Step-by-step process for reviewing new games

I’ve reviewed over 100 games in the past few years. Here’s my step-by-step process for reviewing a new game:𝟭. 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗘𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗦 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 Before playing, I focus on understanding the competition: • Read user reviews in app stores • Play 3-5 competitor games • Take screenshots of key moments • 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘇𝗲 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀: —— Gameplay tempo – is it fast or slow? —— Monetization strategies – how are purchases introduced? —— Engagement hooks – what makes players return? —— Strengths and weaknesses𝟮. 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗘 𝗧𝗪𝗜𝗖𝗘 Each playthrough serves a specific purpose:𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 (𝟭 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿) – Focus on the big picture: • General feel – Does it engage from the start? • User flow – How intuitive is it for a new player? • Core loop – Do main mechanics fit together? • Goals – Are short- and long-term objectives clear? […]

Anton Slashcev January 13

Journal

Game Testing GEO Guide 101

🗺️ My Game Testing Geo guide simplifies success. Here is the ultimate reason for testing: Save on User Acquisition whilegetting accurate player data.That's literally the core of it. 🗿Making every dollar count.Pivot your game early on.Optimize fast.PS: Philippines losing their ‘’testing country”due to their new regulations and low-tech usage( low fps or too many crash issues)

Gökhan Üzmez January 11

Journal

30 small game changes = BIG impact

30 small game changes = BIG impact 🤑 Based on the Playliner research, here are the most popular changes for increasing LTV::---Balance fixes ⚖️ 1. Tune enemy strength & level difficulty to keep it challenging, not frustrating. 2. Adjust economy: resource generation, item pricing, and currency balance. 3. Balance characters & items: prevent overpowered builds, tweak rarity drops.---Better UI/UX 🎨 4. Rearrange UI for clarity, improve icons & colors. 5. Simplify menus, improve onboarding with better tutorials. 6. Add satisfying visual/audio feedback & better error handling.---Smooth progression 🎮 7. Adjust level pacing for better flow. 8. Introduce new mechanics gradually to keep it fresh. 9. Balance XP & rewards to maintain motivation.---Monetization tweaks 💰 10. Test IAP pricing & bundle values. 11. Fine-tune ad rewards & special offers. 12. Balance earning vs. spending virtual currency.---Content polish ✨ 13. Speed up VFX […]

Anton Slashcev January 11

Journal

Get Your Iterative Game Development Right

The most important part in games production, on a quest to build a successful game, is getting iterative development right — yet, most don't get it right or don't even know how to approach it right.This article focuses on the ‘core’ of iterative development, with an intention to (potentially) help to set some of you better on track for creating, and shipping, better performing games — from both the players’ point of view (PoV) as well as from the commercial PoV.Note: This article excludes process coverage, for now, which I might tackle in later articles about games production and topics related to iterative development. Further exclusions are mentioned in the article itself, as the case applies. Furthermore, understanding this article requires some level of understanding (theoretical and/or practical) of game development processes for direct applications. If there is no such […]

Antti Kananen January 9

Highlights

Mobile Game Leaders: 2024 Analysis

Market Performance Global consumer spending on Mobile Games declined for the second consecutive year, reaching $107 billion in 2023. Mobile game downloads fell for the first time, totaling 88 billion. Emerging Trends Casualization: There's a notable shift towards more Casual Gaming experiences, with Mid-core games facing challenges connecting with their audiences. Brands & IPs: Brands are increasingly engaging in partnerships to attract new audiences, leveraging well-known intellectual properties to enhance appeal. Regional Developments Chinese gaming companies have significantly expanded their global presence, with China-based publishers capturing a third of global revenue. They've successfully entered markets like Japan & U.S. through quality production and localization efforts. WeChat Minigames Are Crushing It in China Technological Innovations Advancements in cloud gaming and AI integration have been pivotal. Big Studios like Tencent and NetEase are leading with cloud gaming platforms and AI-driven game features, […]

Ömer Yakabagi January 9

Journal

Dark and Darker by Krafton

Dark and Darker mobile ⚔️ published by Krafton Inc. is on its way to launch in the first half of 2025. We couldn't wait, so we reviewed the PC version of the game and looked at the different monetization models that the mobile game will probably have. The game got taken down from Steam and after a victory in lawsuit over Nexon's copyright claim in January 2024 it is back on Steam from June 2024. The PC version relaunched as a free to play game with a very unique model, reminiscent of Path of Exile "pay for convenience". As you see in the image, by being free to play you can only enter the Normal dungeons, have 1 character slot and can't sell items on the marketplace. After a $30 purchase the game basically goes from demo mode into full […]

