ABSTRACT
Player interdependence can be understood as the degree to which players can affect each other and have to rely on each other to reach the game’s goal. Increasing interdependence – particularly in collaborative games – can enhance the social player experience by fostering communication between players and increasing their sense of social presence. In this chapter, we elaborate on different types of player interdependence and point out different ways to increase it by game design. These include aspects of asymmetric game design, level design, and interface design. By discussing the benefits and design challenges of high player interdependence and related research findings, we aim at supporting the design of highly engaging games that provide a rich social experience.
