In the competitive realm of video game development, testing the waters is not merely a casual endeavor but a pivotal process. The importance of game testing companies in the gaming industry cannot be overstated, as it’s often the make or break stage for a game’s success. Just as the proof is in the pudding, the quality of testing games can profoundly influence a game’s reception and longevity. To truly hit the nail on the head, game developers must join forces with top-notch game tester companies, recognizing that two heads are better than one when it comes to refining their creations. In this article, we’ll lay our cards on the table and explain why hiring a game testing company is a critical aspect of game development.
The Role of Game Testing in Game Development
The unsung hero of the game development process, game testing is essential to creating the best possible gaming experience. Its importance cannot be stressed because it acts as the last testing ground where a game’s quality is polished and any potential problems are resolved before it is released to eager gamers.
While it might seem that anyone can test a game simply by playing it, the reality is far more intricate. Players usually stumble upon bugs by accident, like getting stuck in textures or discovering an unexpected shortcut.
| Aspect | Player’s Actions | Tester’s Actions |
|---|---|---|
| Completion of Main Story | Completes the main story and ends the game. | Passes the main story and all additional tasks several times in different sequences. |
| Difficulty Levels | Beats the game on the selected difficulty level. | Beats the game on all available difficulty levels, consecutively. |
| Hero Upgrade Styles | Chooses a specific hero upgrade style and sticks to it. | Must try and combine different hero upgrade styles on different difficulty levels. |
| Rule Adherence | Follows game rules and on-screen instructions (in most cases). | Systematically violates game rules to create preventive scenarios for each unplanned action. |
| Loopholes and Shortcuts | Tries to find and use game loopholes and shortcuts to simplify or speed up the game process. | Tests all possible game loopholes and shortcuts to prevent the player from breaking the game mechanics. |
A key point to highlight is that players enjoy discovering bugs and shortcuts, often resulting in entertaining videos or speedruns. This emphasizes the need for testers to thoroughly explore potential scenarios and address strategies used by clever players. Nevertheless, despite testers’ best efforts, players often uncover some sort of bug that enables them to achieve the desired speedrun or other surprising accomplishments in most games.
Various Stages of Game Testing Services
Alpha Testing
- Occurs early in development.
- Limited audience comprising internal testers.
- Focuses on basic functionality and identifying major issues.
Beta Testing
- A wider audience, including external testers, gets access.
- Aims to test gameplay, balance, and further refine mechanics.
- Collects player feedback for improvements.
User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
- Nears completion of development.
- Involves a select group of players representing the target audience.
- Ensures that the game meets user expectations and standards.
Criteria for Evaluating Video Game Testing Companies
Selecting the best game tester services from the many game testing firms can be difficult. How to determine whether a company is truly excellent and, generally speaking, why it is superior to others when many of them actually provide a typical suite of tests.
When creating your list of video game tester companies, start by taking the following positions into consideration:
- Excellent market reputation.
- Favorable remarks from other customers.
- A wide number of services are offered, including crucial game testing for compatibility, compliance, performance, and functionality.
- Top-tier expertise.
- Professional attitude.
- Tested work procedures and approach with the client.
- Constant professional growth through specialized training.
Selection Criteria
We chose the top game testing websites below based on data from their websites and independent third-party platforms like GoodFirms, Clutch, and DesignRush. The main selection standards for a game testing service were:
- 5+ years in business:
- the existence of the primary game testing categories:
- the availability of client testimonials;
- the existence and details of tested situations that have been put into action.
Top Game Testing Companies in the Industry
eJaw
eJaw, a prominent game testing company, stands at the forefront of ensuring gaming perfection. With a track record of excellence and a dedicated team of skilled professionals, eJaw offers comprehensive game testing services that elevate gaming experiences to unparalleled heights.
At the core of eJaw’s approach lies a commitment to rigorous testing methodologies. Their expert testers meticulously evaluate games across various platforms, ensuring functionality, performance, and user experience are optimized. From alpha and beta testing to user acceptance testing, eJaw covers the entire spectrum to identify and rectify bugs, glitches, and inconsistencies.
Key Features and Strengths of eJaw:
- Customized Testing Solutions:
- eJaw tailors their testing approaches to suit the specific requirements of each game, ensuring a personalized and thorough evaluation.
- Multi-Platform Testing Expertise:
- Proficient in testing games across a wide range of platforms, including PC, console, mobile, and VR, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
- Diverse Genre Proficiency:
- eJaw’s experienced testers are well-versed in testing games of diverse genres, from action and adventure to simulation and strategy, enhancing their adaptability.
- Efficient Bug Identification and Reporting:
- Adept at identifying bugs, glitches, and inconsistencies, providing detailed and actionable bug reports to facilitate efficient resolution by game developers.
- Iterative Testing and Feedback Incorporation:
- Engage in iterative testing cycles and promptly incorporate feedback to enhance the game at every stage of development, fostering continuous improvement.
