Mobile Games losing ground to Social Media? 🤔

Are mobile games losing ground to social media? 🤔 Industry believes YES. But what does data say?𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, see if you can guess which app corresponds with each engagement trendline below!I would have guessed this very, very wrong. 😅--SPOILERS BELOW--The takeaways:1. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗯𝗲 is an absolute juggernaut. #1 in the dataset in 2021 and its lead has grown since (by 19%). 2. 𝗠𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 playtime share has decreased, 𝗯𝘆 𝟴%. Nontrivial, but less than I expected. In aggregate hours, 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝟱%.3. Another study put 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 at 𝟭𝟭% of usage in '24. With 8% decrease, that's 𝟭𝟮% -> 𝟭𝟭% over timeframe.3. 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 has lost big: 20% of its usage since 2021. 4. 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 grew 20%, compensating 50% FB's losses.5. 𝗧𝗶𝗸𝘁𝗼𝗸'𝘀 share actually fell (16.1% -> 14.8%) 😮6. 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘀/𝗧𝗩 smaller than expected; has lost 20% since 2021 (1.9% -> 1.5%)7. In […]

Matthew Emery April 21

Analysis

What’s Wrong with Gin Rummy Stars from BeachBum?

Want to know what’s wrong with Gin Rummy Stars from Beach Bum? I’ve been playing this game for a very long time, and I have two major things I don’t love about it. But first of all, I want to be clear — the game’s great. The LiveOps schedule is fully packed, all the features are in place, and the core mechanic is very engaging. But sometimes, it feels like they either don’t care, or just know nothing about me as a player. The game could definitely benefit from some personalized approach. So here are the two examples I want to discuss: 1. “No Ads” Purchase From the first session, they highlight everywhere that the first purchase will grant No Ads — so I won’t see those damn interstitials anymore. I love that. This is my top personal monetization driver in any […]

Michael Khripin April 21

Journal

Casual Mobile Games 2025

The best casual mobile game lessons you'll learn today. 6+1 Insights from my custom dashboard: Watch the change in the top games,But define your own path...✦ Not every game needs to be on top,↳ They do need to be profitable though.✦ Market saturation is an excuse,↳ Your game needs to be better (sorry!)✦ Definition of genre definer has changed,↳ Level Design > Game Mechanics, deal with it.✦ Long-tail games need time to make,↳ IPs are not a must, but a good touch.✦ Consistent power user stickiness wins,↳ Reach out for longer retention, always.✦ There is no such thing as “old” game,↳ There is outdated gameplay.Bonus:✦ LiveOps teams matter a lot. (DUUH)↳ Take care of your team.I created many dashboards on AppMagicyou can do too, it really is so easy to start:Player stickiness re-defined. DM me if you want to discuss.

Gökhan Üzmez April 21

Journal

“Welcome Back” reward screen in Dice Dreams

Really liked this “Welcome Back” reward screen in Dice Dreams by SuperPlay. Instead of dropping all the rewards at once, they use a timed collection system — claim one, start the countdown for the next. It’s a smart way to increase session time for returning players, nudging them to hop back into the gameplay and hopefully enjoy it again.

Michael Kopelovich April 21

Journal

LiveOps isn’t just about events. It’s a strategy.

LiveOps isn't just about events. It's a strategy. 𝟭. 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 🧩Players burn through core content fast. Keep them hooked with: • New levels, weapons, or cosmetics • DLCs and seasonal updates • User-generated content • End-game loops Goal: Keep loyal players invested Key metrics: long-term retention, purchase frequency 𝟮. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 🛠️ LiveOps means constant improvement. Use player data to: • Improve onboarding and first-time experience • Rebalance the economy • Fix bugs and drop-off points • Refine monetization and UX Goal: Make the game feel better over time Key metrics: short-term retention, onboarding completion, churn 𝟯. 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁-𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 🌟Limited-time events create urgency and fun. Think: • Holiday events or limited-time modes • Leaderboards and game seasons • Daily challenges and social features Goal: Spark excitement and boost session frequency Principles: • Novelty, rewards, and FOMO • Prioritize engagement […]

Anton Slashcev April 21

Highlights

Disney Solitaire: A Promising Start to Something Bigger

A Cozy Classic Gets the Disney Treatment Let’s be honest—most solitaire games are fine. Some are fun. But Disney Solitaire? It’s something else. SuperPlay teamed up with Disney ( help from Playtika ofc. ) to launch a game that feels like flipping through a deck of nostalgia. The game dropped globally in 17th April 2025, and it’s basically what happens when TriPeaks solitaire crashes into the Disney universe and they decide to throw a party. Think: cards, characters, cozy vibes, and just enough challenge to keep things interesting. Also, full disclosure: I’m someone who absolutely loves Solitaire Grand Harvest. It’s one of my favorite games. So when I saw Disney Solitaire pop up—especially with Disney IP behind it—I was immediately curious. My hope is that with the right liveops, events, and regular updates, it can rise to that same level. And honestly? It’s off […]

Aylin YAZICI April 19

Journal

Puzzle games are harder to make than they look.

