The mobile game industry is valued at $35b. Here’s how you can stand out.

Photo credit: Gamenomnom

Mobile games seem so trivial when compared to other forms of gaming. Although these are the apps that you download from iTunes or the Google Play store when you are bored, don’t underestimate them. The mobile game industry is a $34.8 billion market responsible for 85 percent of mobile app revenue in 2015.

According to Pocket Gamer, there are 519,321 active games as of March 2016 in the US app store. 500 iOS games are launched every day. So the question remains: What makes a mobile game stand out from the rest?

Photo credit: App Annie

In the above lists of the top 10 free, paid and top grossing mobile games in Singapore, you will notice at least one of the following six features of great mobile games.

1. Short games and/or games that can be paused

Most mobile gamers are casual gamers who find time to play in between their daily routines such as traveling or while waiting for friends. Therefore, a great mobile game has to be either a short game, or one that can be paused halfway.

For example, a game of Candy Crush can be completed within 3 minutes, and you start on a new game when you are done with it. If you have to leave in the middle of the game, you can pause the game and come back to it later, exactly from where you left off.

Mobile games are unlike console games, where each game can last for an hour designed for dedicated gameplay. Instead, as a game designer, you should be asking, “How can I give my gamers the best possible experience within the shortest possible time?” This approach applies even if you intend to create a role playing game like Clash Royale or Assassin’s Creed.

2. Great hooking point

Let’s face it. Life can be boring at times, and we all want something we cannot get in real life. This lack of excitement explains why we turn to games where we can be star basketball players, kings, and superheroes. Games allow us to do that.

Imagination can be expensive for gamers and great cash cows for developers.

This fuels a different hooking point in each of us. If you look at the top grossing games, you will realize that they have a great hooking point. Millions of people around the world are hooked enough to play regularly, and some are even willing to pay for it. Game developers could look at developing good content and story plots here.

Serious gamers are paying real money to pretend to be kings, heroes, or just to try their luck in the mobile casino. As you can see, imagination can be expensive for gamers and great cash cows for developers. So before you create your game, ask yourself, “What would be a great hooking point for my game?”

3. Easy to learn, hard to master

This ancient principle applies to games in general, and not just mobile games. If you look at chess, poker, Go and other traditional games, you will realize that you can learn them within an hour, and they seem so simple. As you continue to play, you will realize that there are endless strategies and tactics that you can deploy which can take you a lifetime to master.

4. Growth and ownership

5. Adapt your game to local culture

6. Freemium games

Conclusion