It’s no secret that catching issues early is far cheaper and faster than dealing with bugs after a game is released. Regression testing works the same way—helping developers catch hidden problems before they escalate into costly post-launch patches or updates.

But what exactly is regression game testing, and how does it fit into the complex world of game development? 

In this blog, we’ll cover everything you need to know about regression testing in gaming, from understanding its purpose to exploring different types and best practices.

So, whether you’re a developer, tester, or passionate gamer, get ready to explore the world of regression testing and learn how it keeps your favorite games running smoothly. 

Let’s get started!

What is Regression Game Testing, and Why is It Crucial for Game Development?

Regression game testing is a type of software testing that ensures updates, bug fixes, or new features in a game do not disrupt existing functionality. This approach validates that the game continues performing as intended after implementing changes. It focuses on rechecking stable areas of the game to confirm they remain unaffected by recent modifications.

Regression testing, also known as the Verification Method, often involves re-executing test cases to verify both old and new functionality.  Since running the same tests repeatedly can be time-consuming and monotonous, automation is commonly used to streamline the process.

Why is It Important?

Regression testing is vital for identifying issues early, preserving the game’s quality, and safeguarding its stability. It also ensures that changes do not negatively impact the gameplay experience. 

Here’s why regression testing is crucial.

• Preventing Unintended Consequences: Even small code changes can cause unexpected bugs and glitches. Regression testing acts as a safety net, catching these issues early to protect the game’s functionality.
• Maintaining Player Satisfaction: Players expect a smooth experience, even after updates. This testing prevents new problems from affecting gameplay, ensuring players remain engaged and satisfied with the game.
• Saving Time and Money: Identifying bugs during development is far more cost-effective than addressing them post-launch. Regression testing streamlines the process by detecting potential issues early.
• Compatibility Testing: This ensures that a game performs consistently across various platforms, devices, and operating systems. It verifies that the game functions as intended, providing players with a smooth and seamless experience, regardless of their device.
• Maintains Game Stability: Games evolve over time, and each update can potentially disrupt previously working features. Regression testing ensures a stable and seamless player experience.

Effective regression testing boosts a game’s overall quality and reduces the risks associated with updates and changes. To fully grasp its importance, let’s explore the different types of regression testing and how each plays a vital role in ensuring a seamless gaming experience.

What are the Types of Regression Game Testing?

Regression game testing can be categorized into different frameworks and methodologies, focusing on what to test and how the testing is performed. Regardless of the approach, all of them aim to ensure the stability and functionality of the game after updates. 

Below are the types based on these two categories.

1. What to Test
2. How the Testing is Performed

Based on: What to Test

When performing regression testing on a game, it’s essential to focus on different areas based on the changes’ scope. Depending on the nature and scale of the update, testing may be required for specific components, modules, or the entire system. 

Below are the types of regression testing based on what needs to be tested.

1. Unit Regression Testing (URT): Unit regression testing focuses on testing individual components or units of the game after changes are made. It ensures that specific parts of the game, such as a single feature or function, continue to work as intended without introducing new issues.
2. Regional Regression Testing (RRT): Regional regression testing targets specific areas or modules of the game that recent updates have impacted. It ensures that these areas function correctly and verifies that changes in one part of the game do not affect other unrelated sections.
3. Full or Complete Regression Testing (FRT): Full regression testing involves testing the entire game or system to verify that all functions and features work as expected after updates. This comprehensive approach is typically used after major changes or updates to ensure that nothing has been unintentionally broken across the game.

Based on: How the Testing is Performed

The approach and methodology for regression testing can vary depending on the changes made to the game or system. The focus is on determining how comprehensive the testing needs to be and which areas of the game should be tested. 

