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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 […]

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The Addictive and Wildly Profitable World of Solitaire Grand Harvest

How Solitaire Grand Harvest Turned a Simple Card Game into a $1 Billion Mobile Empire? If you told someone that a solitaire game could generate over $1 billion in revenue, they might raise an eyebrow and ask, "Is it made of gold cards?" But that's exactly what Solitaire Grand Harvest has done. From humble beginnings as a card game, Solitaire Grand Harvest  has grown into one of the most successful and addictive mobile games of all time. With a brilliantly balanced blend of solitaire mechanics, farm-themed progression, and casino-inspired monetization, this game redefines what a casual title can achieve. Whether you're a casual gamer curious about why this game is so beloved, a game designer trying to dissect its secret sauce, or just someone who appreciates clever mobile design, this is one journey through the fields of innovation worth taking. And for me personally? This […]

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What the Hex! is Going On? Agave Games’ New Soft Launch

Soft-launching in Canada & Brazil. Data: AppMagic Casual puzzle game lovers, it’s time to pay attention—Agave Games just dropped a new title into soft launch, and if you’ve been following their recent $18 million investment, you know the industry has its eyes on them. The game? What the Hex!—a mix of color-sorting puzzles with a Monopoly GO! style town-building meta. I played it, and here’s the scoop on what it’s all about, how it plays, and why people are curious about Agave’s next move. A Hexagonal Spin on Sorting Puzzles If you’ve played Hexa Sort, you’ll feel right at home with What the Hex! The gameplay is simple but strategic: you stack and merge hexagonal tiles of the same color to clear space and meet level goals. Sounds easy? Well, not so much. The game doesn’t hold your hand for long—later levels introduce more colors, trickier […]

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Lucky Defense Analysis: 111%’s Risky Bet That Won Big

An All-in-One Deep Dive That's Actually Fun to Read! Alright, let’s talk about Lucky Defense—the game that took the classic tower defense genre, rolled the dice (literally), and ended up creating one of the most chaotic, fun, and weirdly addictive experiences out there. This isn’t your average game analysis. Nope. We’re going full throttle into the depths of Lucky Defense—from its epic rise, gameplay mechanics, wild community moments, and even the monetization that’ll make you ask, "Am I gambling or gaming?" So, buckle up. It’s about to get lucky (or unlucky) 🎉 The Origin Story: When Luck First Struck Lucky Defense was officially launched by 111% (a South Korean dev studio) on May 23, 2024. And it didn’t just drop quietly—it absolutely exploded in South Korea. We're talking about skyrocketing to the #1 download spot and pulling in over $11 million in revenue within its first two months. Not too shabby for […]

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Why Rovio Could be Poison to SEGA

Why Rovio Entertainment Could be Poison to SEGA—and How They Can Fix It. Rovio’s golden days with Angry Birds are gone. A look at AppMagic reveals the story: churning downloads, revenue, and MAUs. Latest bets on high-risk, high-cost titles—e.g., Angry Birds Journey and Bloom City Match—are poorly positioned to catch emerging trends or gain traction in competitive genres like puzzles.The Problem: Stuck in the Past.Rovio is slow to adapt to fast-paced mobile games market. They aren’t leaning on commercial or scientific processes to evaluate opportunities in new, high-potential genres. Instead, they continue to 2x on categories where e.g., King, Playrix, and Dream Games dominate.Take Bloom City Match. It’s dropped into the most competitive puzzle games segment, crowded with competition. It’s a high-risk bet in a category with high CPIs, churned-out cohorts, and a shrinking ROAS profile. And while Angry Birds […]

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$1B Playbook behind Royal Match success.

The $1B Playbook behind Royal Match success. Here’s the breakdown of their Live Ops strategy: 𝟭. 🏆 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: • Weekly Contest Challenge (full-week tournament) https://lnkd.in/e7rC3yWR • King’s Cup (2-day midweek tournament) https://lnkd.in/eu-YfraP • Sky Race (3-day end-of-week race) https://lnkd.in/eMwbwwuy • Lightning Rush (fast-paced 1-hour tournament) https://lnkd.in/eajrD8iR • Archery Arena (daily weekend tournament) https://lnkd.in/eRajA8Y7 𝟮. 🤝 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: • Team Treasure (weekly rotating team event) https://lnkd.in/eWV7BXdc • Team Tournament (weekly rotating team event) https://lnkd.in/eEiFwW7p • Dragon Nest (co-op team event inspired by Monopoly) https://lnkd.in/eE4_PNai 𝟯. 🎲 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶-𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆: • Hidden Temple (4-day midweek treasure-digging mini-game) https://lnkd.in/eQkHtKvS • Duke’s Fortune (slot machine mini-game, 3 days) https://lnkd.in/eJ2mmFZe • Magic Cauldron (potion-making mini-game, 3 days) https://lnkd.in/eh6ACvX4 𝟰. 🏅 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: • Mission Control (4-day milestone event) https://lnkd.in/eDsdQYpm• Mission Pursuit (3-day milestone event) https://lnkd.in/egWaAGNC • Book of Treasures […]

