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Brutally Honest #141

Hey, FAM! What’s up? 🥃 Drink talk Good people still exist. My daughter got flu last week and still has not recovered. We are still in the US. I wanted to buy some stronger meds, but since I don’t have a US ID, they couldn’t give them to me. God bless Nick from tvScientific, who bought them and even delivered them to my house here in Santa Barbara. We met only once for lunch a few weeks ago. Good people still exist. Thanks, buddy! Have you already filled out this form about the UA landscape? Could you please help me map the UA activities, spending levels, creative testing methodologies, and ROAS targets? I will make a nice report out of it with anonymized data. From what I already see, there is some interesting shit. https://forms.gle/wdutk2PvA7qTm84o7 ← Only 5 minutes of your time! […]

Matej Lancaric December 5

Journal

Capybara GO Global Launch UA Case Study

Fond of Capybaras? Then, you can now play with the lovable, oversized creature in Capybara Go! It’s a text-based roguelike RPG from Habby, the team behind hits like Archero and Survivor.io. So, is it a typical cute pet game? Almost! I already published a Capybara GO global launch case study, but this one is now updated with the US global launch data and some additional interesting soft launch stuff! Keep reading to know. Why Capybara GO is Unique The game lets you dive into the world of the adorable rodent in a completely unexpected way. It puts you on an epic journey where chaos and adventure go hand in hand. Your adventure begins and ends with a capybara, literally. You’ll bond with your new furry friend, kit it out with gear and set off on an endless series of randomized […]

Matej Lancaric December 5

Journal

Arcane: Bringing a New Audience to League of Legends: Wild Rift 💎

Arcane: Bringing a New Audience to League of Legends: Wild Rift 💎 59K downloads in a single day—the highest number Riot Games’ legendary mobile MOBA has seen in 2.5 years (since May 2022).This is the power of Arcane, my favorite animated series that introduced League of Legends to me and countless others. Here’s what Wild Rift developers did to take maximum from the show:— Two new characters from Arcane: Heimerdinger and Ambessa 👸🏾— An Arcane Battle Pass featuring two exclusive skins from the series 🎟️ — Special puzzle quest with Arcane characters and landscapes 🧩— Six Arcane-themed skins available in the store 🎨— ASO changes featuring Arcane characters📱What really impressed me, though, was how Riot planned to retain players after the series concluded and the initial hype began to fade:1️⃣ Exclusive skins were released after the final act, encouraging players […]

Andrei Zubov December 5

Journal

How to Leverage AI in ASO?

It’s hard to imagine AppAgent’s daily processes without a touch of AI “magic”. ✨ Why? Because automating repetitive tasks gives our team the freedom to dive deeper into the strategic and creative work that no machine can replace. From refining keyword research to uncovering performance insights, AI serves as a powerful enhancer-saving time and sharpening our focus on the big picture. Here's a “day in the life” of AppAgent ASO Manager, Tatiana Vasylieva, to see how AI seamlessly integrates into each step of her process, elevating expertise while keeping the human touch at the heart of everything we do. AI Morning Routine: Catching Up on Industry News and Project Updates If you’re hungry for knowledge and have FOMO you’ll miss important stuff, AI can help. Staying informed used to be time-consuming, requiring us to sift through algorithm changes, updates from Google […]

Peter Fodor December 4

Journal

Smart Monetization Approach for Hard Levels in Match-3 Games

🔥 Smart Monetization Approach for Hard Levels in Match-3 Games 🔥The game's brilliantly designed "hard level bundle" system demonstrates how thoughtful player psychology integration can drive both revenue and player satisfaction. The strategy revolves around offering premium bundles at precisely timed moments when players face challenging levels, with offers that include unlimited boosters, lives, and extra moves. What makes this system particularly innovative is its integration with a streak mechanic. The system goes even further with sophisticated player segmentation, offering different bundle variations based on player profiles and behaviors. The addition of ad-watched unlimited boosters shows how the system continues to evolve, creating multiple monetization pathways while maintaining player engagement.

