for players that are based on actual science.”

-Raph Koster, Game Designer, author of A Theory of Fun for Game Design

About The Author

Celia Hodent

Celia Hodent, PhD in psychology, is recognized as a leader in the application of user experience and cognitive science in the game industry. With over 17 years of experience in game studios (Ubisoft, LucasArts, & director of UX at Epic Games), she has contributed to advancing the topics of UX strategy, inclusion, and ethics in games. Author of several critically acclaimed books on games and psychology, Celia is the founder of the Game UX Summit & the Ethical Games initiative. She works today as an independent consultant and is an international public speaker.

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