Below are the types of regression testing based on how the testing is performed:

1. Corrective Regression Testing: The testing is used when the system has not significantly changed. This type of testing focuses on validating the stability of the game’s core functions after small updates.
2. Progressive Regression Testing: It is conducted when new features or major updates are introduced. The goal is to verify that the new changes function correctly without negatively impacting the game’s features. This type of testing ensures the integration of new elements without disrupting the overall user experience.
3. Retest-all Regression Testing: It involves running all test cases again, regardless of which part of the game has changed. This comprehensive approach helps ensure that no part of the game has been broken or compromised, whether directly or indirectly affected by the update.
4. Selective Regression Testing: This method targets only the areas of the game that the recent changes have impacted. It is more efficient than full regression testing, as it reduces the number of tests and focuses only on the modified sections. It’s particularly useful when the changes are localized, helping to save time and resources.

Now that you’re familiar with the various types of regression game testing, you might wonder how this process is carried out in game development. 

Here’s a closer look at how regression testing is performed to ensure a smooth and bug-free gaming experience.

How is Regression Game Testing Done?

Regression game testing is a crucial part of the development cycle. It ensures that new updates, bug fixes, or features do not negatively affect the existing functionality or gameplay experience. 

This process involves systematically testing specific game areas after making changes to confirm that the game remains stable and bug-free. 

Below is a step-by-step guide to performing regression game testing:

1. Identify Source Code Changes

The first step in regression testing is identifying the changes made to the source code. This includes new features, bug fixes, optimizations, or adjustments to existing functionalities. Understanding these changes helps determine what areas of the game need testing.

2. Prioritize Identified Changes and Product Requirements

Once the changes are identified, prioritize them based on their impact on the game. Critical changes, such as new features or major bug fixes, should be tested first. It’s also important to consider product requirements to ensure the game meets functional and user experience standards.

3. Select Test Cases to Re-Run

Based on the changes, select the test cases that are most relevant to the modifications. These test cases should cover the impacted areas and previously stable features to ensure that new changes do not disrupt the overall gameplay experience.

4. Consider Test Scenarios

It’s crucial to design or review test scenarios that reflect real-world usage and how players interact with the game. Test scenarios should address various conditions, including edge cases, to simulate different gameplay situations after the update.

5. Categorize Test Cases

Test cases should be categorized based on their relevance to the changes. For example, they can be grouped into functional, performance, or compatibility testing categories. This step ensures that each area is thoroughly covered and the game’s features are tested efficiently.

6. Schedule & Execute Test Cases

Once the test cases are categorized, they must be scheduled and executed. This involves setting timelines for when different game parts will be tested, ensuring enough time for both automated and manual testing processes.

7. Bug Reporting and Fixing

During the test execution, any issues found are reported to the development team for resolution. Bug severity is prioritized, and after fixes are made, regression tests are re-run to confirm the issues are resolved and the game functions as expected.

By following these steps, regression testing plays a crucial role in ensuring that any changes made to a game don’t compromise its quality or performance. 

Now, let’s explore the best practices for effective regression testing to help you maximize its benefits.

What are the Best Practices for Effective Regression Testing?

In game development, the key is to maintain a balance between innovation and stability. New features and updates must not interfere with the gameplay experience. By adhering to industry best practices, developers can ensure that the game remains bug-free and enjoyable for players even after frequent changes.

Below are the key best practices for successful regression testing in game development.

• Automated Testing

Automating repetitive test cases, especially those that cover core functionality or are executed frequently, can save time and increase efficiency. Automation tools or specialized game testing frameworks help run tests quickly across multiple platforms, ensuring faster detection of issues.

• Prioritize Critical Test Cases

Focus on the most important parts of the game that impact the player experience. Test critical gameplay features, such as core mechanics, controls, and user interface, first. By prioritizing high-risk areas, you can ensure that the game’s most essential elements remain intact after updates.

• Collaborate Between Development and QA Teams

Close collaboration between developers and quality assurance (QA) teams helps ensure the game’s functional and non-functional aspects are tested properly. This collaborative approach helps identify potential issues early in the development cycle, preventing costly fixes later.

• Continuous Integration 

Integrate regression testing into your CI/CD pipeline to run automated tests automatically with every new code committed to the repository. This helps identify issues early in the development process, preventing them from becoming more complex and harder to address later.

