Level progression rate
Engagement metric. How often and how deeply do they use it?
What is level progression rate?
Level progression rate is the share of players from an install cohort who reach a given level, used to show where players stop playing.
Difficulty spike: a level much harder than the ones around it, visible as a sharp drop in level-to-level rate.
How to calculate Level progression
Level n reach rate = Players who reached level n ÷ Players in the install cohort × 100- Players who reached level n
- cohort players who started or finished level n, as you define it
- Players in the install cohort
- players who installed in the same period
Where definitions differ
| Variant | Formula | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Reach rate from install | Reached level n ÷ Installs × 100 | The progression funnel. |
| Level-to-level rate | Reached level n ÷ Reached level n−1 × 100 | Finds the single level that loses the most players. |
| Within n days | Reached level n within d days ÷ Installs × 100 | Adds pace to progression. |
Level progression calculator
Example inputs: change them to your own numbers. The examples only make the calculator show a worked answer; they are not benchmarks or targets. Runs in your browser; nothing you type is sent anywhere.
- Tutorial completion
- 90%
- Reach level 5
- 60%
- Reach level 10
- 35%
- Level 5 to level 10
- 58.3%
How do you find the level where players quit?
Plot level-to-level rates for one install cohort. A level with a much lower rate than its neighbours is usually a difficulty spike or a confusing new mechanic.
How Level progression differs by vertical
| EdTech | The equivalent is unit or module progression. |
|---|---|
| Fintech | Not used. |
| OTT and streaming | The equivalent is episode-to-episode drop-off in a series. |
| Gaming | A core design and retention metric. |
Common mistakes
- Mixing cohorts from before and after a level redesign.
- Reading a low reach rate as a level problem when players left earlier for other reasons.
Questions
How do you calculate level progression?
Divide the players from an install cohort who reached a level by the installs in that cohort. 3.5k of 10k reaching level 10 is a 35% reach rate.
Is level progression a retention metric?
It is closely related: players who stop progressing usually stop playing. Unlike day-based retention, it shows where in the game they stopped.
Should I use level start or level complete?
Either works if you are consistent. Level complete shows success; level start shows willingness to try.
Why do tools report different values for the same metric?
Because definitions differ: what counts as active, which attribution window applies, whether organic users are included and how days are cut by timezone. Align the definition before comparing numbers.
Which currency do the calculators use?
The calculators show US dollars, but every formula works in any currency: enter your own figures in the currency you report in and read the results in that currency.
What is the difference between a metric and a KPI?
A metric is any measured quantity; a KPI is a metric a team has chosen as a target for judging performance. Most metrics here become KPIs only for the teams whose work moves them.