- In-Depth Player Behavior Analysis:
- Anticipate and analyze player behavior, helping developers optimize game elements to align with user expectations and preferences.
- Cutting-Edge Testing Tools and Technologies:
- Leverage advanced testing tools and technologies to perform comprehensive analyses, ensuring a thorough evaluation of game functionality and performance.
eJaw’s commitment to delivering excellence through these features and strengths makes them a trusted partner for game developers seeking unparalleled quality assurance and game testing services.
QATestLab
For platforms like PC, Web, AR/VR, and mobile devices, QATestLab is a testing firm with considerable experience in testing games of all genres, including indie games. The business boasts over 800 gaming projects that have been successfully deployed over the course of its more than ten years of game testing.
The studio has a sizable resource base, an extensive portfolio of games that have been tested for Android and iOS, and the ability to test game mechanics, logic, sound, animation, art, navigation, and other elements to make sure the game is user-friendly.
Conveniently, the organization provides a thorough explanation of the game testing procedure.
It is significant to note that the PC game testers have access to 350+ actual testing devices (including smartphones, PCs, and VR headsets) and have worked with more than 40 testing tools.
The games they tested:
- Ghost Hunter
- Nightmare From the Deep
Bug Raptors
BugRaptors, an Indian testing company, provides high-quality and reasonably priced testing services for both software and video games. The game testing website offers “audio and video testing,” which examines the quality of sounds and audibility in mobile and console games, in addition to the traditional methods of gaming testing.
Competent testers can also locate localization issues, work with AR/VR game applications, and test on a huge number of iOS and Android devices. The business has enough case studies and favorable reviews for their competence to be validated.
Testbytes
Another Indian testing studio that has established a solid reputation quickly is Testbytes. They have customers all over the world and a respectable track record. The company provides a wide range of services, including game testing in addition to other kinds of testing.
They have a sizable staff of testers who are experienced with many different game testing scenarios and have years of training. The QA experts here can test games for consoles, internet, and AR/VR platforms in addition to PC and mobile games. The website provides in-depth details on the available testing kinds, the testing process, and the games that have already been tested.
The game they tested:
- Soulworker
- Metin2
- Know It Or Blow It
- Lyriko
8Cell Tech
8 Cell Tech is a pioneering name in the realm of game testing, dedicated to elevating gaming quality by ensuring seamless and immersive experiences for players. With a robust foundation in technology and a profound understanding of the gaming landscape, this company has become a vital player in the industry.
Expertise and Specialization:
8 Cell Tech’s expertise lies in comprehensive game testing, covering various platforms, genres, and game types. Their skilled testers meticulously assess every aspect of a game, from gameplay mechanics and graphics to narrative coherence, ensuring a polished final product.
Advanced Methodologies:
Employing advanced methodologies, such as alpha, beta, and user acceptance testing, 8 Cell Tech leaves no stone unturned in identifying bugs, glitches, or inconsistencies. Their thorough approach guarantees a higher standard of gameplay, minimizing the potential for disruptions and maximizing player satisfaction.
Client Collaboration:
A hallmark of 8 Cell Tech is their collaborative approach with game developers. They work closely with clients, understanding their vision, objectives, and target audience to tailor their testing strategies effectively. This partnership ensures that the final product aligns with the developer’s vision while meeting the players’ expectations.
The Future of Gaming Quality:
With an eye on the future, 8 Cell Tech continuously evolves its testing methodologies to adapt to emerging trends like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and cloud gaming. They leverage cutting-edge technology and innovative tools to stay at the forefront of game testing, making them a trusted choice for developers aiming for excellence in the dynamic world of gaming.
In essence, 8 Cell Tech stands as a beacon of quality assurance in the gaming industry, relentlessly pursuing perfection to deliver games that captivate, engage, and exceed players’ expectations.
Starloop Studios
Take a peek at Starloop Studios if you’re drawn to organizations who develop games from start to finish. A whole variety of game development services, including design and prototype, testing, maintenance, and porting, are offered by this Spanish company.
All the traditional testing categories—functional, compatibility, user interface, and performance—are covered here. Additionally, the business is testing multiplayer and AR/VR games. The reputation of this testing studio is enhanced by excellent reviews and a strong clientele.
Their successful clients are:
- Nitro Games
- Kokuiri Mobile Entertainment
- FunCraft
- Tangelo Games
QA Madness
The QA Madness testing team in Lithuania has extensive knowledge of software testing. Even though the company’s main focus isn’t just game testing, there are skilled experts who can apply the quality assurance you require based on your game, platform, and target audience.
Given that this business is over 12 years old, it has a fairly big number of customers and cases. Of all the game testing companies available, it has the most reviews, the most of which are favorable. Both on the website and on other reliable directories like Gartner and Clutch, testimonials may be located.