Oxana Fomina December 4

Journal

10 Rules every game designer must follow

10 rules every game designer must follow: 𝟭. 🎁 𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 ↳ Players hate losing something they worked hard for. • It feels unfair if it’s taken without their input. • Let them give it up only by choice (e.g., selling or swapping). 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: During the FTUE, you can give something cool & powerful to hook them and then take it away. Players are fine with this because they didn’t 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 it. 𝟮. 🎯 𝗔𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 ↳ Players should always know what to do next. • The path can be hard, but the goal must be obvious. 𝟯. 🏆 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 ↳ Avoid confusing win/lose conditions. • Players need to understand how they can succeed, and why they failed. • Visual cues like progress bars or danger symbols (e.g., red […]

Anton Slashcev December 4

Journal

Coin Master’s Build-Your-Own Offers! 🐷

🎯 Coin Master’s Build-Your-Own Offers! 🐷✨ Check out these two custom offer options in Coin Master, where players can create their own deals by mixing and matching rewards. Whether you’re hunting for spins, coins, or XP, the choice is in your hands. This personalized approach not only enhances player engagement but also creates a feeling of ownership over purchases—smart move, right? 🤔 What do you think about this level of customization in offers? Let me know! 💬

Michael Kopelovich December 4

Journal

Match 3D Puzzle Games: A Bright Future for 2025 🧩

Match 3D Puzzle Games: A Bright Future for 2025 🧩🌟 The #Match3D puzzle game segment continues to dominate, showcasing resilience and strong growth in both revenue and downloads. According to AppMagic (Source, titles such as Triple Match 3D by Boombox Games, Match Factory! by Peak, and Match 3D by Lion Studios have established themselves as leaders by combining engaging #puzzlegame mechanics with good-fitting meta-features. These games have not only captivated casual players but also maintained their positions as high-performing titles in #mobilegames markets.Why They’re ThrivingMatch 3D games succeed because they tap into core player motivations—simplicity, relaxation, escapism, and mental stimulation—while layering on exciting advancements:🎯 Dynamic Refreshment: Regular updates with fresh content ensure players stay engaged.🏆 Progression Systems: Unlockable themes, collectibles, and personalized upgrades create a sense of accomplishment.🤝 Community Play: Asynchronous leaderboards and challenges foster a sense of competition and […]

Antti Kananen December 4

Journal

The 11 Sins of Mobile Marketing: Lessons from Growth Audits

As the mobile game industry matures, many companies struggle to keep up with the latest trends and adapt through innovative strategies. As a solution, mobile growth audits like GamePlan™ have become an increasingly popular method for identifying gaps in businesses’ growth plans and unlocking their maximum scalability potential. GamePlan™ is a 360° growth diagnostic for mobile games. Through it, we analyze your past UA efforts, ASO performance, competitive landscape, tech stack, and monetization strategies. We then use these insights to build a growth strategy and an actionable growth backlog. Read about how GamePlan™ helped Etermax’s Trivia Crack in this case study. In this article, we will present 11 key learnings we’ve gained from conducting over 30 mobile growth audits at AppAgent. The 11 Sins of Mobile Marketing Wrath: The Absence of an “Integrated” Growth Model Stagnation: Lacking a Clear UA Creative Testing Methodology […]

Peter Fodor December 3

Journal

Daily Bonus Do & Don’ts

Daily Bonus Do's and Don'ts Based on the Playliner research, here’s a quick breakdown of what works and what doesn’t in daily bonus design:--- What doesn’t work: --- • Confusing progress bars • Lack of clarity on the next reward • Poor visualization of player progress • Missing timers • Distracting visuals--- What works: --- • Clear headers that don’t distract. • Progress bars for additional rewards as long-term motivation. • Well-visualized progress, with the next reward clearly indicated. • A big reward on key days (e.g., Day 7) to keep players coming back. • Precise countdown timers for the next reward.

Anton Slashcev December 3

Journal

CookieRun Meets India, Black Desert Exits China, and More

CookieRun India Launches on December 11 The eagerly awaited game, CookieRun India, is set to officially launch its local services on December 11. This game is developed by DEVSISTERS' Studio Kingdom, a subsidiary focused on content development, with Krafton taking charge of local service and marketing efforts. Based on the original CookieRun, which debuted in 2013, CookieRun India is tailored specifically for the Indian gaming market. Krafton has a proven track record in this region, having achieved significant success with Battlegrounds Mobile India. The collaboration with DEVSISTERS aims to leverage this expertise in crafting a unique gaming experience tailored for Indian audiences. DEVSISTERS emphasizes that CookieRun India will introduce greater character depth, collection and growth mechanics, and social competition elements, surpassing the existing casual games in the market. The game will also feature locally inspired content, including original cookies, maps, […]

Myoungwon Kim December 3

Journal

Capybara GO Global Launch is a Flop

𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘆𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗚𝗢 🚀 $𝟭𝗺𝗶𝗹/𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 & 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴, but not as expected after US global launch. 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁, 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗽 𝘀𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗿. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝘆?👇 The updated global launch case study is here:📌 Case study📺 Watch on YouTube🦄 Subscribe to the Brutally Honest newsletter: lancaric.substack.com

Matej Lancaric December 3

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