Puzzle games are harder to make than they look. 𝗣𝘂𝘇𝘇𝗹𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲:• Fun to solve• Simple to understand• Challenging, but fair𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲:• Instant feedback – players need to see their actions matter • A satisfying “aha” moment – when everything clicks • Multiple ways to solve – creativity over one “right” answer • Balanced difficulty – no massive spikes or dead ends A great puzzle feels like a conversation, not a lecture.𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀?• Clean, responsive controls • Clear goals • Mechanics like matching, merging, rotating • Limits (time, moves, resources) • Optional hints or boosters • Rewards that feel earned 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝘂𝘇𝘇𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀:1. Random-based – like Match-3 (depends on luck) 2. Skill-based – like Sudoku or The Room (pure logic)𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀:• Regular = steady progress • […]

Anton Slashcev April 19

Journal

R.E.P.O. Mobile: From PC to Mobile

R.E.P.O. Mobile: From PC to Mobile 📲 Newly launched horror game R.E.P.O. Mobile has reached 4.7M downloads since its late March release! Though it's already showing signs of a downtrend 👀The original R.E.P.O. started as a PC single-player game about cleaning a haunted mansion while avoiding a creature called the Headman—before evolving into a co-op experience and quickly gaining popularity on Steam ⭐️Once again, drawing inspiration from popular PC titles proves to be an effective strategy!

Andrei Zubov April 18

Journal

Dream Games launched a celebrity advertising campaign.

Royal Kingdom 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 $𝟮.𝟱M/𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 (Not a day, just yet!) and growing. In a bold move to capture global attention, Dream Games has launched a 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻. Why? This campaign features a lineup of renowned celebrities, including Lebron James, Kevin Hart, Jimmy Fallon, Shakira, Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, and others, each bringing their unique flair to promote the game. 𝗠𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗝𝗶𝗺𝗺𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗞𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗻. Dream games already tried this in the past for Royal Match, but it was waaaay smaller (although Simon Cowell allegedly 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗱) This reminds me of the good old Coinmaster celebrity creative play with J.Lo, Terry Crews, Kardashians, and others. This was a huge success from the download and revenue perspective for Coinmaster. Is this supposed to be the big push to drive more players to Royal […]

Matej Lancaric April 18

Journal

Brutally Honest #159

Hey, FAM! What’s up? 🥃 Drink talk Still can’t believe there are more than 18,000 people subscribed (Substack + LinkedIn). Thanks for being a part of my journey. 🦩Tip of the week Follow carefully what is happening in the 4X genre (and Match3 to a certain extent). These two genres are obvious red oceans, but you can get inspired so much. There hasn’t been a big innovation happening in the UA space lately, but the 4X genre has to innovate. Why? Because the CPIs are so high, you could almost buy a flat for that price per install. Anyway, the innovation comes from the combination of creative trends and UA-led game design. Everybody talks about the mini-games implementation since Gardenscapes did it (thanks to Hero Wars) But it's not easy to pull it off properly. For example, it took several […]

Matej Lancaric April 17

Journal

Mobile vs. Steam

How it started (2023): "Mobile is broken, so we're pivoting to Steam now. 😅" How it's going (2025): "Here's the DATA! 🥁🥁🥁" From 2022-2024: A LOT of game developers gave up on mobile, and started building for Steam / PC.Over same 2 years, Annual Steam releases grew 58%. 𝟭𝟮𝗸 (2022) 𝟭𝟰𝗸 ('23) 𝟭𝟵𝗸 ('24)🐯 Wild. And, since 2024, the % of devs working on PC has grown 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 20% (GDC '25 Survey).All of this begs an obvious question...𝘞𝘢𝘴 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 to publish games in 2023/2024?In other words, which platform, Steam or Mobile, had the higher success rate* for new products?I wanted to find out! So we analyzed ~8000 game releases using data from AppMagic and Gamalytic.And, I must say, I was shocked by the results! 😮If your goal was to make over $1M, 𝗠𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 than Steam in […]

Matthew Emery April 17

Journal

DC: Dark Legion scaled to $300K a Day!

FunPlus's DC: Dark Legion scaled to $300K a day revenue 🤑 Pulling in $10 M during its first month from the initial release. Will it be enough to make a dent in the 4X genre 🤔? This is a very ambitious iteration of multiple games stitched together. We have the idle part, which is basically Frozen City 🥶, but it uses the Fallout Shelter visual. Afterwards the game ads AFK Journey style squad RPG, with its heavy Gacha mechanics. The single player content is done through on rails mechanic of your characters going through a predefined map with events and encounters like Capybara GO. And then lastly it also ads the 4X layer, such as the map radar feature, where you can attack patrols of other player and a world map. This is where the formula start to heavily differ […]

Jakub Remiar April 17

gamingindustry

Login to enjoy full advantages

Go Premium!

Enjoy the full advantage of the premium access.

Stop following

Cancel subscription