The mobile game ecosystem is pushing hyper-casual games to be more complex and deep to improve LTV.

Did you know that over 50% of gamers in the world play on their phones ? Mobile gaming is in its prime, and 2023 holds promises of an exhilarating year.

In recent years, there has been a remarkable rise in the popularity of Casual and hyper-casual mobile gaming and has made a huge impact on the mobile gaming industry. The popularity of these games shows no sign of slowing down. By 2028, market researchers expect casual/hyper-casual gaming to reach approximately USD 25.9 Billion.

Casual and hyper-casual games are designed to be accessible, easy to understand and able to provide instant gratification to the player. With its casual accessibility and simplistic nature, these games offer something to just about any kind of player, ranging from the hardcore gamer to the more laid-back, mobile gamer.

Game developers must pay attention to some key trends and takeaways when creating new casual/hyper-casual games.

The evolution to Hybrid Casual From Hyper Casual and Casual
A new games category is emerging – Hybrid Casual games. This genre blends two different gaming genres, and presents increased opportunities for monetization and retention. Games in this genre combo serves hybrid casual games by offering the accessibility of a hyper casual game with casual and mid-core game elements like collection systems or leaderboards that keep users loyal to the game. So, reworking a current hyper casual app to craft a hybrid casual game—or building one from scratch —might substantially enhance your ability to retain players and increase earnings.

Multiplayer & Social Gaming Features
Post the pandemic, many players are relying on mobile games to fulfill their social needs and looking for more engaging experiences that bring them together. Developers are adding more chat and messaging features to mobile games, among other things.

Currently, two-thirds of the leading 50 mobile games have at least one feature that allows players to communicate and chat with each other. According to Facebook, “Four in ten (38%) new players in the US said they prefer to chat with others when playing games, compared to three in ten (29%) existing players in the US who said the same”.

“Words With Friends” and “Clash of Clans” both offer an incredibly immersive social gaming experience with millions of active players worldwide. These features may include:

• PvP modes and challenges
• In-game messaging and video chat;
• Cooperative Play modes
• Leaderboards
• Connection to social networks;
• Guilds

The reason to add these features is compelling – the need for greater player satisfaction and the possibility of monetization.

Increased Engagement Through Skill based Gaming
Mobile skill-based gaming is the future. Skill based challenges and contests are layered on top of social gaming features to increase engagement among players. Gamers appreciate the prospect of winning money based on skill, creativity, intellect and experience. Essentially, skill-based gaming offers the opportunity for individuals to enjoy what they love while potentially earning money, all without the of gambling or luck.

People like winning money based on their skill, creativity, intelligence, experience and level of boldness. Simply put, skill-based gaming allows people to do what they love and potentially make money doing it, without the element of gambling or chance.

Growth of Subscription Based Monetization
The global gaming market using subscription models is set for a strong growth trajectory. This market had a value of $8.25 billion in 2021, and Grand View Research (GVR) predicts it will expand at an average annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.8% from 2022 to 2030. GVR’s research also anticipates that smartphone gaming will experience the highest CAGR (16.8%) during the 2023-2030 period. The cumulative revenue for the subscription market is projected to reach an impressive $24.1 billion by 2030.

Mobile first experiences
A recent study revealed that more than half of mobile gamers (65%) play more than twice daily on their mobile device (31% play more than five times daily), and more than half of consumers who play games on their mobile devices do so in their free time.

Game developers have more opportunity to leverage mobile-first experiences to increase revenue growth and ROI with Casual/ Hyper-casual Gaming. Mobile platforms offer a variety of advantages including instant access to millions of players, shorter download times, and the ability to provide free-to-play experiences to users. Moreover, mobile devices allow developers to create games that are tailored to users’ needs and provide a unique experience.

Growth of player ownership

Revenue growth for casual and hyper-casual gaming has been spurred by the emergence of new technology that enables players to own in-game assets. Thanks to blockchain technology and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), players can now acquire assets during gameplay that they can keep and use in other games, such as a power-up, or trade with other players.

This type of player ownership not only creates an innovative and engaging way for users to interact with their favorite games, but also provides new revenue opportunities for game developers, agencies and publishers.

By partnering with an experienced game development agency and making sure to create a mobile first experience, provide ownership opportunities to players, and take advantage of social gaming opportunities, developers can create engaging and rewarding games that will generate long-term revenue.

With the right strategy, Casual/ Hyper-casual Gaming trends present huge opportunities for success. Get in touch with us – an experienced game development team that knows the develop and deliver high quality games with high user engagement/ revenue potential.