Successful Growth Strategy Behind Dice Dreams

SuperPlay first rolled the dice on Dice Dreams back in 2019, and fast forward to 2024, it’s enjoying its biggest winning streak yet. Not only has the studio managed to scale Dice Dreams to new heights, but they’ve also introduced a rising star: Domino Dreams. Launching a new hit in today’s hyper-competitive market? That’s no small feat.

The buzz around SuperPlay’s meteoric rise hasn’t gone unnoticed. Gaming giant Playtika is now set to acquire SuperPlay in a blockbuster deal potentially worth up to $1.95 billion.

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In the fast-paced world of mobile gaming, few titles can boast such rapid and sustained growth as Dice Dreams. Since its global launch on February 5th, 2020, the game has transformed from an underdog into a board game juggernaut—especially throughout 2023 and 2024.

According to Sensor Tower, since the start of 2023, Dice Dreams has experienced a mind-blowing 400% surge in revenue and a 91.1% increase in downloads, catapulting it to 9th place in the Board Games category on the App Store globally. This is a game that’s not just climbing charts—it’s redefining them.

The success of Dice Dreams and Domino Dreams has not gone unnoticed.

Recently, gaming giant Playtika announced the acquisition of SuperPlay for an impressive $700 million, with the possibility of additional payments of up to $1.25 billion upon achieving certain financial targets over the next three years. This acquisition underscores the enormous potential and success achieved by the SuperPlay team.

A compelling live ops strategy has been key to achieving such phenomenal growth. Dice Dreams’ experience proves that for companies aiming for significant revenue growth and long-term success, creating a unified, well-thought-out live ops system is not just an advantage but a necessity.

The integration of various live events, seasonal offers, and constant interaction with the gaming community has created a dynamic ecosystem that retains existing players and attracts new ones.

A compelling live ops strategy has been key to achieving such phenomenal growth.

This approach has allowed Dice Dreams to not just survive in the highly competitive mobile games market but to become one of the leaders in its category.

This article will examine how the SuperPlay team used the live ops strategy to achieve such impressive growth and what lessons other mobile game developers can learn from this success.

Dice Dreams offers players an exciting journey into a world of magical kingdoms, where they can roll dice, attack friends, steal coins, and build their magical kingdom. The game combines classic dice-rolling gameplay with quests, sticker collecting, and pet care, creating a unique and captivating gaming experience. 

In 2023, the game launched 19 events, while in 2024, this number increased to 24 events.

The majority of events positively influenced both revenue and player engagement. Revenue increases ranged from 6% to over 43% for various events.

The increase in event types from 13 in 2023 to 15 in 2024 shows a commitment to diversifying gameplay. This variety keeps the game fresh and appealing to a wide range of players, contributing to long-term retention. 

The majority of events positively influenced both revenue and player engagement. Revenue increases ranged from 6% to over 43% for various events.

Dice Dreams uses diverse events to maintain player interest, with a strong emphasis on bonuses and goal achievement. The monetisation strategy appears balanced, focusing on regular offers and experimenting with various formats. The game seems to strive to create a multifaceted experience that retains players while providing numerous opportunities for monetisation.

Events Distribution by Mechanics

Bonus events (18) make up the largest share of all events. This indicates a strategy of frequently providing players with additional advantages, which can increase engagement and retention. Events with milestone rewards (9) are the second most frequent.

This mechanic encourages prolonged player participation and can increase time spent in the game. The inclusion of cooperative club events and tournaments demonstrates attention to social interaction. Such events can strengthen the sense of community and improve player retention.

The variety of monetisation events (9 types) indicates a multifaceted approach to monetisation. The highest number of regular offers means a stable sales strategy.

The large number of different types of offers indicates a strategy of creating a sense of urgency and uniqueness to stimulate purchases. It also shows a willingness to experiment with formats to increase conversion.

Calendar of Dice Dreams events from May to July 2024

The Pet Event emerged as the standout success story of 2023, captivating game developers to such an extent that it was adapted and integrated into games across multiple genres. I’ve broken down the key elements and shared insights in my article: ‘How to increase your game’s metrics with a single event’. 

Lesson one: Diversification of gaming experience through live events

Dice Dreams implemented a diverse system of live events, each addressing different aspects of gameplay and player psychology.

Various event types show an effort to diversify the gameplay (see events distribution by mechanics table below).

Short-term events dominate. With 54.2% of events lasting 1-3 days and 33.3% lasting 4-7 days, the focus is clearly on short-term engagement. Short-term intensive events, like “Pixie Rush,” with a 50% increase in the chance of rare resources, create a sense of urgency and encourage frequent app opens, boosting daily active users.

Source: Playliner

Long-term events, like the “Pet” event, lasting 34 days, create a long-term goal, motivating players to return to the game regularly. Events with social elements, like “Team Treasure,” show the best engagement results.

Rewards from one event, such as pet food, can be utilised in another, forming a cohesive ecosystem that enhances the overall player experience.

Leveraging social connections within the game creates a strong community and improves retention. The mix of short-term and long-term events caters to different player preferences. This balance helps maintain both daily active users and long-term player retention.

This variety ensures a constant influx of new experiences, maintaining player interest over the long term.

Lesson two: Integration and synergy between events

The company has expertly interwoven various events to create a dynamic, multi-layered engagement system:

• Cross-event synergy. Rewards from one event, such as pet food, can be utilised in another, forming a cohesive ecosystem that enhances the overall player experience.
• Integrated game features: Events like “Deep Dive Journey” and “Honey Road” are seamlessly connected to other game elements, driving activity across multiple facets of the game. The strategic design of “Honey Road” not only enhances player engagement but also leverages progression and choice mechanics to maximise monetisation potential.

This strategy boosts engagement and unlocks multiple monetisation opportunities. 

Lesson three: Innovative Approach to Monetisation

Dice Dreams developed a multifaceted monetisation strategy:

• Seasonal passes: “Dream Pass” for $4.99 provides access to exclusive rewards, creating a constant revenue stream.
• Choice system: In events like “Honey Road,” players choose their reward path, stimulating purchases due to FOMO.
• Exclusive offers: Special offers related to events create additional incentives for purchases.
• Events featuring popular game mechanics (such as pets or puzzles) often generate significant revenue.

Lesson four: Optimisation of player engagement

The company carefully developed mechanics affecting key engagement metrics:

Increasing time in-game: Events that combine social elements (like Team Treasure) or unique gameplay (like Pixie Rushin) achieve the highest engagement rates.  “Team Treasure” event increased average session time. 

Dice Dreams’ success in multiplying its revenue is based on a comprehensive approach to game design and monetisation.

The frequency of returns: “Royal Puzzle My Pet Special” event increased the number of sessions and revenue.

Balance of short and long gameplay: Balancing session length and frequency is crucial for long-term retention. Events that offer tiered rewards or a progression system (like Deep Dive Journey) effectively increase time spent in the game. A combination of events stimulates both short, frequent sessions and extended play.

Lesson five: Data analysis and rapid adaptation

Judging by the frequency of updates and variations in events, the company actively uses analytics to optimise its offerings:

• Regular updates to event design and mechanics.
• Adaptation of event duration and rewards based on player response.

Dice Dreams’ success in multiplying its revenue is based on a comprehensive approach to game design and monetisation. The company created a dynamic ecosystem of events and offers that maintain player interest and create numerous monetisation points.

The key to success was a deep understanding of player psychology, skillful balancing between different types of engagement, and constant data-driven optimisation. This approach allowed Dice Dreams to increase revenue significantly and create a sustainable model for long-term growth in the highly competitive mobile gaming industry.