Anton Slashcev

Casual game trends in March 2025 𝟭. 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 ⏱️ Time-limited levels that add pressure and excitement. • Faster finish = better rewards • Players rush → make mistakes → use more boosters • Example: Tile Busters – Countdown Frenzy𝟮. 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝘀 💰 A pricing tactic that plays on FOMO. • Choose 1 pack or 2 for nearly the same price • Side-by-side comparison makes the “2” offer shine • Example: Hidden City, Domino Dreams𝟯. 𝗩𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 🗳️ Gamified creativity + community feedback. • Limited-time design contests • Players vote using special event currency • Winners get exclusive rewards • Example: Project Makeover – Autumn Inspirations𝟰. 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲-𝟮 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 🔓 Progression now tied to events, not level. • Merge tasks fill a progress bar • Unlocks new areas and content • Example: Gossip Harbor – Taylor’s […]

Playtesting can make or break your game. Here’s a simple 10-step checklist:𝟭. 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 • What are you testing? Mechanics, pacing, difficulty, UI? • Set clear goals and decide how you'll measure success.𝟮. 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 • Use a stable build or prototype. • Provide clear instructions or a tutorial. • Remove distractions and get tools ready (feedback forms, screen recorders, analytics).𝟯. 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 • Include your target audience, plus some outsiders and experts. • Mix skill levels (kids, casual players, hardcore gamers). • Set expectations and communicate session details.𝟰. 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲 • Focused tests to dive deep into specific features. • Blind tests to observe natural behavior. • Exploit tests to see how easily things can break.𝟱. 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 • Don’t guide or coach, just brief them. • Let players fail to […]

LiveOps isn't just about events. It's a strategy. 𝟭. 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 🧩Players burn through core content fast. Keep them hooked with: • New levels, weapons, or cosmetics • DLCs and seasonal updates • User-generated content • End-game loops Goal: Keep loyal players invested Key metrics: long-term retention, purchase frequency 𝟮. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 🛠️ LiveOps means constant improvement. Use player data to: • Improve onboarding and first-time experience • Rebalance the economy • Fix bugs and drop-off points • Refine monetization and UX Goal: Make the game feel better over time Key metrics: short-term retention, onboarding completion, churn 𝟯. 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁-𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 🌟Limited-time events create urgency and fun. Think: • Holiday events or limited-time modes • Leaderboards and game seasons • Daily challenges and social features Goal: Spark excitement and boost session frequency Principles: • Novelty, rewards, and FOMO • Prioritize engagement […]

Puzzle games are harder to make than they look. 𝗣𝘂𝘇𝘇𝗹𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲:• Fun to solve• Simple to understand• Challenging, but fair𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲:• Instant feedback – players need to see their actions matter • A satisfying “aha” moment – when everything clicks • Multiple ways to solve – creativity over one “right” answer • Balanced difficulty – no massive spikes or dead ends A great puzzle feels like a conversation, not a lecture.𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀?• Clean, responsive controls • Clear goals • Mechanics like matching, merging, rotating • Limits (time, moves, resources) • Optional hints or boosters • Rewards that feel earned 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝘂𝘇𝘇𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀:1. Random-based – like Match-3 (depends on luck) 2. Skill-based – like Sudoku or The Room (pure logic)𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀:• Regular = steady progress • […]

The 3 Stages of Mobile Game Production 𝟭. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲:• Goals: - Validate game concept - Test core mechanics - Assess market fit • Timeframe: 1 to 3 months • Team Size: Small team (3-10 people) • Content: Focus on core loop and mechanics • Monetization: None • Customer Support: None, but pay attention to player feedback • Risks: - Core gameplay may not resonate with players - Poor marketability ---𝟮. 𝗦𝗼𝗳𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲:• Goals: - Increase player engagement - Enhance monetization strategies - Achieve KPIs for a global launch • Timeframe: 6 to 18 months • Team Size: Medium team (10-30 people, including analytics, marketing, QA) • Content: Expanded content, testing new mechanics • Monetization: Basic shop, starter packs, and offers to test willingness to pay • Customer Support: Basic channels for test regions • Risks: - Game unable […]

How to increase game retention? 𝟭. 𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹• Keep the FTUE (First Time User Experience) clear• Cut out unnecessary steps𝟮. 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆• Make the intro fun and intuitive• Hook players within the first few minutes𝟯. 𝗘𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆• Match gameplay with ads, creatives, and ASO promises• Avoid misleading users𝟰. 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀• Help players understand what to do next• Use visual cues and simple mission structures𝟱. 𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝘀• Win streaks• Daily logins• Limited-time challenges𝟲. 𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆• Fix crashes and bugs• Ensure smooth performance across devices𝟳. 𝗔𝗱𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘆• Balance challenge with fun• Regularly tune UX, difficulty, and pacing𝟴. 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗶𝘅 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗻• Use analytics to find drop-off points• Adjust gameplay or UX to keep players in𝟵. 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀• Levels, character upgrades, and skill trees• Provide a sense of growth𝟭𝟬. 𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝗩𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆• Introduce new mechanics gradually• Keep things fresh […]

Adventure/Expedition events are one of the most engaging features. 𝟭. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗽 • Players explore a special event map using point-and-click controls • Progress requires “event energy” to remove obstacles and collect resources • The map is revealed section by section as obstacles are cleared 𝟮. 𝗜𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 • Each event begins with a dynamic intro video • Characters deliver dialogue during milestones • Players can skip—but most stay for the story 𝟯. 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 • Tasks are grouped into chapters • Players can complete tasks in any order • Completing all tasks in a chapter unlocks new content and rewards 𝟰. 𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀 & 𝗢𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 • Key items are scattered across the map • Players gather, combine, and redeem them for prizes • Some objectives require building or repairing key structures 𝟱. 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 • “Dynamite” clears multiple […]