• Test on Multiple Devices and Platforms

Regression testing should be performed across various devices, platforms, and operating systems, especially since games often target multiple configurations (PC, consoles, mobile). Ensuring compatibility across these platforms is essential for maintaining a consistent player experience.

While these best practices lay the foundation for effective regression testing, being aware of potential challenges is equally important. Understanding these obstacles will help you stay prepared and deal with them smoothly.

What are the Challenges in Regression Testing?

Regression testing in game development comes with unique challenges due to the games’ complexity and dynamic nature. As updates and features are continuously integrated, ensuring that new changes do not negatively affect existing gameplay becomes more difficult.

 Here are the key challenges developers face when performing regression game testing.

• Complexity

Games often feature various interactions between elements, such as characters, environments, and game mechanics. These interactions can be highly complex, and ensuring that updates don’t unintentionally break these systems requires thorough testing. 

• Graphics and Performance

Games rely heavily on graphics and performance, so consistently testing visual elements and performance metrics is essential. Since games are played on various hardware configurations, maintaining a high-quality gaming experience across devices is a significant challenge. Regression testing must account for graphical changes, frame rate stability, and rendering performance on different systems.

• Cross-Platform Compatibility

Modern games are often released across multiple platforms, including PCs, consoles, and mobile devices. Each platform has different hardware specifications, operating systems, and control schemes. Regression testing must ensure that updates work consistently across all these platforms, requiring extensive testing to detect compatibility issues that might only appear on specific platforms.

• Real-Time Updates 

Games, particularly live service or multiplayer games, often require frequent updates, patches, and hotfixes. These updates can introduce new features or balance changes, making it challenging to maintain game stability. Regression testing must be adaptive to these frequent changes, ensuring that new updates do not create new bugs.

By addressing these challenges effectively, developers can ensure that their games remain stable and provide a seamless experience for players despite frequent updates and evolving game content.

Which Tools are Essential for Regression Testing?

Effective regression testing in game development requires a combination of tools and techniques to ensure that every update maintains the stability and performance of the game. 

These tools help streamline the testing process, identify issues quickly, and ensure comprehensive coverage across various aspects of the game. 

Below are the essential tools and techniques commonly used in regression testing for game development.

1. Automated Testing Tools

Automated testing tools like Unity Test Runner and Unreal Engine Automation allow developers to quickly execute repetitive test cases without manual intervention. 

These tools enable the creation of test scripts that can validate core gameplay mechanics, AI behaviors, and other critical game components. Automation helps speed up the testing process, ensuring faster feedback and reducing the chances of human error.

2. Performance Testing Tools

Performance testing tools are essential for assessing the game’s stability and performance under different conditions. Tools like FPS Monitor the game’s graphical performance, while stress tests simulate heavy loads to see how the game handles large-scale interactions or many players simultaneously. 

These tools ensure the game runs smoothly on various hardware setups, even in demanding situations.

3. Version Control Systems

Version control systems, such as Git, are vital for tracking the changes to the game’s codebase. They allow developers to track updates, undo changes if needed, and collaborate more effectively. 

During regression testing, version control ensures that testers are working with the latest stable version of the game, making it easier to spot when new issues arise after code changes.

By integrating these tools and techniques into the regression testing process, game developers can ensure higher quality, faster iterations, and a smoother gaming experience for players.

Winding Up

At Xpress Gaming, we specialize in providing comprehensive game development services, including our expertise in regression game testing. This ensures your game runs smoothly and efficiently across every update. 

Our team has worked on various gaming genres, including puzzle, simulation, education, racing, and more. We understand that each genre brings its own set of quirks in mechanics, progression, and gameplay experience. So, our solutions in the testing domain are guided by a tailored approach built upon industry best practices.

Hopefully, this blog has provided valuable insights into regression game testing and its importance in delivering high-quality gaming experiences. Ready to take your game development to the next level? 

Contact us today to create the best gaming experience possible. Your perfect game is just a step away, refined through expert testing for an unmatched experience!