Journal

Lucky Defense, developed by 111%, is a tower defense game that emphasizes luck-based mechanics, particularly through Gacha elements. Players must defend their base from waves of enemies by strategically placing various towers and defenses. What distinguishes this game is its incorporation of random elements, such as spinning a wheel or opening chests to gain bonuses, towers, or upgrades, adding an unpredictable twist to the gameplay. Core Gameplay Loop In Lucky Defense, you strategically place units in your base while competing against an opponent to eliminate as many enemies as possible. After every few rounds, a Boss wave emerges, and the waves continue only if both players defeat their respective bosses. While this introduces a 'team effort' element, the final outcome is determined by the unique damage each player inflicts, with the total damage deciding the winner. One key feature is […]

🚀 WeChat Minigames are absolutely crushing it in China 🚀 The numbers are crazy — 60-80% D1 retention for payers and a 3-5 month payback period! With the Chinese minigame market set to hit 500M MAUs this year and users playing for an average of 60 minutes a day ⏰, these fast-produced games are becoming a major revenue driver in China and a trendsetter for the West. What’s even more impressive? These minigames are developed by small teams of just 5-30 people in just 2-3 months, with a production cost of $140K per game 🎮💰.The RPG genre dominates the market, especially Loot Box RPGs like Nobody’s Adventure Chop-Chop 🐷, which takes up 30% of the revenue share of the whole market 💵. The market is fast-phased due to quicker payout schedules from ad networks and platforms. Net 1 Payout on […]

🚍 Interesting FTUE Approach in Bus Mania by ZPLAY 🚍 When it comes to First Time User Experience (FTUE), most games ease players in with simple levels before gradually ramping up the difficulty. Bus Mania by ZPLAY led by Jack Ho takes a bold and unexpected approach—starting with an aggressive difficulty spike as early as Level 2!This immediate challenge sets the tone for a more competitive experience right from the start, keeping players on their toes and driving engagement. It’s a fascinating deviation from the usual FTUE curve we see in similar games. 💥What’s more, they push rewarded ads early in the game, and their visually appealing helicopter rewarded ad with a VIP banner really stands out. 🚁✨ The combination of a challenging early level and an eye-catching ad design makes for a unique and engaging experience overall. DataSource - […]

💡 Interesting Monetization Strategy for Event Progression I recently encountered a well-designed offer during the game event. The game presented three different bundles, each offering items that help players progress faster in the event.What stood out to me was how these offers cater directly to players eager to make headway. Whether you go for the smaller bundle or the larger one, the focus is on giving players the tools they need to keep advancing without hitting a wall.It’s a smart approach that supports player progression while offering meaningful value, keeping players engaged and motivated.