The Importance of Personalization in Gaming

Segmentation has long been a cornerstone of success in the gaming industry, particularly for top-grossing titles across various genres. The ability to analyze player data, categorize users based on specific behaviors, and tailor their experiences accordingly is a well-established best practice. With AI and machine learning continuing to evolve, this practice has become even more sophisticated, offering dynamic personalization at an unprecedented scale. However, personalization does not have to be solely reliant on automated algorithms. There is another, often overlooked, yet equally powerful approach: empowering players with choices. Allowing players to actively shape their experiences through in-game options provides a layer of customization that is perceived as more engaging and rewarding. While still requiring extensive data analysis to design these options effectively, the act of letting players choose creates a deeper sense of agency and investment in the game. Why […]

Ahmetcan Demirel March 16

Analysis

Mobile Game Publishing: Strategies for Success in 2025

The Current State of Mobile Game Publishing in 2025 Mobile game publishing is poised for a strong performance in 2025, riding the wave of momentum from a highly successful 2024. Blockbuster hits such as Hexa Sort and Twisted Tangle have underscored the critical role that effective publishing strategies play in the mobile gaming ecosystem. It’s no coincidence that 9 out of the top 10 gaming companies by downloads have established dedicated publishing divisions or robust publishing strategies. For game developers, aligning with a well-established publisher has become more crucial than ever. Below, we explore three key reasons why publishers are indispensable to success in today's competitive market. 1. Navigating Growing Funding Challenges The mobile gaming industry is currently navigating a challenging investment landscape. Investment in game studios has plummeted to a five-year low, with the most recent Konvoy report highlighting […]

John Wright March 10

Analysis

Collectible Albums: A New Frontier in Motivating Players

Casual games succeed by offering straightforward mechanics that are easy to grasp but challenging to master. However, this simplicity can present a challenge for developers. Over time, it becomes increasingly difficult to introduce new features that boost engagement and monetization without compromising the game's streamlined experience. Many developers have tried to introduce ambitious, intricate mechanics only to discover that these alienate their audience rather than delight them. In recent years, a new solution has gained momentum across the casual gaming space: collectible albums. Games like Monopoly Go, Royal Match, and Gossip Harbor have embraced these mechanics, creating highly engaging live events that revolve around collecting virtual cards. Players earn, trade, and complete albums in pursuit of rewards, badges, or bragging rights. Collectible albums have become a key tool for developers to add new layers of motivation and replayable content to […]

Ahmetcan Demirel March 9

Analysis

The Hidden Value of Subtle Design

When discussing the success of a game, we often focus on large features or events. These elements are typically easy to measure with tangible results. We analyze their impact through metrics such as player retention, onboarding success, or spikes in monetization. While these aspects are important, they don’t tell the full story. Subtle design elements can shape the player experience just as significantly, even though their effects are harder to quantify. From encouraging messages to clever animations, these small touches enhance gameplay in ways that keep players engaged. The Power of Encouraging Words Some games use text strategically to communicate with players during key moments. These messages can be motivational, celebratory, or even subtly instructional, adding emotional depth to the experience. For example, Toon Blast encourages players by displaying a message after completing a challenging level. If the player beats […]

Ahmetcan Demirel March 6

Candy Crush Solitaire Mobile Game by King

Analysis

King’s Candy Crush Solitaire: What Went Wrong?

Candy Crush Solitaire by King had its global launch on Feb 6th. Looking at the numbers nearly one month later, the game did just $600K in revenue on 4 million downloads at that time. Doesn't seem like the result King was looking for after releasing it as the first Candy Crush-themed game in the last 6 years. The first impression of the game is that it's a little bit old, even though it's brand new. It carries the signature King UI that we are used to from their Match3 puzzlers, but both the style and layout of the UI evokes a 2015 vibe. This wouldn't be a problem if it were only visuals, but it seems the feature set is also not up to standard for the current generation of level-based puzzle games. And don’t get me started on the […]

Jakub Remiar March 5

Analysis

Merge Games Monetization: Complete Guide

Hello and welcome back, everyone! Thank you for joining me for another genre exploration in our journey through the diverse world of mobile gaming monetization. If you missed our last discussion on the most utilized monetization strategies in social-casino games, be sure to check it out here. It's full of insights that might inspire your next big idea, regardless of the genre you're currently working on. Today, we're delving into the captivating world of merge games. While different from social-casino games, the principles of monetization remain universal and highly adaptable. So, let's uncover how this genre keeps players engaged and, more importantly, how it turns that engagement into revenue. Market Trends and Evolution in Merge Games As we delve into the merge games genre, we notice a significant evolution from its origins. Initially characterized by their straightforward drag-and-combine mechanics, merge […]

Michael Kopelovich March 3

Analysis

Playrix LiveOps Strategy

Playrix LiveOps Strategy • 🆚 PvP Duel ↳ Players face off 1v1, earning duel points by completing levels. The winner gets boosters. • 🏁 Race Tournament ↳ A 3-day challenge against 4 others. The top 3 finishers receive rewards. • 🔥 Lava Quest-like Win Streak ↳ A group of 100 competes to complete 7 consecutive levels. Winners split hard currency. • 🎯 Personal Win Streak ↳ Players complete levels without losing to stack boosters. Losing resets progress. • 🏆 Standard Tournament ↳ A personal competition where players collect special items on main levels. Top performers get rewards. • 🌍 Expedition ↳ Players explore themed locations, complete tasks, and progress through a story.• 🤝 Co-op Club: Team Chest ↳ Teams collect event items by completing levels. Rewards are shared, with extra prizes for top contributors. • 🎟️ Season Pass ↳ Free […]

