System Design on AWS

Chapter 17. Designing an Online Game Leaderboard

Online gaming has surged in popularity over the past decade, becoming a global phenomenon that connects millions of players across the world. Games like Fortnite, League of Legends, Dota, and Call of Duty have not only provided entertainment but also fostered competitive communities where players continuously strive to improve their skills. A central feature that amplifies this competitive spirit is the leaderboard: a system that ranks players based on their performance.

Leaderboards serve as a tangible measure of achievement, motivating players to climb the ranks and outperform their peers. They enhance player engagement by offering clear goals and fostering a sense of community and rivalry. However, behind the simple interface of a leaderboard lies a complex system that must efficiently handle real-time data processing, massive user bases, and the demand for instantaneous updates.

In this chapter, we will delve into the design and architecture of an online game leaderboard system. We’ll focus on building a scalable, efficient, real-time ranking system using AWS services. Starting with the foundational requirements, we’ll explore how to architect a solution that can grow from supporting a few thousand players to millions worldwide. By building the solution from first principles, we’ll create a Day 0 architecture suitable for a startup. Finally, we’ll explore strategies to scale the system to handle millions of users, addressing ...