Anton Slashcev

Prioritizing what to improve next in the game is tough. A clear framework to prioritize your game metrics: from first session to monetization.Follow the order. Start at the top.𝟭. 𝗢𝗻𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 • Ensure a smooth and rewarding first-time experience𝟮. 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 • Set clear goals • Deliver quick wins in the first few sessions𝟯. 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 • Design compelling mechanics that keep players engaged longer𝟰. 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 • Identify and fix drop-off points • Keep difficulty progression smooth𝟱. 𝗠𝗶𝗱-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 • Use daily missions and goals to drive progression𝟲. 𝗔𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘆 • Encourage consistent routine play with short, daily challenges𝟳. 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 (𝗗𝗔𝗨/𝗠𝗔𝗨) • Increase return rate with events, updates, and surprises𝟴. 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 • Build deep meta-systems • Create meaningful social features𝟵. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘀 • Offer strong first-time bundles • Use smart starter packs𝟭𝟬. 𝗔𝗥𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗨 […]

Mobile games use various psychological tricks. Here are 10 techniques used to keep players hooked:𝟭. 𝗙𝗢𝗠𝗢 ⏳ Limited-time events and exclusive offers create urgency. • Players feel it’s now or never.𝟮. 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗔𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 😣 Failing hurts more than winning feels good. • Lose a level, get an offer to buy back progress. • The closer you are to winning, the harder it is to quit.3. 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝘀 🎰 Unpredictable rewards tap into our dopamine system. • Free spins, no loss, no limits. • Often combined with other features for more excitement.4. 𝗡𝗲𝗮𝗿-𝗪𝗶𝗻 😬 Almost winning makes players try again. • One move away from victory. • First-time wins come with extra rewards.5. 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳 🏆 We play more when others are watching. • Join teams for bigger rewards. • Leaderboards increase pressure to stay engaged.6. 𝗢𝗽𝗮𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 💸 When spending […]

Mobile Game Meta Guide 🏡 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮?• It’s not a new hero, booster, or ability.• It’s the layer outside the core loop: rewards, progression, collectibles, narrative.• It gives players goals that feel fresh—without breaking the game’s balance.❓ 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗱𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗮?Because it:• Adds depth without power creep• Scales cheaply (mostly art & narrative)• Opens up easy A/B tests• Boosts retention and ARPU• Creates endless Live-Ops hooks: collections, events, FOMO⭐ 𝗣𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗮 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀: • Decoration: rooms, gardens (Homescapes)• Leaderboards: ranks, badges (Marvel SNAP)• City-building: slots → coins → village (Coin Master)• Collections: stickers, pets (Merge Mansion)• Storylines: chapters, cut-scenes (Episode)• Campaigns: world maps, biomes (mid-core RPGs)• Customization: skins, outfits (Overwatch)• Romance: branching relationships (Choices)🕵️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗮 𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲?• Match-3: decoration + light story• PvP: skins + ranks• Mid-core: base-building + epic cut-scenes• Casual sims: expansive city + collectionsBut skip meta […]

Think games are made only by programmers? Think again! Here’s a glimpse into the professionals it takes to bring a game to life:Development • Programming: gameplay programmers, AI engineers, full-stack developers • Art: concept artists, 3D modelers, illustrators • Game Design: level designers, narrative designers, system designers • Quality Assurance: QA testers, compliance testers, automation engineers • Animation & Audio: character animators, sound designers, audio engineers Localization & Community • Localization: translators, cultural adaptation specialists • Community Management: community managers, social media managers, moderators Marketing & Sales • Marketing: creative producers, content makers, growth managers • Business Development: sales managers, licensing managers, monetization experts Administration • Management: CEOs, CTOs, product managers • HR & Finance: recruiters, payroll managers, legal counsel • Support: customer service reps, player support specialists Other Key Roles • Esports & Events: tournament organizers, coaches, commentators • […]

Dream Games knows how to keep players engaged 𝟭. 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝘂𝘇𝘇𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝘀 🧩 • Use event currency from core gameplay • Add familiar puzzles from other games • Encourage smart spending with fun problem-solving𝟮. 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 🤝 • Team-based item collection • Shared and bonus rewards for top players • Builds social bonds and gives players mid-term goals𝟯. 𝗟𝗮𝘃𝗮 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁-𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 🔥 • Win streaks vs. 100 players • One loss = out • Big prize for the top, high-stakes excitement𝟰. 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 🏁 • 1–7 day cycles, solo or team • Harder levels give more event resources • Keeps players returning with daily goals𝟱. 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁-𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ⏱️ • 30 or 60-minute events • Starts when the player joins • One leaderboard winner — short, intense fun𝟲. 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀 🎟️ • Free and paid tiers • More points […]

You can be sure a new game studio is doomed if you see these deadly signs: • They talk about “disrupting the genre” despite having built nothing.• They care more about a fancy office than making a great game.• Hiring is focused on big-name studios, not actual skill or fit.• Swag gets ordered before a single line of code is written.• They brag about funding rounds, not product results.• There are more managers than developers.• Studio culture is defined by slogans, not workflows.• Founders are getting rich from their salaries, not equity.• Player feedback? Who needs it when you’ve got a “vision”!• Everyone’s working on a trailer, but no one’s playing a prototype.• MVP means “Maximum Vanity Pitch,” not “Minimum Viable Product.”Hype doesn’t replace product.Flash doesn’t equal substance.Build the game first.Let everything else follow.

Top games hook you fast. Based on Playliner research, here’s how today’s mobile hits do it:𝟭. 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 🎲 • 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰 uses classic board game mechanics • Simple “no-brain” autoplay • Flashy rewards on every step • Multipliers for bigger wins𝟮. 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 🏗️ • Build cities, castles, or entire settlements • Upgrade to boost rewards per turn • Outrace rivals to become the top magnate𝟯. 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 • Rob or destroy rival cities (𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰) • Invite friends with referral rewards • LiveOps events for timed challenges and leaderboards𝟰. 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 🎨 • Colorful, fresh puzzle layouts (𝘙𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩) • Clean UI that’s easy to navigate • Smooth animations after each milestone𝟱. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 📈 • Easy to start, gradually gets harder • New mechanics […]