Anton Slashcev February 26

Analysis

Casual Games LiveOps in Q1 2025

Casual Games LiveOps in Q1 2025 1️⃣ Luck-Based Cooking Mechanics • Dice rolls for ingredients (Family Farm Adventure, Seaside Escape) • Adds gambling excitement to cooking 2️⃣ PvP Sprint Tournaments • 1v1 battles feel more achievable • Short (1-hour) duration boosts urgency 3️⃣ New Mini-Game Variations • Arcade mechanics like Block Blast (Royal Kingdom) • Adds skill-based engagement 4️⃣ Social Co-Op Enhancements • Coin Master: Social reward multipliers in Plinko • Monopoly Go: Solo or team progress options 5️⃣ Point Multipliers Everywhere • Top 10 games use them to extend playtime • Loss aversion increases resource spending 6️⃣ Temporary Subscriptions • 7-day passes (Merge Mansion) • Daily rewards boost retention & monetization 7️⃣ Rise of Short-Term Events • 1-2 hour challenges (tournaments, mini-games) • Quick to start, easy to understand 8️⃣ Live Ops Calendar Compression • More frequent, shorter events […]

Anton Slashcev February 24

Analysis

Monopoly GO Top Revenue-Driving Events

Monopoly GO Top Revenue-Driving Events 𝟭. 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 🎯 • Plinko-style mini-game using chips. • Chips can be bought or earned. • Multipliers boost spending and rewards. 𝟮. 𝗛𝗮𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 👻 • 8-player teams add social pressure. • Solo and team goals drive spending. • Blackjack-style mechanic encourages retries. • Limited time adds urgency. 𝟯. 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 🤝 • Team up with a friend. • Land on special tiles to earn currency. • Spin the lucky wheel for event points. • Grow 4 objects to unlock the final reward. 𝟰. 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 🏁 • Compete in teams of three. • Spend flags to roll dice and earn points. • Rewards for laps and placement. • Medals from three tournaments decide the winner. 𝟱. 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁 💎 • Tap squares to find hidden treasures. • Each tap costs a […]

Anton Slashcev February 21

Analysis

11 tips for Killer UA operations: Q1 2025

11 tips for Killer UA operations (Q1 2025) That’s it, 𝗻𝗼 𝗕𝗦 & 𝗯𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁! No fluff intro, straight to the point. Here we go again! The previous UA killer articles were super successful, so I started writing a UA killer tips segment. I will keep sharing these tips; don’t worry. Keep reading the tips to improve your UA. Simple, practical & efficient! That’s it, no bullshit & brutally honest! No fluff intro, straight to the point. 1. Creative KPIs & custom columns on Meta This is more advanced stuff, so people who are new to Meta ads might not get it, but… …these are some metrics you need to keep an eye on when testing videos: We have hook rate, hold rate and engagement score. You need to watch these when checking your creative performance. Important thing is, there […]

Matej Lancaric February 18

Analysis

Royal Kingdom vs Royal Match

Royal Kingdom vs Royal Match 𝟭. 𝗙𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗣𝘃𝗣 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀 ⚔️ • Every 10th level, players attack opponent castles using Match-3. • Shields protect, potions repair. 𝟮. 𝗔 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 ⭐ • Potions replace stars as rewards. • Variable potion amounts instead of a fixed one-star reward. 𝟯. 𝗘𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗮 🏰 • Multiple separate locations instead of a single expanding one. • Clearer visual progression to show total work scope. • Team ranking system with weekly goals and rewards. • Player rank system that unlocks new areas. 𝟰. 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 💥 • Wizard Hat: Changes random color elements. • Bomber Plane: Drops 3 bombs that auto-activate. 𝟱. 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁 💎 • Earned through meta-tasks instead of level completion. • Players can request potions from teammates once per day. • More emphasis on team cooperation. 𝟲. 𝗨𝗽𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲s […]

Anton Slashcev February 5

Analysis

Why Some Puzzle Games are More Addicting?

The puzzle genre is a powerhouse in mobile gaming, generating over $7 billion annually in in-app purchases (IAP). Despite this immense market, more than half of the revenue comes from a single subgenre: Match-3. Established giants dominate not only Match-3 but also other popular subgenres like Merge and Blast, making it incredibly difficult for new entrants to gain traction. In such a highly competitive space, innovation is the key to creating new opportunities, and we've seen that with the rise of Physical Match and Tile Match games. Titles like Match Factory, Triple Match 3D, and Tile Busters have successfully carved out space by introducing fresh mechanics to the puzzle category. “Pair” games mainly consisting of Physical Match and Tile Match titles didn’t take long to become the third largest puzzle subgenre. As the puzzle market evolves, a new wave of […]

Ahmetcan Demirel February 5

Analysis

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