Anichess — Olivia Lam

Anichess-100,000+ Monthly Active Players
Introducing a new monetization feature that balances competition, clarity, and accessibility in a Web3 gaming ecosystem.

During my internship at Animoca Brands, I was tasked with designing and integrating a new gameplay feature called Gambit Mode — a token-based competitive system that allows players to place buy-ins and compete for higher-stake rewards. My goal was to design a frictionless, intuitive experience that simplified blockchain interactions while aligning with the product’s business objectives.

Check out Anichess here: https://anichess.com/

Role: UI/UX Designer

Skills: UI/UX, Usability Testing, Design System, User Research

Software: Figma

Timeline: 2 Weeks

Product Glimpse

My Role

I collaborated with product designers and developers to improve player experience and engagement through interface redesigns that simplified complex blockchain mechanics. My role focused on aligning user experience with monetization goals, refining the leaderboard and homepage UI, and ensuring visual consistency across the existing design system.

Problem & Goals

Problem: Early prototypes of the buy-in process were overly complex, requiring too many steps and unclear terminology for players unfamiliar with token-based gameplay. The challenge was to introduce a new monetization system into an existing, high-traffic game without disrupting player flow or creating friction around blockchain mechanics.

Goal 1: Simplify Blockchain Interactions for Players
Make token-based gameplay intuitive for both new and experienced users by simplifying complex blockchain mechanics into clear, approachable actions.

Goal 2: Seamlessly Integrate Gambit Mode into the Existing Game Interface
Adapting navigation patterns, reconfiguring layouts, and ensuring the new mode worked consistently across screens without disrupting current user habits.

Goal 3: Create an Engaging and Efficient Monetization Experience
Develop a competitive environment where users can stake tokens with minimal effort and maximum clarity.

Target Audience

Tim

Background: Casual Chess Player (Web2 User)

Quote:“I want to play Chess competitively without needing deep blockchain knowledge.”

Pain Points: Finds token systems confusing, intimidated by crypto terminology.

Needs: Clear instructions, simple buy-in process, visual feedback for successful transactions.

Design Response: Create intuitive flows that hide technical complexity behind familiar game mechanics.

Jess

Background: Web3 Gamer & Blockchain Enthusiast

Quote:“I want to compete for rewards using tokens, but if the interface slows me down and stakes are unclear, I lose interest.”

Pain Points: Gets frustrated by slow or redundant confirmation steps, wants transparency in staking and rewards.

Needs: Fast, efficient transaction flow and clear visibility of token balances and potential winnings.

Design Response: Provide efficiency and instant clarity while maintaining competitive excitement.

User Research

To understand the design of Gambit Mode in real user behavior and industry context, I conducted research across three main areas:

1. Competitive Game Analysis
Studied gameplay and reward systems from existing games to understand how tokenized or high-stakes modes maintain player motivation. Understood the need for transparent reward structures, clear hierarchy, and minimal friction between joining and playing matches.

2. Web3 and Blockchain Ecosystem
Researched how token-based transactions and smart contracts operate within blockchain ecosystems to ensure that the staking and buy-in processes could be represented clearly through UI.

3. Player Behavior and Onboarding Patterns
Players wanted straightforward confirmation steps and visible indicators of successful buy-ins, both critical for building trust and usability.
Key Insight: Players were motivated by clarity and efficiency.

Existing Game Screens

Research & Visual Inspiration

Redesigned Lobby Screen

User Flow & Low Fidelity Wireframes

Visual Design & UI Assets

Mid Fidelity Wireframes

High Fidelity Wireframes

Responsive Prototype

Officially Launched Prototype

Impact & Outcome

Takeaways:
This project taught me how to translate complex blockchain systems into intuitive gameplay experiences. Collaborating with designs and developers helped me learn how to adapt creative direction within product and technical constraints, while maintaining user clarity and accessibility. It also showed me how thoughtful UX design can make emerging technologies like Web3 feel familiar and enjoyable for everyday players.

Timeline

Designed and prototyped within two weeks, contributing directly to a feature that was integrated into the official Anichess launch.

Design Cycle

Contributed across the full design process, from competitive analysis and user flow mapping to UI systems, prototyping, and usability testing. Ensured design consistency with the existing Anichess game environment.

Collboration

Attended weekly team meetings and collaborated with product designers and engineers to align user experience improvements with development goals. Regularly shared design progress, received feedback, and implemented refinements to ensure the feature integrated smoothly into the existing game system.

Integration & Outcome

The Gambit Mode feature successfully launched within Anichess, incorporating core UX structures, including simplified buy-in flow, clear staking hierarchy, and improved player feedback.

Thank You!

oliviahylam@gmail.com