Jakub Remiar January 9

Journal

20 Lessons From Running a Game Studio

20 Lessons From Running a Game Studio Here's what Mykola and I learned after years of running game studios:1. Focus beats headcount ↳ A small, sharp team > a large, distracted one.2. Passion drives the business, but discipline sustains it ↳ Passion starts things, but discipline keeps them running.3. Something will always go wrong ↳ Plans fail. Adapt quickly and keep moving forward.4. Build a culture, not just games ↳ Strong culture fosters creativity and happier teams.5. Speed > quality > quantity ↳ Fast iterations are great, but never sacrifice quality.6. Players are your compass ↳ Listen, observe, and adapt based on their feedback.7. Build a pipeline, not a one-hit wonder ↳ Create systems that let you learn, improve, and reuse.8. Partnerships are a force multiplier ↳ Collaborate to unlock opportunities you can't do alone.9. Kill your darlings ↳ Let […]

Anton Slashcev January 8

Journal

The Future of Web Games: Beyond What We Know Today

When looked critically, for the past 10–20 years, web gaming has not evolved much and it's been on repeat, with little innovation beyond what we saw a decade or more ago, even it’s currently growing again steadily.This article focuses on a discussion and trend and prediction setting about the future of Web Games.The Future of Web GamingThe future of web gaming doesn’t just lie in improving what already exists and it isn't on instant games, current portals, etc. — I believe it’s in reinventing how we think about gameplay, meta game, social experiences / systems, and cross-platform potential.The next unicorn and even decacorn companies in gaming will come from those who think beyond current models and explore new territories, such as:🔹 User Experience Innovation: Creating fluid, immersive experiences that feel fresh and intuitive. Imagine e.g., how different types of UI […]

Antti Kananen January 7

Journal

My honest advice for Game Producers

My honest advice for game producers: If you don’t love playing games, you shouldn’t be making them.Because if you make a game only to "earn a buck," then:• Your game will lack fun.• It will lack depth.• And it won’t truly engage players.... resulting in earning $0 (and probably losing much more).Only true gamers can create what players love, and this will be rewarded in the end.Passion for games is what makes great ones.Always.

Anton Slashcev January 7

Journal

How Games Manipulate Emotions

Most Game Devs Miss This Key Element! They refine mechanics, visuals, and stories.But they ignore the core: player emotions.Why?Because emotions seem unmeasurable.But emotions are the heart of gaming.Here’s a 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽-𝗯𝘆-𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸:[1] Define the Desired EmotionsAsk: What do you want players to feel?Excitement? Fear? Joy? Clarity starts here.[2] Align Emotions with GenreNot every emotion fits every game.Your genre sets emotional expectations.[3] Identify Emotional TriggersPinpoint key moments to evoke emotions.Story twists? Boss fights? It all counts.[4] Map the Emotional Cycle• Stimulus (an event in the game).• Realization (seeing its value).• Reaction (a decision or action).• Expectation (hopes for outcomes).[5] Use Emotional TheoriesMaslow: Tap into player motivations.Plutchik: Mix and intensify emotions.[6] Adapt Gameplay DynamicallyChange based on real-time player input.Shift NPCs or difficulty for balance.[7] Balance Emotional LoadAvoid extremes of constant highs or lows.Neutral gameplay lets players recover.Design games that don’t just entertain,↳ but […]

Sergei Vasiuk January 7

Journal

10 Years of Game Dev in 100 No BS Advice

10 Years of Game Development in 100 No BS Advice --- 🎮 GAME DESIGN ---1. Build around a mechanic that sparks curiosity.2. Make failure a chance to learn, not just a penalty.3. Polish how game actions feel until they shine.4. Let the game whisper its rules, not shout them.5. Support mastery and casual play alike.6. Tie progression to gameplay, not separate systems.7. Focus on why players return, not just monetization.8. Evolve challenges alongside player growth.9. Reward creativity, not just accuracy.10. Make each challenge tell a story without words.--- 🕹️ USER EXPERIENCE --- 11. Make controls feel second nature, not forced. 12. Sync visual, audio, and tactile feedback. 13. Guide with light and color, not cluttered UI. 14. Keep design invisible yet essential. 15. Use consistent patterns for menus and interactions. 16. Tailor interactions to the moment of play. 17. Put […]

Anton Slashcev January 7

Journal

Solitaire genre is getting super hot!

The Solitaire genre is gonna get super hot 🔥 this year 😁. There are 4 high profile games already in the soft launch phase. Who is gonna win this race? The Solitaire category is currently completely dominated by Playtika's Solitaire Grand Harvest making $15 Mil. a month. So who are the challengers? King's Candy Crush Solitaire has been in soft launch for a long time bringing the big IP with him. Metacore is getting out of their merge comfort zone bringing their Grandma into the genre. Wooga is using their perfected metagame from June's journey, swapping the hidden object core for solitaire. And lastly SuperPlay is applying their winning metagame formula from Domino dreams, where they already conquered that genre, to solitaire with a Disney IP.What is the kicker here? The last two games studios are actually owned by Playtika […]

Jakub Remiar January 7

#GameDev

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