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The Evolution Pull-The-Pin Trend

🚀 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝘂𝗹𝗹-𝗧𝗵𝗲-𝗣𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱: 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 👇 Hero Wars popularized the "pull-the-pin" mechanic. The ads depicted engaging scenarios where players had to solve puzzles to guide heroes through treacherous traps, even though the core gameplay was more RPG-focused. This mechanic became synonymous with creative ads that blended curiosity, problem-solving, and a near-death experience, resulting in a 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗣𝗜 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵. Both Hero Wars & Evony. Playrix saw the same thing after implementing Pull The Pin in 2019. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀. We could also see Hustle Castle (MY.GAMES) adopting it. Lily's Garden (Tactile Games) added to pull the pin into the mix after the advertising "fiasco" in 2023. And, here we are with Angry Birds Dream Blast (Rovio Entertainment), 𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱 […]

Matej Lancaric January 3

Journal

Spotlight on the Korean Gaming Industry – Part 2

*Source: Daily Consumer Economic News (http://www.dailycnc.com) Following the previous Part 1, which delved into the plans of major Korean game companies KRAFTON, Nexon, and Netmarble, Part 2 continues to explore the evolving strategies and ambitious lineups of NCSoft, SHIFTUP, and Pearl Abyss. Let’s examine how these companies are poised to shape the gaming landscape in 2025. https://www.gamigion.com/spotlight-on-the-korean-gaming-industry-part-1/ NCSoft: Reshaping Its Legacy Amidst Challenges A Year of Financial Losses and Strategic Changes NCSoft, long regarded as a polarizing figure in Korea’s gaming industry, experienced a challenging 2024. Known for its legendary title Lineage, the company faced criticism for its monetization strategies in subsequent games. Despite these challenges, NCSoft has been striving to revamp its identity, with 2024 marking the release of innovative titles like Throne and Liberty, HoYeon, and Battle Crush. The financial impact of these new games, however, was mixed. […]

Myoungwon Kim January 3

Journal

My 3 Predictions for Gaming in 2025

My 3 predictions for gaming in 2025 🎮 1. Gaming VCs will evolve beyond their traditional focus:- Expanding into broader consumer tech (fintech, healthcare, e-commerce)- Gaming expertise proves valuable across consumer sectors- Pure gaming funds will face pressure to adapt or struggle- Real example: 15 of 19 recent F4 Fund investments were non-gaming2. The AI Gaming Tools Reality CheckWarning signs ahead for AI gaming startups:- Many will hit funding walls- Key challenges: • Market oversaturation • In-house tool development becoming norm • Big AI players democratizing core tech • Limited market sizeSurvival path:- Expand beyond gaming- Prove significant revenue growth- Find sustainable niche markets3. The Mobile Gaming Renaissance. Why mobile is back in focus:- Strongest investor interest since 2021- VC dry powder needs deployment by 2025- Maturing UA landscape post-IDFA- New channels emerging (incentivized ads)- Fresh wave of well-developed games […]

Joakim Achren January 3

Journal

What are user reactions to Generative AI-created content?

What are user reactions to Generative AI-created content? I came across several predictions for the mobile gaming, app, and digital industries in 2025. AI was a prominent theme throughout, particularly its role in content creation. How do users react to the content created by Generative AI? There is not much research around that yet. Quite interesting one was done by GWI and released in the middle of 2024 (with the question: "How you would feel if you discovered that content you liked was made using generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools?"Based on that research we see that: 🔷 majority of users did not change their attitude towards the content created by AI 🔷 there was a significant group of users who answered "I would like the content much less than before". and "I would like the content slightly less than before", […]

Mariusz Gąsiewski January 3

Journal

Blossom Sort by Zeromaze: $60K/Day

🌸 Blossom Sort by Zeromaze: $60K/Day with Just 20K Downloads 🤑 🌼 Blossom Sort has taken a fresh approach to the sort puzzle genre and is making in $60K IAP + $20k IAA daily. With only 20K downloads a day, it’s clear this game is the latest puzzle game that has cracked some clever design and monetization strategies. 🌼 1. Relaxed Sorting Mechanics ☺️ Unlike traditional sort puzzles, Blossom Sort allows players to move flowers freely, even to different types. This makes the gameplay more relaxing and less punishing, with fail states tied to time or space rather than rigid rules.2. Metagame Excellence 👑 The game borrows the Royal Match playbook, combining short events, visual decoration progress, and a collectible album. These tried-and-true progression mechanics are now the gold standard in casual games.3. Dual Core Gameplay ⭐ After level 30, […]

Felix Braberg January 3

Journal

Cross Promotion: Pop-up Carousel

Spotted a cool feature in Dream Blast by Rovio, They use a pop-up carousel to promote their other games like Angry Birds 2 and Sugar Blast. Cross-promotion like this is a smart way to keep players engaged. Here’s how it can work: 1️⃣ Keeping players around: If someone’s about to stop playing, show them another game they might love. 2️⃣ Turning non-spenders into spenders: Maybe a player isn’t spending in this game, but they might in another one. 3️⃣ Matching interests: Suggesting games with similar vibes keeps things fun and familiar. 4️⃣ Highlighting special events: Promote exciting events happening in other games to catch their interest. A simple but clever way to keep players in the family. Nice work, Rovio! 👏

