Although console and PC gaming might be the first things that come to mind when thinking about playing games, mobile gaming has taken over in recent years. Games like Genshin Impact are becoming increasingly popular, with even AAA gaming companies getting involved in the market, such as Riot Games with Wild rift or Nintendo with Pokemon unite.
When it comes to mobile games specifically, people often only have a short amount of time to play them - around 15-20 minutes during their commute or on a break. These types of games are known as Hyper Casual Mobile games, and there are four top trends for 2021 that you should be aware of.
Snackability, in terms of food, means having a small amount to tide you over until your next meal. When used in the gaming world, it signifies the brief period of time (during your commute or break) you have to play where you can easily pick up from where you left off.
Since most people don't have hours at a time to dedicate to playing one game, hyper-casual games usually last no more than 15-45 seconds per level--just enough time for players to figure out if they like it and want to continue.. These quick levels also offer a sense of satisfaction as players overcome obstacles before moving on to the next stage with slightly increased difficulty. The old days of Flappy Bird-esque gameplay are gone; now, games have a stage system that allows you to pick up from where you left off. By the time you reach level 20 in this game, for example, progress power will be fully evident. The market has changed significantly in just 10 years!
Most noticeably, hyper-casual mobile games only require the use of one finger/thumb. You may find yourself swiping, tapping, or controlling an object, but never with more than one digit. With time, this function has become increasingly intuitive in terms of gameplay and game mechanics.
A great and easy example of this are the stop-and-go games where you control the character by tapping. You can make them pause if there are any obstacles in their way. The reason why this mechanic is so successful right now is because it's basic and straightforward. The fewer fingers you use, usually means the player can focus more on gameplay than how they're controlling
the game.
Last but not least, playing hyper-casual games offer a sense of satisfaction that other genres just cannot provide. Be it a confetti explosion, any sort of victory celebration, or the character becoming invincible at the end for completing your level; all these factors manage to make the game feel more exciting and interesting. Consequently, this helps keep users engaged for longer periods of time.
Mundane tasks become much more exciting when there's the chance for satisfaction. For example, if a character is going down a waterslide or on a trail, it gets boring after a while. However, if your character bumps into another character and knocks them off the slide or gets some sort of power-up, it provides player satisfaction for completing that task or achieving that goal. Players want to feel satisfied during and at the end of game levels so they'll have motivation to keep playing from one level to the next.
Players look for originality in hyper-casual games-they crave something new. With so many clones on the market, it can be hard to stand out. Heading to your app store, you're likely to see page after page of cookie cutter mobile games, whether it's MMORPGs, strategy titles or hyper casual ones.
If you want to succeed in the mobile gaming industry, it's not enough to simply copy other people's ideas. Players are attracted to games that offer something new and innovative. By capitalizing on trends and coming up with fresh ideas, you can capture players' attention and keep them engaged for longer periods of time. This is good for your game's CPI (Cost per Install) and CPA (Cost per Acquisition).
And that wraps up our post on the latest mobile gaming trends!
