Daily Missions and Rewards in Puzzle Games

The world of mobile gaming has grown incredibly diverse, with subgenres branching out and becoming increasingly specialized. Whether it’s the strategic depth of 4X games or the fast-paced excitement of shooter games, each subgenre demands a unique approach to game design and player engagement. Although specialization is highly sought after, there remains a surprising amount of overlap in the features and mechanics used across these different genres. Elements like progression systems, in-game currencies, and, importantly, daily missions are common practice, serving as universal tools to enhance player retention and engagement across the board. Daily missions, in particular, have emerged as one of the most effective tools in this regard. These missions are a staple across various gaming genres, providing players with a reason to log in and play regularly. For instance, in games like Genshin Impact, daily commissions are a […]

Ahmetcan Demirel September 24

Journal

Casual Games Analysis

Start your week by looking at these 5 key takeaways from top-grossing mobile games in 2024. I made this ‘’custom’’ chart for you.What do we have here?1. Midcore vs Casual Revenue✑ While it looks like Midcore is dominating, in reality,With Ad-Revenue added, it's safe to sayRevenues are much closer to each other.2. Top 25 All Games✑ Shows these games are revenue definers.Just look at the percentage alignment!3. Release Dates✑ Shows the strength of Live Ops, if done right.Also, many new games can start making money,Right after they release.4. Casino vs Puzzle✑ Due to Ad Revenue, Puzzle has more advantageIn terms of monetization if the right channels are used.And Level-based games get better retention rates!5. Top Grossing Casual Games✑ 23 games made $100M already!Just with in-app purchases, what are they?Well, mostly Casino and Puzzle.

Gökhan Üzmez September 2

Journal

Key Insights from AppMagic’s H1’24 Casual Games Report

• A solid 11% YoY revenue growth (casual; tier-1 west), reaching $7.2B —but not all genres fared equally.↳ 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀:Merge-2, Match-3, Match 3D, Sort Puzzle, and Casual Casino genres led the charge.↳ 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲:Many other genres like Idle Tycoon didn’t fare as well, highlighting the market’s complexity.↳ 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵-𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮:Despite a 23% drop in downloads, revenue rose by 9% YoY, thanks largely to Royal Match.↳ 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲-𝟮 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮:Downloads grew by 20% YoY, but revenue skyrocketed by 107%, with Travel Town leading the charge.↳ 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝟯𝗗:Revenue doubled, driven by new titles, even as the genre’s pioneer, Triple Match 3D, stagnated.↳ 𝗜𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗧𝘆𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗻:Revenue and downloads dropped by 19% and 20%, respectively, yet strong LiveOps strategies are keeping the genre alive.↳ 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗼:Monopoly GO! took over from Coin Master, leading to a 146% revenue increase, even as downloads stayed flat.↳ 𝗦𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗣𝘂𝘇𝘇𝗹𝗲:The […]

Anton Slashcev August 21

Journal

Candy Crush Saga’s Unique Challenge For More Lives

The innovative challenge mechanism activates in Candy Crush Saga by King when a player has exhausted all lives, presenting an exclusive opportunity for an additional attempt to conquer the level. This unique feature, offers a player the chance to earn 1 life as a reward for successful completion of the level. This daily-available challenge surfaces once all lives are depleted, opening a challenge window that grants players an extra shot at level completion, making it a strategic and engaging addition to the game's dynamics. ✅ 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 By offering an additional attempt after all lives are spent, the game effectively encourages players to continue engaging with it, even after facing setbacks. This can increase the time spent in the game and improve player retention rates. ✅ 𝐑𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 The incentive of receiving an extra life for completing the challenge […]

Oxana Fomina April 29

Journal

Casual Gaming in 2024: Insights for Developers Eyeing Success

2023 proved to be equally challenging for the mobile market as its predecessor, as user spending dipped by approximately 3.5%, following the declining trend observed in 2022. Despite this, key genres remained relatively unaffected, with download rates maintaining stability. Revenues decline was unevenly distributed across genres, with some experiencing more pronounced impacts while others thrived. Additionally, there was a noticeable decrease in both the quantity and success rate of new releases. AppMagic aimed to answer the following questions: When releasing a game in 2024, which genre should I choose to make the most of it? How do I operate an existing project in order to maintain and increase earnings? Countries and Genres Examined For the Research The study primarily delves into the performance of the mobile games market across Tier-1 West countries, encompassing nations such as the US, the UK, […]

Ömer Yakabagi March 21

Journal

Personalized Gaming Offers Through Phone Numbers

The trend of expanding sales channels for in-app purchases (IAP) continues. Initially, sales were available only through the Apple and Google stores, then web shops appeared. Now, there is a trend of selling in-game purchases through messenger services, where you can send push messages and personalized offers specifically for that player, which won't be available to others.Two pioneering games, Monopoly GO! by Scopely and Coin Master by Moon Active are leading the charge by collecting phone numbers from users beyond the conventional Facebook Connect and email integrations. This strategy opens many opportunities to deepen engagement and streamline the sales process.I see this as a golden opportunity to expand communication channels with players and innovate to sell in-game currency. Imagine leveraging direct-to-consumer technology with a 'Buy Button' that can be seamlessly integrated into any messaging app. This personalizes the player's journey, […]

Oxana Fomina March 18

Journal

Innovative Daily Bonus Strategies On Retention and Monetization

Developers continually optimize and innovate within their games and events to enhance the player experience and foster deeper engagement, retention, and monetization strategies. A notable trend is the evolution of universally applied mechanics, offering fresh approaches to captivate players. A prime example that caught my attention is the implementation of a Daily Bonus in two notable games: Candy Crush Soda Saga by King implements a three-tiered daily bonus system. The first reward is granted immediately upon the player's login, with subsequent rewards available 4 hours after the previous one is claimed. This incentivizes players to log in multiple times throughout the day, enhancing player engagement. Should a player fail to return within the same day, they're greeted with a visual representation of missed opportunities upon their next login, subtly encouraging a habit of regular play. This strategy is particularly effective […]

Oxana Fomina February 5

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