The classic case of Analysis Paralysis is that the players are unable to make any useful decisions regarding future actions because they attempt to think too far ahead, and the possible game state space is far too large for proper min-max analysis. Analysis Paralysis depends also on the players' play style; some players are more prone to Analysis Paralysis than the others.
Example: Chess and Go have been used as prime examples of games where there is a possibility to almost endlessly analyze the possible actions for the future. Both have decision trees, which grow exponentially over game time.
Example: Diplomacy, even though the possible actions are quite limited, can cause Analysis Paralysis when the players start to think recursively about what the other players are trying to do and how the other players would perceive the players' actions.
Analysis Paralysis can be achieved by letting players have Freedom of Choice between several actions with Predictable Consequences, even if these are Limited Set of Actions or players have Limited Resources. This forces players to consider Tradeoffs and the more difficult the values of the actions are to judge, the more likely Analysis Paralysis is to occur. The likelihood can also be modulated by Irreversible Actions, as well as Predefined Goals in games where the players have Perfect Information and Symmetric Information about the discrete game states. This allows the players to plan the consequences of their current and future actions. Irreversible Actions guarantee that consequences of the chosen action will be effective also in the future, and this makes it possible to plan several actions ahead while at the same time decreasing the chances to perform Experimenting. Budgeted Action Points provide means of expanding the number of decisions the players have to make in each decision point, in effect, broadening the scope of Freedom of Choice, as are open Discard Piles in card games, which allow the players to have Game State Overviews and may cause Analysis Paralysis.
It is possible to lessen the possibility for Analysis Paralysis by introducing Randomness to the consequences of the actions and thereby giving players Limited Foresight and Limited Planning Abilities.
Analysis Paralysis is caused by Stimulated Planning and Cognitive Immersion, and is usually a feature game designers try to avoid. That players have Analysis Paralysis can be a sign that the game does not have the Right Level of Complexity for those players.
In games with Turn Taking, the presence of Analysis Paralysis leads to excessive Downtime for the other players in case some of the players get stuck in planning their turns. The nature of Analysis Paralysis situations has a somewhat adverse effect on the Anticipation of the uncertain outcome during the play.
The negative effects of Analysis Paralysis for other players can easily be avoided by having Time Limits.
Instantiates: Downtime
Modulates:
Instantiated by: Cognitive Immersion, Stimulated Planning, Limited Set of Actions, Irreversible Actions, Budgeted Action Points, Tradeoffs, Freedom of Choice, Turn Taking, Predefined Goals, Right Level of Complexity, Game State Overview
Modulated by: Predictable Consequences, Discard Piles, Time Limits, Perfect Information, Symmetric Information
Potentially conflicting with: Limited Foresight, Anticipation, Limited Resources, Randomness, Limited Planning Ability