Happy clients are:
- Softflare Studio
- Fight Camp
- eWave Commerce
- Above the Frey
Snoop Game
This Ukrainian studio focuses solely on testing video games. Here, you can be sure that testers are working with the correct materials. The platforms tested include PCs running every major operating system, all consoles currently in use, mobile devices, web, Smart TV, and AR/VR/MR. However, the company is also prepared to buy any more gear at the client’s request if it is not already in stock.
At SnoopGame, the testing process is adaptable and scalable. At the same time, the client obtains only the services that are required without having to manage the team or give it the tools it needs. You can locate a QA audit and consultancy service that allows evaluating the quality of your internal processes in addition to the primary types of testing.
Pingle Studio
Pingle Studio, another gaming business in Ukraine, specializes in testing and porting PC and mobile game testing services. The experts at the company offer a wide range of support, from mobile game testing to multiplayer game quality management. Functional, non-functional, regression, and other traditional testing categories can be found here.
The company has experience testing games for PC, mobile devices, and the three most widely used consoles—Xbox, Nintendo, and PlayStation—using all of the most popular game engines and essential tools. There are numerous case studies with in-depth descriptions of the job completed and favorable client testimonials:
- Thunder Tier One
- Gigabash
- The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners
iXie Gaming
A branch of Indium Software called iXie Gaming specializes in testing video games on mobile, PC, AR/VR, and console platforms. The organization has been successful in assembling committed and motivated video game testers that are well-versed in games because of its emphasis on gaming testing.
Since the organization has tested over 450 games in a variety of aesthetic directions, testers are knowledgeable and skilled enough to test games of all kinds and genres. The studio has the added benefit of having more than 1000 testing devices available, including more than 550 mobile devices (iOS, Android, Kindle), consoles (Xbox, Nintendo, and PlayStation), VR devices (Oculus, HTC, and PlayStation VR), and PCs (Windows, Mac, and Linux).
Their kappy customers are:
- Maximum Games
- Netmarble
- Imangi
- Kabam
QAwerk
The Ukrainian business QAwerk engages in many kinds of game testing software. Game testing is one of the offered services. Here are the teams required to carry out testing of:
- Video games on mobile devices, PCs, and consoles (PlayStation and Xbox);
- Virtual and augmented reality games.
Functional, compatibility, performance, and compliance testing are all available. Positive customer feedback is there, and getting a quote is a quick and simple process. The group has frequently received top rankings from the platforms Clutch, GoodFirms, and DesignRush.
Kevuru Games
A full-cycle Ukrainian game business is Kevuru Games. This means that all the experts needed to conceive, develop, test, and release a full-fledged game are present here: game designers, artists, developers, sound engineers, and testers, of course.
Video game testing has been given its own category and is offered both as a component of the whole cycle of game creation and as a stand-alone service, which you can access by getting in touch with the business and describing your product.
The studio’s QA experts provide several important in-game testing options:
- Functional – assessing whether the game complies with the intended specifications.
- Compatibility — determining whether the game is compatible with all required hardware, operating systems, and devices.
- Performance – evaluating how quickly the game loads, how it responds to player actions, and important game events.
- Compliance – Verifying that the game complies with any or all of the platform requirements for which it is intended.
The company has a record of completed projects, a full description of the QA team and each member’s function in the game testing process, as well as a list of tools that testers use. Kevuru Games professionals have experience testing PC, mobile, web games, and do not test games from home.
The business upgrades its skill set and keeps a close eye on the most recent trends. The crew has experience testing traditional games as well as fixing issues for metaverses and blockchain-based games. The world’s first AAA kill-to-earn first-person zombie shooter Undead Blocks and the P2E browser-based on-chain game MetaVolution are among the most recent blockchain games tested by Kevuru Games.
The Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the world of game testing jobs is not just a gateway to fun and entertainment; it’s a vital cog in the wheel of the gaming industry. We’ve traversed the landscape of game testing, from its fundamental role in ensuring a high-quality gaming experience to the meticulous stages of alpha, beta, and user acceptance testing. We’ve emphasized how comprehensive testing can lead to better gameplay, fewer bugs, and ultimately, increased player satisfaction.
As we wrap up our exploration, one thing is abundantly clear: game testing is not child’s play. It’s a profession that demands a unique blend of skills, dedication, and a passion for gaming. Testers are the unsung heroes behind the scenes, tirelessly working to iron out imperfections, and striving to make every gaming adventure as seamless as possible.
The key takeaway is that game testing jobs offer not only a chance to immerse oneself in the gaming world but also an opportunity to contribute significantly to its growth and success. So, whether you’re a player who stumbles upon a bug or a tester who meticulously hunts them down, remember that the pursuit of perfection in the gaming industry starts with the dedication of those in game testing jobs. Their commitment ensures that the thrill of gaming remains undiluted, making it an industry where dreams come to life, one meticulously tested line of code at a time.
