Formal analysis of gameplay

Formal analysis is the name for research where an artifact and its specific elements are examined closely, and the relations of the elements are described in detail. Formal analysis has been used, for example, in art criticism, archaeology, literature analysis, or film analysis. Although the context of the studied artifact may complement the research, and different artifacts may be compared with each other, formal analysis can be done on individual artifacts in isolation. Formal analysis can be seen as a fundamental or underlying method in that it provides an understanding of the game system that can in a later step be used for further analysis (cf. Munsterberg, 2009). The results of formal analysis can also be contrasted or tested against other sources, for example, information from players, designers, and reviewers.