6 key steps on successful puzzle games

I shared the stage with Yunus to discuss 6 key steps on successful puzzle games. Step 6 is the real DEAL!

Yunus is the developer behind Hexa Sort,
Currently making $15M a month.
Published by Lion Studios

This is not his first puzzle game.
He has been fighting in frontlines in this genre.

Here are the 6 key steps we discussed:

1- Creating a hit mobile puzzle game is not easy:
↳ Watching the market, closely,
↳ Constant Iteration – (Hexagon theme)
↳ Constant Innovation – (Auto Sort)

2- You can’t scale a game without a low CPI:
↳ Focus on new User Acquisition,
↳ Keep your retention high,
↳ Iterate CREATIVES as well,

3- Level design doesn’t mean quantity:
↳ Having 350 levels means nothing,
↳ Amount of FUN per level means everything.

4- Polished art is not a unique selling point
↳ Smooth game play is,
↳ Flowing animations are.

5- You need patience and practice:
↳ What looks good on paper may not work,
↳ Re-inventing the wheel is not necessary.

6- Ideation is nothing compare to EXECUTION:
↳ Overall gameplay and feeling matters,
↳ Smooth progress > META.

Do you agree?

Cheers!

Also check out two & a half gamers episode
of Hexa Sort where Jakub, Felix and Matej
talks about the game and overall state of
the mobile puzzle games in depth.

PS: Special thanks to Batuhan Avucan and
whole Mobidictum team for their hospitality,
Emre Çakan, Sina Özgen