You released a patch fixing a collider bug. Next day — flood of complaints: half the players can't load their saves. Turns out, the collider and save system depended on one ScriptableObject, and the initialization order changed.
We call regression testing insurance against such scenarios. Without it, every release is a lottery. Our engineers build a hybrid model: automated tests cover deterministic logic (damage calculations, inventory, progression, network protocols), while manual testing covers visual and behavioral scenarios. This approach reduces production bugs by at least 80% and cuts manual check time by 40%.
Why game regression testing is harder than web?
In a web app, a regression test is an API request and response check. In a game, 'death animation transition broke' means you need to load a scene, enter combat, reduce HP, wait for trigger, verify Animation Controller switched to Death state, Collider disabled, death UI displayed without artifacts. Full automation is impossible. So for visual-oriented projects we use a 70% manual / 30% automated split; for logic-oriented (strategies, simulators) the reverse. Budget savings on regression can reach 40% with a smart hybrid.
How to build a regression pack for a game?
Foundation is a regression pack: set of test cases covering critical paths. For each patch we determine scope of impact: which systems are affected? If enemy AI was fixed, we test not only AI but also NavMesh, aggression, loot, achievements related to enemies.
For automation we use Unity Test Framework in Play Mode. Tests cover:
- Critical game-loop scenarios (spawn → combat → death → respawn)
- Inventory and crafting at boundary values
- Save/load with different data versions
- Network events (via mock Photon client or Mirror NetworkManager in offline mode)
Tests run through Unity Cloud Build or local CI (Jenkins, GitHub Actions) on every commit to main/develop. If a suite of 200 tests takes 8 minutes — acceptable. If 40 minutes — split into smoke (fast) and full regression (slow), run on schedule.
For mobile platforms, regression runs additionally on real devices via Firebase Test Lab or physical device farm — emulators don't reproduce OpenGL ES/Vulkan specifics and don't test thermal throttling. Mobile regression cost can be reduced by prioritizing smoke tests.
Step-by-step regression implementation plan
- Analyze scope of impact — determine which systems are affected by the change.
- Form regression pack — create test cases for critical paths.
- Set up CI — integrate Unity Test Framework into the pipeline.
- Baseline save files — prepare saved states for quick start.
- Regular runs — include regression in every build process.
What's included in deliverables?
We create regression infrastructure that lives with the project:
- Regression pack as documented test cases (Google Sheets/TestRail)
- Automated CI with integration tests
- Smoke suite for quick verification of each build (50–80 cases in 2–4 hours)
- Baseline save files for key game points
- Regular coverage and run reports
- Team training on updating the pack
Example risk matrix: UI widget change only — smoke + screen-specific regression (1–2 hours). SaveSystem change — full run mandatory (3–7 days). EventBus change — partial regression by scope (1–3 days). For a detailed audit, contact us.
Comparison: manual vs automated regression
| Criteria | Manual Regression | Automated Regression |
|---|---|---|
| Run speed | Slow (hours/days) | Fast (minutes) |
| Depth of check | High (visual, behavior) | Low (logic, data) |
| Maintenance cost | Low (no test code) | High (development and update) |
| Best for | Immersive scenes, UI, FX | Deterministic logic |
Estimated run times
| Scale | Time |
|---|---|
| Smoke regression (50–80 cases) | 2–4 hours |
| Partial regression (scope of impact) | 1–3 days |
| Full regression pack | 3–7 days |
| Automated CI regression (per build) | 15–60 minutes |
How we assess your project
A good regression pack pays for itself by the third patch — reduces production regression bugs by 80% and cuts manual check time by 50%. Cost of building the pack and setting up CI is calculated after project analysis. We assess volume, system complexity, and current test coverage in 1 day. Contact us for a consultation — get a preliminary plan and estimate. Our QA engineering team with 8+ years of gamedev experience guarantees results.
Order an audit of your current regression coverage — we'll find weak spots and suggest an improvement plan.
We use regression testing and Unity Test Framework as primary tools.