With the development of the power of smartphones, computer games have moved into the phone, and now anyone can download the application and go through a couple of levels while riding the subway or standing in line. If for people it is an opportunity to spend time interestingly, then for companies it is to make money and gain fame.
In the article, we tell you how to choose the type of future game, how to develop it, and what stages you have to go through.
Popular genres of mobile games
Knowing the basic mechanics will help you make your choice, follow other companies and understand general trends while promoting. According to Newzoo, in 2020-2021, the following genres were included in the TOP-5 genres of gaming mobile applications:
MMORPG
One of the oldest types of games stands for Massively Multiplayer Online RPG. Here, the developers create separate fantasy worlds like Game of Thrones or The Lord of the Rings with dungeons, monsters, dragons, demons and gods. Participants pump the hero, gaining skills and strength in battles with other players or invented characters. In popular applications, up to several thousand heroes can simultaneously play online in online mode, dividing into groups of 5-100 people.
Previously, only computers could pull this, but with the development of smartphones, MMORPG without problems switched to the mobile version.
Examples: Arcane Legends, Adventure Quest, Dungeon Hunter 5.
MOBA
They are a mixture of RTS (English real-time strategy, RTS) and action. A person controls one of the characters and selects skills and abilities: usually they are magicians, knights or warriors. By uniting in groups, people compete with each other for products, objects and power in the virtual world. To successfully complete the stages, you need a good reaction speed and movement of your fingers on the screen and enough patience to complete the fight.
In the mobile version, there is no such depth of mechanics and strategy as in the computer versions, but this does not prevent you from grabbing attention for a long time.
Examples of MOBA: Mobile Legends, Arena of Valor, Vainglory.
Battle royale
The idea was borrowed in part from the films “Battle Royale” and “The Hunger Games”, with players fighting with each other for ammunition, armor, buildings, etc. to stay alive. Resources are distributed across the map, and the player must collect and properly manage them in order to maintain power.
Large-scale maps, a large selection of weapons and armor make the user experience especially exciting. The main audience of Battle Royale is teenagers 8-15 years old. Almost all gaming applications do not charge, and the creators earn through advertising.
Examples: Fortnite, Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone.
Card games
To exchange cards, you need to participate in battles with other participants, earning good cards or buying them for real money.
Matches can be up to 30 minutes long, and the process includes a winning mechanic based on luck – this maintains a sense of excitement and a desire to win no matter what. Card games are usually free, but people can pay extra for a good deck.
Examples: Hearthstone, Eternal, Shadowverse, HEX: Shards of Fate.
Puzzle
They cover a large market share: more than 50% of phone owners install at least one such game application on their phone. Puzzles grab attention and require you to use ingenuity and logic to win, but they do not hurt your fingers when you touch the screen as other types, but they are no less intriguing. It can be Tetris, Sudoku, or number problems.
Examples: Cut the rope, Rusty Lake, Roll the ball, Love Poly.
Criteria for choosing the genre of the game
Budget
Now the competition in the mobile games market is quite high, so it is unlikely that it will be possible to create a project on your knees with a minimum budget. It is better to soberly assess your capabilities and, based on the estimate, choose the appropriate genre. The more complex the mechanics, the more money you will need to create it. If the budget is small, it is better to choose a light game with minimal technical requirements.
Team Capabilities
For a start, it is better to choose genres in which you have experience. You should not immediately take on a large-scale Battle Royale if the people in the team previously developed only races and puzzles.
Competitors
Study your competitors in the genres of interest. When niches are crammed with top-tier projects, it will be difficult to gain popularity. This will require a lot of money and a short time frame to have time to release the project before a competitor comes up with a more interesting version. In most cases, it’s better to choose another option and not waste the money, time and effort of the team.
Trends
The ability to predict trends will help you avoid outdated ideas that will leave marketplaces in the near future and choose promising options. For example, experts predict the growth of 3D technologies in the future. Now such applications are not widespread, but in a few years they may well take off in the ratings. It’s better to create something unique than to uselessly trying to improve existing expensive projects.
Approaches to game selection
Before getting started, developers have two choices: create a completely unique app, or use proven game mechanics. Both options can be successful and have their own merits and demerits.
Copy tested mechanics
| pros | Minuses |
| Minimal risk of failure The technology has already been tested on users and perfected to the smallest detail Ready design Short time |
Need a large marketing budget An analogue of a popular game is unlikely to cause a “wow effect” and will spread virally, so the main traffic will have to be attracted through advertising. Small market share Risk of releasing the game lateIf the development process drags on, it is likely that by the time of release it will no longer be relevant. |
Create a unique game
| pros | Minuses |
| “Wow effect” New games bring new user experiences to players, and they seek to share emotions with friends and invite them to join. This creates a viral effect when the game promotes itself without extra investment. Large market share Free publications in the media |
High risk of failure Launching a new product on the market is always risky and can lead to application failure. Long development time Large investments |
Stages of mobile game development
Idea development
Research the market and genres, select the main target audience and an interesting product that they will like.
Monetization strategy
Usually, it is free to play, but inside the interface, users can buy additional features and functions or watch ads in exchange for free access.
The main monetization methods used by developers:
- Advertising. To avoid negative reviews, players are often presented with additional per-view bonuses.
- Subscription. The user deducts a certain amount every month and receives a premium account without ads and additional bonuses.
- In-game currency. By investing in it with real money, users can make purchases.
Category selection
There are three main categories in the game making industry:
- Hyper casual. A short game without a plot with easy mechanics and simple controls.
- Midcore. Game mechanics that require more time and strategic thinking. There is an easy plot and action planning. The most popular option in marketplaces.
- Hardcore. With a high level of difficulty and a well-developed game world for experienced gamers. Typically created for audiences with an interest in specific genres.
Platforms for creating mobile games
Developers have a wide range of programs:
- Unreal Engine. A proven platform suitable for large and small projects on any mobile platform. From tools: C ++ and Blueprints visual scripts.
- Unity. A platform with a large selection of tools: a graphical editor, quick debugging, support for any platform and creation of titles.
- AppGameKit. There are many ready-made solutions for rapid development, built-in monetization technologies, and a fast compiler.
- MonoGame. Suitable for creating cross-platform applications, will help beginners in creating their first projects: many tutorials have been written for the platform.
- Marmalade SDK. Includes libraries, tools for quickly coding, testing and deploying applications.
Gameplay development
Giving a sense of excitement and engagement is the main task of the gameplay. To retain the audience, they use short-term levels and unlock additional functions, bonuses and secret items.
Platform
Most often, the platform for Android is chosen for the first launch – it has free publication and a larger audience than iOS. Ideally, the application can be cross-platform in order to get as much traffic as possible.
Game design
In game design, you need to work out the story, characters, small details and the user path down to the details. It is he who will distinguish himself from competitors and create a positive impression.
Testing
Before launching on the marketplace, the application is tested on a potential audience and errors are corrected in advance. The more carefully the check is carried out, the less negative reviews there will be after publication.
Where to order a mobile game
Our AppCraft studio has been developing mobile applications for more than 10 years / We take on all stages: from analytics to publication, help with marketing and provide prompt technical support.
Fill out the form below to get a free consultation and find out the cost of developing a mobile application.
