Match Factory Grew From $1M to $17M in 9 Months

Here is what you need to know: 🕹 Game Details:• Genre: Match-3D• Monthly Downloads: 2.2M (+400%)• Market Share: 49%• Launch Date: Nov 01, 2023• Audience: 90% Female, 10% Male🤑 Key Success Factors:• Strong LiveOps: Constant tournaments and activities keep players engaged—similar to Royal Match.• Balanced Difficulty: Easy at the start, but challenges escalate, keeping players hooked.• Top-Notch Quality: Stunning object physics, effects, and a user-friendly interface.💢 Main Competitors:• Triple Match 3D• Happy Match Cafe• Tile Match 3D

Anton Slashcev September 7

Journal

Most Popular Engagement Mechanics in Mobile Games 2024

Based on an analysis of 4,000 updates, here are the most popular mechanics influencing player engagement: 1. ⏳ Time-limited Bonuses (51%) • Description: The player receives a certain advantage during the event.• Examples: Happy Hours (Short-term), Album/Collection Rewards (Long-term).2. 💎 Treasure Hunt Minigame (16%)• Description: A minigame where players dig tiles in search of treasures. Players earn resources in core gameplay to play treasure hunts.3. 📑 Tasks Rewards (12%)• Description: The player completes tasks and receives rewards.• Examples: Daily Quests, Stage Tasks, Win Streaks.4. 🎲 Board Minigame (10%)• Description: A minigame where players roll the dice and move along the board to win rewards.• The player earns dice in core gameplay or other mechanics.5. 🤝 Co-op Events (5%)• Description: The player cooperates with a friend to complete event tasks.• Examples: Partners, Team Tournament, Group Rewards, Clans.6. 🎮 Other Mechanics (6%)• […]

Anton Slashcev September 7

Journal

Player Journey Funnel Breakdown

Each stage of the funnel drives revenue. Here’s how it works:🔍 Aware User↳ These are players who know about your game but haven’t played it yet.• Tools: Ads, social media, influencer marketing.• Key Metrics: Impressions, click-through rate (CTR), ad recall.🎮 Player↳ These players have downloaded and started playing.• Tools: ASO, user-friendly onboarding.• Key Metrics: Install rate, tutorial completion rate.🔥 Active Player↳ Players regularly engaging with your game.• Tools: In-game events, daily rewards, progression.• Key Metrics: Daily Active Users (DAU), playtime, retention rate.💸 Paying Player↳ These players have made at least one in-game purchase.• Tools: IAP options, special offers, exclusive content.• Key Metrics: Conversion rate, ARPU, purchase frequency.🐋 Whale↳ Players who spend significantly more than the average.• Tools: VIP programs, personalized offers, premium content.• Key Metrics: Lifetime Value (LTV), ARPPU, high-value transaction rate.🌟 Advocate↳ These players promote your game enthusiastically.• Tools: […]

Anton Slashcev September 5

Journal

FOMO: Secret Sauce For Driving IAP

It’s everywhere:• Offers and discounts• Limited-time events• Time-pressing mechanics• Short-term boosts like Happy Hours• Player tournamentsFOMO taps into a basic human instinct, making it incredibly effective.But here’s the catch:→ A ticking clock alone won’t help if you sell sh*t.FOMO works best when paired with something players already want.Something that has value.→ Then FOMO is the final nudge that pushes players past indecision.So, before you add that timer, ensure your offering is worth it.

Anton Slashcev September 3

Journal

Which setting should you choose for your mobile game?

Here is the download and revenue distribution among the top 10 settings: Top 3 settings by revenue:1. Fantasy• $26B• 56.5% of total revenue• YoY growth: +5%2. Real Life• $7B• 14.9% of total revenue• YoY growth: +16% 💰3. Military• $4B• 9.5% of total revenue• YoY growth: -4%But revenue isn't the full story.Here's the downloads distribution:Top 3 settings by downloads:1. Real Life• 9.9B downloads• 37.2% of total downloads• YoY growth: +15%2. Sports• 6B downloads• 22.7% of total downloads• YoY growth: -1%3. Fantasy• 5.6B downloads• 21.1% of total downloads• YoY growth: +24% 💹Notable trends:• Fantasy leads the way in both engagement and earnings. A 24% YoY download growth and a 56.5% revenue share prove its dominance.• Real Life settings are booming, with a 15% rise in downloads and a strong 16% boost in revenue.• Horror and Historical settings are struggling, with double-digit declines […]

Anton Slashcev September 1

Journal

Career Paths for Game Designers

Starting as a game designer is just the beginning.Let's explore the possibilities:𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁• Lead Game Designer ➡️ Product Owner ➡️ Creative Director ➡️ Chief Product Officer (CPO)𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁• Associate Producer ➡️ Producer ➡️ Executive Producer ➡️ VP of Strategy• Team Lead ➡️ Project Manager (PM) ➡️ Development Director ➡️ Chief Operating Officer (COO)𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽• Game Design Generalist ➡️ Game Director ➡️ Co-Founder𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿• Indie Solo Developer ➡️ Indie Studio Head ➡️ CEO• Freelance Game Designer ➡️ Game Design Consultant ➡️ Advisor𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻• Content Creator ➡️ Influencer ➡️ Media Owner• Guest Speaker ➡️ Lecturer ➡️ Game Design School Owner𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴• Publishing Manager ➡️ Publishing Producer ➡️ Head of Publishing• Analyst ➡️ Lead Analyst ➡️ LiveOps Director𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴• Creative Manager ➡️ Creative Producer ➡️ Lead Creative Producer ➡️ Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)

Anton Slashcev August 31

Journal

Mobile Gaming is in trouble.