Michael Kopelovich January 3

Journal

Path of Exile 2 did some very smart decisions

Path of Exile 2 did some very smart decisions 💡 during their Early Access launch. I finally got to the endgame, so we have a full review for you, explaining their unique "convenience" based monetization and content distribution 😎. As seen on the image, the team heavily focused on the endgame part of the game instead of early campaign. Rather than developing a long and costly campaign, they actually developed only 3 acts and then recycled them with a higher "cruel" difficulty. This enabled them to shift the capacity of the team towards endgame, where players will spend most of their time ⌛ anyway, instead of the 25 hour long campaign, which you will never interact with after reaching the end of it. This is a completely opposite strategy to Diablo 4, which had a very well polished campaign with […]

Jakub Remiar January 3

Journal

Mobile MMOs / MMORPGs: Innovation Opportunities in 2025

The mobile MMO / MMORPG genre remains an interesting frontier, offering opportunities for creative disruption.This article discusses in about mobile MMO / MMORPG market(s) and gives trends and predictions for it for 2025 and beyond.Note: This article has data from AppMagic; MMORPG segment (some games from APRG could be classified as MMOs, and revenue doesn't count D2C in).Current State of MMO / MMORPGGlobal Revenue and DownloadsMobile MMOs, Top 100 Global Revenue (Source: AppMagic).Mobile MMOs, Top 100 Global Downloads (Source: AppMagic).Global downloads have been able to be sustained in similar manner, while in-store global revenue has been declining a bit — which most likely is due to D2C / Webshops (more below about D2C / Webshops) taking chunk of revenue. Big chunk of revenue comes from Asian markets and games.Overall the market has been led by the games that have been […]

Antti Kananen January 2

Journal

What’s Next for Match-3 Puzzle RPGs?

The Match-3 Puzzle RPG genre has been a stalwart of mobile gaming, blending engaging puzzle mechanics with RPG depth. This article focuses on discussing this segment’s current state and predicting future trends and directions. Note: This article includes data from AppMagic, Match-3 Puzzle RPG segment. Current State of Match-3 Puzzle RPGs Titles like Empires & Puzzles by Small Giant Games and Zynga, as well as Puzzle & Dragons, have set high benchmarks according to AppMagic. Empires & Puzzles, for instance, still rakes in approx. $10M per month via IAPs — bolstered further, most likely, by its webshop presence. These games exemplify longevity and profitability in this segment. Empires & Puzzles, Revenue (Source: AppMagic). While the classics thrive, the market has not really seen new launches. The last significant entry I recall was Call of Antia, which launched with promise, leveraging […]

Antti Kananen January 2

Journal

How to create your own angel investors?

How to create your own angel investors? 1. The reality: There aren't many dedicated angel investors especially outside of Silicon Valley. Those who do angel invest are former founders/execs who get bombarded with deals and invest sporadically.2. Here's a proven strategy I learned from running a 200+ person angel syndicate from 2020 to 2023:Key steps to building your angel prospects list:- Identify experienced industry professionals- Approach them directly about investing- Target smaller check sizes ($1k-$10k)- Aim for multiple angels to reach your goal3. Critical success factors:Target alignment:- Mobile apps? Find mobile experts- Hardware? Connect with hardware veterans- Match investors to your specific market4. What makes angels say yes:- Clear use of funds- Specific support needs- Demonstrated progress- Founder commitment (built something first)- User validation5. Pro tip: Use SPVs (Special Purpose Vehicles)Benefits:- Combine small checks efficiently- Single cap table entry- Streamlined […]

Joakim Achren January 2

Journal

The Next Frontier in 4X: Pure Hybrid Casual 4X Games

The 4X Strategy Games genre, known for its complexity and depth, has long dominated the hardcore space, even after post-IDFA — but, how? Mostly, and very recently, thanks to hybrid casual elements slipping into 4X onboarding, first time user experience (FTUE), and UA strategies. This article focuses on discussing about current and upcoming trends for 4X Strategy Games, with emphasis on Hybrid Casual elements slipping into the genre. Note: This article has data from AppMagic; 4X Strategy segment. Growth Trend for 4X Strategy Games As mobile games continue to evolve due to e.g., post-IDFA effects, hybrid casual elements have been slipping into the 4X ecosystem — specifically to onboarding, FTUE, UA, and driving users to learn the 4X gameplay and systems around it through mini-game takes. Thanks to this the segment has been actually growing lately, instead of churning out […]

Antti Kananen January 1

Journal

Thinking About Making a Screw Puzzle Game?

Thinking about making a Screw Puzzle game (/Nuts & Bolts game)? You should think again! The market may look appealing, but you should rethink.This article discusses about the current state of a Screw Puzzle segment and what these games should do to start getting more downloads and revenue.Note: This article has data from AppMagic; Screw Puzzle segment.Current State of Screw Puzzle SegmentAppMagic paints the picture; the genre has seen its peak, and is now on a downward trajectory.From Q4 2023 to Jul-Sept. 2024, the market saw fast growth, peaking in downloads and revenue — but, now the story is different:DownloadsA steep decline, driven by a churning retention profile, rising CPIs due to saturation, and a slowing ROAS profile.Screw Puzzle segment, Top 100 Downloads (Source: AppMagic).In terms of downloads, after a big drop, Screw Away: 3D Pin Puzzle boosted some downloads […]

Antti Kananen January 1

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