DarkPattern.games » Social Pyramid Scheme

Some games will give you a bonus when you invite your friends to play and link to them to your account. This bonus may be a one-time benefit, or it may be an ongoing benefit that improves the gaming experience for each friend that you add. This gives players a strong incentive to convince their friends to play. Those friends then have to sign up more friends and so on, leading to a pyramid scheme and viral growth for the game.

Often, this is combined with another Dark Pattern called Social Obligation where you and your friends can help each other in the game. This leads to a feeling of obligation and people keep playing the game even when they no longer enjoy it.

Citations and Sources • Dark Patterns in the Design of Games
• UXP2 Dark Patterns

Examples

Dead by Daylight Mobile

"The game is 4 v 1. The game is heavily reliant on information, which is why Survivors prefer to play with friends in order to relay information to help them in the matches. There are incentives to play in clans with your friends to earn currency to unlock extra rewards."

Clash of Clans

"Clans"

The Tribez: Build a Village

"Some challenges require you to have friends. Having a few friends is useful as you can earn rare resources by "helping" them They are also useful in completing Dino competitions (Snowman, Fire Mountain etc)."