Hyper casual games continue to be developed at an unprecedented pace over the past few years. So why are hyper casual games so popular? Where is the hyper casual game industry headed? How to earn money from hyper casual games? We will talk about the hyper casual game world, which has risen in the mobile game world since it appeared on the App Store 10 years ago and is now the fourth category in the application lists.
What is hyper casual game?
Hyper casual games are games that are developed quickly and have simple mechanics. The games, which are offered to users free of charge, aim to be played continuously. Hyper casual games can also be played with endless replays. This makes the games incredibly addictive and interesting. The combination of simple mechanics with minimalist user interface provides an easily accessible user experience. Thanks to the simplicity in the design, you understand how the game should be played at the first play. This game genre has a wide audience between the ages of 13-65, unlike other genres that have a very specific player base. As Paul Woodbridge, Design Director of MAG Interactive, puts it
If you show your hyper casual game in an ad and users instantly understand what the game is about, you've succeeded. This is a hyper casual game and it should appeal to a wide audience.
Key features of hyper casual games
How to find hyper casual game ideas?
The most important things to do in order to generate hyper casual game ideas are trend tracking and market research. Some games and themes come to the fore periodically. Concepts loved by users inspire developers, leading to other games entering the market.
In addition to the basis of game design in the hyper casual game genre, character, control and camera elements can be a guide for trends. Many long-term games have followed the proven examples of these three elements, releasing different forms. It is easier for the games that follow the trend to reach the users. Therefore, while generating ideas, trends can be inspired to reduce costs and reach more users. (Refer to 2021 hyper casual game trends.)
How to make a hyper casual game?
It is easier to get an idea of how these games are made by learning the basic principles of hyper casual games. Although these types of games are easy to learn, what motivates the players to want to play?
Easy to play hyper casual games are hard to master. Game training can become more challenging than training. With the technical knowledge and skills required for playgrounds, it will provide you with the right choices for you in the best way. (Refer to the management of mechanics used in hyper casual games.)
Those who are new to hyper casual game development can design their games very easily with C#. Game lovers who want to make games at a higher level can code with Unity 3D programs. In order to develop games in Unity, they must have at least intermediate knowledge in the C# programming language or have knowledge of using software that works with blueprint logic offered by third-party packages.
Testing hyper casual gaming performance
Hyper casual game developers' strategy is to design and publish the game quickly. Usually the game is developed within a few weeks or even a few days. Data from core mobile game metrics will help the developer optimize the game to achieve success.
One of the most important components of a successful hyper casual game is the balance between ease of use and difficulty. the developer needs to A/B test the mechanics at different speeds to keep the balance in between. The main criteria that will show whether the game has potential are 1 day retention period and 7 days retention period. If the 1-day retention rate of the game is more than 40%, the game continues. If the game does not meet the KPIs, the game is killed. There is no point in spending more time and effort on games that are unlikely to be successful.
If the test period shows that the game has potential and can attract the attention of the players, the game is published and advertised. After launch, publishers analyze what works and what doesn't in their marketing strategy. After the game is released, the main goal is to attract as many users as possible. This is usually done through paid user acquisition. After gaining a large user base, revenue is generated through paid advertisements displayed in the game.
Hyper casual games lifetime
The playing times of hyper casual games are short compared to other game types. Publishers often try to keep content fresh with the release of new games. Users want to experience new games in the constantly renewed application stores. The number of downloads of the games that have managed to attract the attention of the players with their marketing strategies is also increasing. Interest in concepts that are trending in a short time and that inspire games is decreasing significantly as time passes. Rapidly changing trend cycles reduce the longevity of the game. As a result, the LTV (long-term value) of hyper casual game users is not very high.
What is the hyper casual game motivation?
Most of the reason why hyper casual gamers enjoy mobile games is because it appeals to social activities and emotions. Hyper casual players want to enjoy the fun to pass the time when they have nothing to do.
If the needs of the players are not met in hyper casual games, they will probably get bored and leave your game. When it comes to hyper casual games, there are certain reasons why players quit the game. The most important reasons are seeing advertisements too often, the game becoming repetitive and the game boring.
Although hyper casual games are attractive with simple game mechanics, developers need to work on making the game more interesting in the long run and avoid repetition. Since ads are one of the important monetization methods for hyper casual games, it may seem logical to increase the frequency and number of ads. However, as mentioned above, this can have the opposite effect. You may experience a high loss in your players. According to the report published by Facebook, the main reasons people play hyper casual games are:
Such motivations must be in the minds of game developers.How do hyper casual game developers make money?
In addition to the simple and easy interface of hyper casual games, these games are offered to users free of charge. So how do developers make money from these games? When users want to play a hyper casual game, they encounter many advertisements. It's no coincidence to see so many ads during pauses or chapter transitions.
In addition, developers are making in-app purchases possible to gain access to additional levels that users cannot access, increase abilities, or extend gameplay time. Thus, profits are started to be made from hyper casual games offered for free. Developers who want to retain the user and continue to play the games resort to other methods. In addition to all this, developers need to determine which monetization method to apply by analyzing user experiences.
For more information, you can review our Hyper Casual Game and Money Making Strategies article.
The future of the hyper casual market
As Katkoff puts it, “hyper casual and ad monetization go hand in hand.” There are tons of hyper casual games coming out every week. Developers may need to implement deeper features and follow trends to rise above the competition. It will be interesting to see how they do this within the natural parameters of this species. Hyper casual games have created a new space in this vast market and it will be exciting to watch the hyper casual gaming industry progress in the years to come.
The best hyper casual game publishers
Here are the top hyper casual streamers worldwide by downloads in Q3 2020, according to Apptopia:
The best hyper casual games of 2021
According to Sensor Tower, these are the top hyper casual games worldwide, based on downloads in 2021:
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