Matrix questions can be a really useful addition to your player survey.
They let you ask players to rate several related statements using the same scale. For example:
That can make surveys feel more structured, reduce repetition, and make it easier to compare different parts of the player experience.
But matrix questions work best when they are used with care. In this quick guide we’re going to run through some pointers to help you get the most out of matrix questions, in your own survey.
A matrix works best when the rows genuinely belong together.
For example, it makes sense to group questions about onboarding, controls, difficulty, accessibility, or motivation.
It works less well when the matrix becomes a place to put everything you want to ask.
A simple check is:
Would the player naturally think about these things together?
If yes, a matrix may be a good fit. If not, split the questions up.
A short matrix can feel efficient.
A long matrix can feel like admin.
Once there are too many rows, players may start skimming or selecting responses without thinking much about each item.
I would usually rather use a few focused matrices than one huge one.
Rows should be clear and actionable.
“The game was good” is not very helpful.
“I understood what I was supposed to do with the planetary annihilator" is much better.
Similarly, “The controls felt responsive” is better than “the controls were good.”
The aim is not just to collect a score. It is to understand what that score means for the game.
“The controls were responsive and easy to learn” sounds reasonable, but it is actually asking two things.
A player might agree with one part and disagree with the other.
Split it into:
That gives you cleaner feedback.
Matrix questions only work when the same scale makes sense for every row.
If the rows are about clarity, use a clarity scale.
If they are about difficulty, use a difficulty scale.
If they are about frequency, use a frequency scale.
Do not force different types of judgement into one matrix just because it looks tidy.
Matrix questions can be more demanding than they look.
Players need to track the statement, the scale, and the response options at the same time.
That can be harder for players using screen readers, players with cognitive disabilities, players on mobile, or players who are tired or low on energy.
A matrix should make the survey easier for players, not just easier for researchers.
Matrix questions are good at showing patterns.
They can tell you that players found the tutorial unclear, or that motivation dropped after a certain point.
But they usually cannot tell you why.
A focused follow-up can help:
“You rated the tutorial as unclear. What, if anything, made it difficult to understand?”
The matrix gives you structure. The open-ended question gives you context.
This also emphasises why the matrix items need to be related to one another, as it helps ensure that these open-ended follow-ups provide feedback directed at the same area of the game.
Remember that Matrix questions are not good or bad by default.
Used well, they can make surveys clearer, faster, and easier to analyse.
Used poorly, they create neat-looking data that may not mean very much.
The key is to keep them focused, specific, accessible, and connected to decisions the team actually needs to make.
That is when matrix questions become a useful part of player research.