Monthly downloads and revenue for the top 10 genres are still lower than 3 years ago. Revenue is down by 13%. ↳ Top genres like RPGs and Shooters saw big drops↳ Puzzle and Action/Brawl games are on the riseDownloads have dipped by 4%.↳ Arcade games took a hit↳ Genres like Casino and Sports are gaining momentumKey takeaways:• RPGs: -23% revenue• Puzzle: +17% revenue• Arcade: -19% downloads• Casino: +23% downloads

Anton Slashcev August 28

Journal

Classic Retention vs. 24-Hour vs. Rolling Retention

Here is a breakdown of the three main types of retention: 1. Classic RetentionTracks how many users return on specific days after their first play.• Formula: (Users on Day X / Users on Day 0) * 100%• Example: Day 7 Retention = 30%, meaning 30 out of 100 users return exactly on the 7th day.• Use Case: Identifying when users drop off to improve retention strategies.2. 24-Hour RetentionFlexible for analyzing user interest after events or milestones within any 24 hours.• Formula: (Users in last 24 hours / Users in previous 24 hours) * 100%• Example: 24-Hour Retention = 40%, meaning 40 out of 100 users active within the last 24 hours return.• Use Case: Assessing engagement post-event or update.3. Rolling RetentionMeasures users who return on or after a specific day, reflecting long-term engagement.• Formula: (Users active on & after Day […]

Anton Slashcev August 25

Journal

Squad Busters is back?

A recent major update resulted in a 125% increase in daily revenue. Here is a breakdown of the update: Key Updates & Features1. Bullets and Burgers (Seasonal Event)• Season Pass: Players can earn rewards through milestones using Gems.• Monetization: The Premium Pass is the main monetization strategy.• Gameplay Mechanics: Players can now earn final rewards repeatedly by using Gems, enhancing engagement and session frequency.• Additional Content: New reskins include 'The Desolation of Chickens,' 'Moonlight Matchup,' and 'Beach Party.'2. Get a Spell!• Unlock Abilities: Players must use active abilities in core gameplay to unlock new ones.• Extended Event: Now running for 4 days to keep players engaged longer.• Player Engagement: This update boosts session numbers and player retention, potentially increasing monetization.3. Sneak Peek! Lava World (New Map and Content)• New Map: Introducing "Lava World" with a fresh gameplay loop that requires […]

Anton Slashcev August 22

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

Core vs. Meta in Mobile Games

Here’s a breakdown of time distribution in different games:1. Manor Matters: Core - 51.5%, Meta - 48.5%2. Gardenscapes: Core - 56.0%, Meta - 44.0%3. Design Home: Core - 60.9%, Meta - 39.1%4. Seekers Notes: Core - 61.9%, Meta - 38.1%5. Solitaire Grand Harvest: Core - 68.6%, Meta - 31.4%6. Slotomania: Core - 74.0%, Meta - 26.0%7. Royal Match: Core - 74.1%, Meta - 25.9%8. Caesars Casino: Core - 74.7%, Meta - 25.3%9. House of Fun: Core - 77.6%, Meta - 22.4%10. June's Journey: Core - 78.1%, Meta - 21.9%11. DoubleDown: Core - 79.5%, Meta - 20.5%12. Fishdom Solitaire: Core - 81.5%, Meta - 18.5%13. Toon Blast: Core - 81.9%, Meta - 18.1%14. Texas Poker: Pokerist: Core - 82.5%, Meta - 17.5%15. Bingo Blitz: Core - 83.9%, Meta - 16.1%16. Best Fiends: Core - 85.1%, Meta - 14.9%17. WSOP: Core - […]

Anton Slashcev August 19

Journal

Match-3 Gaming Landscape: 2021 vs. 2024

In just three years, the top-10 match-3 games have seen a dramatic shift. August 2021:• Candy Crush Saga led the pack with $77.7M in revenue• Homescapes and Gardenscapes held strong, both exceeding $40M• Fishdom and Candy Crush Soda Saga rounded out the top 5Fast forward to July 2024:• Royal Match skyrocketed with an incredible 394% increase• Candy Crush Saga remains strong, growing by 12% to $86.8M.• Match Masters experienced 48% growthHowever, several popular titles have declined:• Homescapes dropped 48%.• Candy Crush Soda Saga fell 27%.• Project Makeover plummeted by 55%.• LINE PokoPoko saw a 44% decrease.What's happening?↳ Match-3 games with simplified meta (Royal Match, Match Masters) are overtaking those with deeper meta (Homescapes, Project Makeover).↳ These faster-paced games are growing revenue and taking audiences from slower, more complex titles.Why?↳ In the "post-TikTok" era, speed and high dynamics are key.↳ Games […]

Anton Slashcev August 15

Anton Slashcev

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