We’re launching a new series spotlighting women across the games industry — their expertise, stories, ideas, and the paths that brought them here. The goal is simple: more visibility, stronger professional presence, and easier connections inside the Community.
Maria Amirkhanyan, Player Behavior & Product Growth Strategist
▫️Focus & Expertise
I work at the intersection of player behavior, game UX, and product strategy. My focus is helping game teams understand how players see, feel, understand, choose, stay with or leave a game.
Right now, I focus on indie studios and small teams with strong creative ideas but need support with clarity. I help teams look at their games from the outside: what is immediately clear, what may confuse players, who the game is really for, where the friction is, and what can be improved before bigger decisions are made.
Some of the most important games of tomorrow are being built today by tiny teams with no safety net, no massive budget and no guarantee that anyone will notice them. That courage deserves support. I want more people with brave ideas, different voices, and limited access to power to feel seen before the industry decides they are worth seeing.
▫️Which game character best describes you on your career journey?
Arthur Morgan from Red Dead Redemption 2. He is a character with an internal code. He follows other people’s rules for a long time, but eventually starts asking whether those rules still align with his values.
That feels close to my current path. I care about work that is honest, useful and human — not just “doing research/consult” for the sake of process, but helping people make clearer decisions.
Found something in the story that resonates? Connect with Maria:
@Maria_DW | Linkedin