Want to play games before anyone else and help shape how they turn out? You can, for free, by joining a closed test on Google Play. It takes about five minutes to join, you do not need any special skills, and it helps small game studios more than almost anything else. This guide explains everything in simple steps.
What is a closed test?
A closed test is a private version of a game on Google Play. Only people the studio invites can install it. It works just like a normal Play Store install: the game updates by itself, and you can uninstall it whenever you want.
Studios use closed tests to find bugs, check that the game runs well on many different phones, and learn what players enjoy before the public launch.
Why small studios really need testers
Google Play asks many new developer accounts to run a closed test with at least 12 testers for 14 days in a row before a game can be released to everyone. For a big company, finding 12 people is easy. For a small studio, every single tester counts.
There is also a simple reason beyond the rules: the studio only has a few phones. You might have a phone they have never tested on. If the game is slow or broken on your phone, you just helped thousands of future players.
What you need
- An Android phone or tablet with the Google Play Store.
- A Google account, which you already have if you use the Play Store.
- A few minutes over the next two weeks.
You do not need a new or expensive phone. In fact, testers with older and budget phones are extra valuable, because that is where problems show up first.
How to join, step by step
- Send your Google Play email address to the studio. This is the email of the Google account on your phone. The studio adds it to the tester list. Some studios use a Google Group instead, which you join with one tap.
- Open the opt in link. The studio sends you a link. Open it while signed in to the same Google account, and tap the button to become a tester.
- Install the game from Google Play. After you opt in, the page shows a link to the Play Store. Install the game like any other app. Sometimes it takes a few minutes to appear.
- Stay in the test for 14 days. Keep the game installed and stay opted in. If you leave the test, the 14 day count can reset for the studio.
- Play now and then. Open the game a few times during the two weeks. You do not need to play for hours.
- Share your feedback. Tell the studio what you liked, what confused you and anything that went wrong.
How to give feedback that really helps
Short and specific feedback is the most useful. Try to include:
- Your phone model and Android version. You can find these in Settings, under About phone.
- What you were doing when something went wrong.
- What you expected to happen and what happened instead.
- A screenshot if you can.
Feelings count too. "The first five minutes were boring" or "I did not understand what the red floor meant" is exactly the kind of note that makes a game better.
Is it safe?
Yes. A closed test is delivered through Google Play, the same as any app you install. The studio sees your email address so it can add you to the list. Our own testers' emails are only used to run the test and to reply to you. You can read more in our privacy policy.
How to leave a test
Open the same opt in link and tap "Leave the program," then uninstall the game if you want. That is all.
Quick questions
Do I have to pay anything? No. Testing is free, and test versions do not charge you for anything unless you choose to buy something, just like the public version.
Will the game be finished? Not always. Test versions can have bugs and unfinished parts. That is why testing matters.
Can I keep my progress after launch? It depends on the game. Ask the studio. We will always tell our testers clearly before a launch.
What about the ads in test versions? Our games only use optional rewarded ads, and only when you choose them. You can read how we use ads fairly.
Become a Wobbly Owl tester
We are getting ready to test our first games, Tiny Airport and Food Truck Empire. If you would like to play them early and help us make them better, visit our tester page. It takes two minutes, and we read every message.