Better Quest

Better Quest

Better Quest

BetterQuest - Showcase App
BetterQuest - Showcase App
BetterQuest - Showcase App

Overview

Better Quest is a gamified productivity app concept that reimagines how users can track and build positive habits through simple, satisfying gameplay loops. Designed with the philosophy of “level up your life,” the app encourages users to treat daily goals and self-improvement as heroic quests — creating a sense of progress, reward, and motivation in everyday life.

The project originated as a personal challenge. I had been tracking my healthy habits — like daily walks, keeping the house clean, and maintaining a balanced social life — using a physical whiteboard. While this method worked, I often found myself updating it only once a day, sometimes forgetting details or losing momentum. I wanted a more convenient, engaging way to track habits that felt fun rather than like a chore.

During early exploration, I examined a wide range of productivity apps on the Play Store and quickly noticed a recurring problem: over-complexity. Many apps tried to do too much — adding unnecessary layers of gamification, analytics, or subscription barriers that distracted from their purpose. I identified a gap for a product that focused on simplicity, clarity, and emotional satisfaction, while still maintaining enough structure to drive long-term habit change.

BetterQuest - Quests
BetterQuest - Quests
BetterQuest - Quests

Process

My process followed a structured Design Thinking approach, beginning with empathising and defining the user problem. I mapped out the frustrations of habit tracking: friction in logging progress, unclear reward systems, and poor visual feedback. From there, I defined a clear problem statement:

“Users need a simple and visually engaging way to track small daily achievements that keeps them motivated and rewarded throughout the day.”

Ideation involved sketching multiple UI concepts and interaction flows. I experimented with different visual metaphors — from minimalistic trackers to fantasy-themed dashboards — but I kept returning to my early passion for retro games. The concept of treating tasks as quests, and rewards as loot, felt both nostalgic and intuitive.

Through several rounds of wireframing in Figma, I refined the interface to revolve around three main actions:

  1. Create Quests: Users define their own daily challenges, assigning them icons, difficulty levels, and rewards.

  2. Complete Quests: Completing tasks grants experience points and in-game currency, reinforcing the habit loop with instant gratification.

  3. Spend Rewards: Users can spend earned currency on real-world treats they create themselves (e.g., “Spa Day,” “Cheat Meal,” “Shopping Voucher”), giving the virtual system a tangible connection to real life.

This closed-loop mechanic — act → reward → progress — became the foundation of the app’s design.

BetterQuest - Rewards
BetterQuest - Rewards
BetterQuest - Rewards

Visual Design

Visually, I wanted Better Quest to evoke comfort, charm, and nostalgia. I leaned heavily into a pixel art RPG aesthetic, drawing inspiration from classic games like The Legend of Zelda and Final Fantasy VI. The pixelated icons, chunky UI elements, and bold drop shadows were designed to look tactile and instantly familiar.

I chose a vibrant, high-contrast colour palette, combining jewel tones and deep shadows to give the interface a “screen glow” effect reminiscent of old CRT displays. The typography uses simple monospaced fonts with strong outlines, maintaining readability while reinforcing the retro style.

Most of the interface was built in Figma, where I experimented with layering, button states, and iconography. I used Adobe Firefly to help generate base imagery for inspiration and moodboards, then refined each component manually in Photoshop to ensure pixel consistency and cohesive lighting.


Many of the pixel icons used in Better Quest were created by Clockwork Raven, whose work perfectly aligned with the playful RPG tone. I customized and recoloured several assets to maintain visual unity across the app’s interface.