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Just Discovered Something Cool in Sticker Book!

🚀 Just Discovered Something Cool in Sticker Book! 🚀 So, while playing around with the Treasure Ladders event in Sticker Book by Lion Studios, I came across a feature that really made me go, “Whoa, that’s clever!” 😮Here's the deal: Instead of your typical rolling offer, they’ve added a "24-hour ad-free reward" that you can unlock [only] if you buy the previous offer. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t seen this kind of incentive added to a rolling deal before, and it feels like a fresh take on keeping players engaged.✨ Why I think it’s genius:1. You get that feeling of instant gratification knowing a big perk is waiting for you.2. The placement makes it feel so tempting—you’re almost compelled to progress.3. And let’s be honest, a whole day without ads is a pretty solid motivation to spend!I’m […]

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Mobile Game Publisher Insights: Homa Games

Homa is ‘’scaling’’ many games, yet hypercasual’sstar, puzzle, is NOT one of them. Insights: I am going to cut to the chase.They make money on Action games, gamesThat are ‘’almost’’ copy cat of each other.It looks like sometimes they dont even botherTo change the assets. Why? Because obviously, it works! They raised $100M in 2020 on Series B round,And by looking at the games they are scaling:They are either running out of fund for marketing,Or saving cost to scale other subgenres in 2025. Either way, their low IAP revenue is not a good sign.My prediction on them is that they are going to:—> Try to scale 2 ‘’non’’ action games (Puzzle?),—> Continue to iterate (copy) Action games,—> Working on a midcore action game (secretly)

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What to do if your game has low retention?

What to do if your game has low retention? I teamed up with Mykola Veremiev to make a decision tree for your game.If your game is struggling, ask these questions: 1. Is the FTUE completion rate high? 2. Are players engaged with the core loop? 3. Are paywalls causing drop-offs? 4. Are there difficulty spikes? 5. Is the player funnel strong? 6. Is the game technically stable? 7. Do players have clear long-term goals? 8. Are players pursuing those goals? 9. Is feedback on gameplay positive? 10. Does your team still believe in the vision? Depending on the answers, you have 3 paths: • 🔁 Iterate: Minor fixes can boost retention. • ↩ Pivot: Core gameplay has potential but lacks depth. • ☠ Kill: Systemic issues with no clear solution. Use data to guide your decisions. Iterate, pivot, or cut […]

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Making a Nuts & Bolts Game? Think again!

Thinking about making a Nuts & Bolts game? Think again! 🧩🎮 The market may look appealing, but you should really rethink! Quick analysis from AppMagic paints a clear picture; the genre has seen its peak, and is now on a downward trajectory:From Q4/23 to Jul-Aug/24, the market saw fast growth, peaking in downloads and revenue. Now the story is different:➕ Downloads: A steep decline, driven by a churning retention profile, rising CPIs due to saturation, and a weakening ROAS profile.📉 Retention: Significant drops as competitive pressure and squeezed monetization strategies leave players disengaged.📊 DAUs: Daily Active Users have seen a dip, as retention and monetization strategies falter.💰 Revenue: Revenue has slowed across the segment as all compounds.Issues with Current Strategies:Games like Wood Screw Puzzle have ridden the wave but are now paying the price for short-term strategies. Aggressive Ad Monetization […]

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Multiplacement Strategy on Apple Search Ads

🚀 High season is here, and if you’re thinking about testing new placements on Apple Search Ads, like the Today tab or Search tab, you might be asking if it's worth it. The truth is, it all depends on your goals. Each placement serves a different purpose:👉 Today tab: Great for awareness.👉 Search tab: Perfect for targeting users just before they search.👉 Search results: Ideal for intent-driven users.👉 Product pages: Great for catching users who are browsing other apps.🌀 I’ve broken it all down in this carousel so you can figure out which placement fits where in your funnel.

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