Game Dialogue and UI Text Character Count Design Guide
In game development, the character count design of dialogue and UI text is a critical factor that directly affects player experience. The optimal length varies by text type — dialogue windows, choice options, item descriptions, and tutorial prompts each have different requirements. When planning for international releases, localization-driven text expansion must also be factored in. This article covers the fundamentals and practical tips for designing game text.
Character Count Guidelines by Text Type
| Text Type | Recommended Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dialogue window (1 page) | 40–80 characters | Readable in 2–3 lines |
| Choice text | 10–30 characters | Short enough to compare at a glance |
| Item name | 6–16 characters | Must fit inventory display |
| Item description | 30–80 characters | Briefly describe effects and uses |
| Quest description | 80–200 characters | Include objective, conditions, and rewards |
| Tutorial text | 40–100 characters | Break instructions into short segments |
| UI button label | 2–8 characters | Ideally a single verb |
| Loading hint | 20–60 characters | Readable during wait times |
Dialogue Window Design
In RPGs and adventure games, the standard for dialogue windows is 40–80 characters (2–3 lines) per page. Players tend to skim rather than carefully read text, so keeping information per page minimal and maintaining a brisk pacing is essential.
Limit each page to a single message. When multiple pieces of information are packed into one page, players who rapidly press through dialogue risk missing critical content. Deliberately inserting short lines (10–20 characters) can also be an effective technique for conveying emotion or creating dramatic pauses.
Choices and Player Decision-Making
Choice text should be 10–30 characters. Overly long options slow down comparison and disrupt game pacing. Keeping all choices at similar lengths is also important — if one option is significantly longer than the others, players may assume it is the "correct" or "important" choice.
Two to four choices is the standard range. Five or more options crowd the screen and increase cognitive load. When a choice affects gameplay outcomes, include enough information in the wording for players to anticipate the consequences.
Text Expansion During Localization
When translating from Japanese to English, text volume typically increases by 1.2 to 1.5 times. German and French translations tend to be even longer, sometimes reaching 1.3 to 1.8 times the original Japanese length. Conversely, Chinese and Korean translations are often similar in length or slightly shorter.
When planning for localization, the standard practice is to reserve 30–50% extra space in UI text to accommodate post-translation expansion. Button labels and menu items are particularly affected — a 4-character Japanese label can easily become 12 or more characters in English. Implementing flexible-width layouts or automatic text scaling provides a safety net.
UI Text Design Principles
In-game UI text (buttons, menus, tooltips) demands both brevity and clarity. Button labels should ideally be a single verb — "Save," "Equip," "Sell." When two or more words are needed, aim for concise phrasing like "Use" rather than "Use Item."
Tooltips and help text should be 30–60 characters, providing a concise explanation of an action's result or effect. Tutorial text should stay within 40–100 characters per step, with instructions and explanations displayed separately so players can follow along without confusion.
Surprising Trivia
The total text volume of a major RPG can rival dozens of novels. For example, the localization of one open-world RPG reportedly involved approximately 1 million Japanese characters — equivalent to roughly 10 paperback books. Game text design is a writing project on par with literary works in scale.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Cramming 100+ characters into a single dialogue page, causing players to button-mash through text and miss important information. Keep each page to 40–80 characters.
- Designing UI without accounting for text expansion during localization. A 4-character Japanese button label can become 12+ characters in English, breaking layouts.
Pro Tips
- Limit each important dialogue page to one message. Even if players rapidly skip through text, a single message per page ensures the minimum essential information is seen.
- When planning for localization, reserve 30–50% extra space in UI text for post-translation expansion. Implement flexible-width layouts or automatic text scaling as a safeguard.
Conclusion
Game text design is an essential process for maintaining player immersion and game pacing. Use 40–80 characters for dialogue windows and 10–30 characters for choices as baseline targets, adjusting for each text type. Remember to account for localization expansion margins. Use Character Counter to manage your game text character counts effectively.