Prize Wheel Copy Review & Recommendations
Copywriting and UX language audit for US gaming audience
Executive Summary
The Prize Wheel feature has solid UX fundamentals but the copy feels translated rather than natively written for a US audience. Key issues include:
- Awkward phrasing: "You have 2 more spins left!" uses redundant words and doesn't match US gaming conventions
- Deflating tone: "You have no spins left..." with ellipsis creates sadness rather than motivation to earn more
- Unclear value exchange: “Spin for 500 coins" is ambiguous (do I GET or PAY 500 coins?)
- Missed personality opportunities: "No Reward" is dull; could be more encouraging
- Date format confusion: DD/MM/YYYY format is European, not US standard
Good news: These are easy fixes! The visual hierarchy and feature design are strong. Copy changes will make it feel native to US players.
🎯 Quick Wins - Implement These First
Detailed Copy Recommendations
Modal Headline - Out of Spins
"You have no spins left..."- ×Trailing ellipsis creates uncertainty and feels deflating
- ×Negative framing doesn't motivate action
- ×Passive tone doesn't drive engagement
"Out of Spins!"Direct, clear, and creates urgency without being discouraging. The exclamation mark keeps energy up.
Modal Headline - Out of Spins (Alternative)
"You have no spins left...""No Spins Left"Even more concise. Works well if you want a neutral tone instead of energetic.
Spin Counter - Multiple Spins
"You have 2 more spins left!"- ×'More' and 'left' are redundant
- ×Awkward phrasing for US audience
- ×Too wordy for quick scanning
"2 Spins Remaining"Clean, professional, easy to scan. Standard US gaming language.
Spin Counter - Multiple Spins (Alternative)
"You have 2 more spins left!""You Have 2 Spins"Conversational but cleaner. Focuses on what you have, not what's 'left'.
No-Win Wheel Segment
"No Reward"- ×Too formal and disappointing
- ×Missing opportunity for personality
"Better Luck Next Time!"Classic gaming phrase, encourages another spin, maintains positive tone.
No-Win Wheel Segment (Alternative 1)
"No Reward""Try Again"Simple, actionable, keeps momentum going.
No-Win Wheel Segment (Alternative 2)
"No Reward""Almost!"Playful and creates FOMO without being discouraging.
Primary CTA - Earn More Spins
"See games that will earn you more spins"- ×Too long for a button
- ×'That will earn' is clunky phrasing
- ×Not action-oriented enough
"Earn More Spins"Direct call-to-action. Users understand they'll see games after clicking.
Primary CTA - Earn More Spins (Alternative)
"See games that will earn you more spins""Play to Earn Spins"More engaging and action-focused. Emphasizes the gameplay loop.
Spin Button - Main CTA
"Spin the Wheel!"- ×Slightly redundant in context (it's already a wheel)
- ×Could be more direct
"Spin Now"Creates urgency while remaining clear. Standard casino/gaming language.
Spin Button - Main CTA (Alternative)
"Spin the Wheel!""Spin!"Ultra-concise. The context makes the action obvious. Keeps the excitement.
Purchase CTA - Coins
"Spin for 500 coins"- ×Ambiguous - sounds like you GET 500 coins for spinning
- ×Direction of value exchange is unclear
"Spin (500 Coins)"Clear that it COSTS 500 coins. Parentheses indicate price.
Purchase CTA - Coins (Alternative)
"Spin for 500 coins""Buy Spin · 500 Coins"Explicitly states this is a purchase. Bullet point is a modern UI pattern for pricing.
Modal Header - Standard State
"Spin the wheel to win rewards!"- ×Lowercase 'wheel' when it's the feature name
- ×Slightly wordy
"Spin the Wheel, Win Rewards!"Parallel structure, proper capitalization for feature name, more energetic pacing.
Modal Header - Standard State (Alternative)
"Spin the wheel to win rewards!""Spin to Win!"Classic catchphrase, concise, instantly recognizable gaming language.
Explanatory Text - How It Works
"1 free spin every day. Buy more spins or earn them by hitting milestones in your games!"- ×Could be more scannable
- ×'Hitting milestones' is a bit wordy
- ×Could better emphasize the daily reset
"Get 1 free spin daily! Buy more or earn them by completing game challenges."Action-oriented opening ('Get'), clearer language ('challenges' vs 'hitting milestones'), better flow.
Milestone Reward Text
"+2 Prize Wheel Spins""+2 Spins"Context makes 'Prize Wheel' redundant. Shorter is better for rewards.
Date Format
"Expires on 25/10/2025"- ×Day/Month/Year format is not standard for US audience
- ×Can cause confusion (is it October 25 or invalid date?)
"Expires Oct 25, 2025"US-standard format (Month/Day/Year). Month abbreviation removes all ambiguity.
Date Format (Alternative)
"Expires on 25/10/2025""Expires 10/25/25"US numeric format if you need to save space. Still clearer than current.
Visual Language Adjustments
No Reward emoji
Spin counter color
Button hierarchy
Out of spins CTA
Tone & Voice Guidelines
Follow these principles to maintain consistency across all Prize Wheel copy:
Be encouraging, not desperate
Keep it concise
Be clear about value exchange
Match US gaming conventions
Maintain energy
Implementation Notes
Localization
These recommendations are optimized for US English. If you're localizing to other markets:
- UK/AU: "No Reward" → "Hard Luck!" or "Unlucky!"
- Keep date formats region-appropriate (DD/MM for EU, MM/DD for US)
- Consider cultural gaming conventions (e.g., "gacha" in JP markets)
A/B Testing Opportunities
Consider testing these variants:
- No-win message: "Better Luck Next Time“ vs "Try Again" vs "Almost!"
- Spin button: "Spin Now" vs "Spin!" vs "Spin to Win"
- Out of spins CTA: "Earn More Spins" vs "Play to Earn Spins"
Voice Consistency
Ensure these changes align with your broader game's tone. If your game is more casual/playful, lean toward "Spin to Win!" and "Better Luck Next Time!" If it's more premium/sophisticated, use "Spin Now" and "2 Spins Remaining."