Mobile Games have become the hottest trend these days, especially at present, when people spend hours on their smartphones. You can hardly find a mobile device with not a single game installed. It is undoubtedly a top app category with the highest number of options available on the App Store or Google Play Store. There are more than 4 million apps that belong to this particular category and the number is likely to increase in the coming years.
Here is a fun task for you. Can you go back a bit and remember all the games that you have ever downloaded on your smartphone? We are sure that you can hardly name all of them which certainly shows the fierce competition between game apps on app stores. Hence, it is challenging for developers to build a game app that can stand apart from a plethora of other options and attract users instantly. Despite this, mobile game development is quite rewarding as it explores a lot of incredible opportunities and offers excellent learning experiences. Many companies have attained unmatched success and reached a new height by launching stunning mobile games.
So, what is the reason that a few games become so popular and hit while others fall flat? Honestly, there are various speculations and guidelines to develop a successful game app. We have listed a few secret elements that are essential to join the league of top mobile game apps. Have a look:
Meticulous Research
Before you kickstart the development phase of the game app, it is essential that you set a benchmark for the entire project. What you intend to achieve, what design you expect, the audience you want to target, the genre or category of the game, etc. There are many points to check on the list to ensure that your game is different from other similar ones available in the market. Therefore, do a serious and meticulous analysis to build an original game with appealing features. Also, you will get to know more about competitors which will help you gain an edge over them. Go through the reviews of existing games to know what users want and like and what you must avoid.
Keep It Simple
This may be the oldest advice but it is still the most applicable one. Many developers and game owners ignore this tip and add complexities from the beginning which can go against them. Yes, people prefer challenges and new experiences but you don’t have to do it in the initial stage. You can hear many instances where users have uninstalled a game merely after a few minutes because it was too complicated and arduous to understand. The game should include basic mechanics and simple features that people can understand within a few minutes of downloading it. Follow the principle of ‘First Impression is the Last Impression’ here and it will take you a long way.
Impressive Design
One of the important factors to adhere to the previous point is the design of the game. With an attractive interface and design, you can deliver a magnificent experience for your users. With compelling, intuitive, and user-friendly UI/UX design, the game can attract and engage the audience for longer. However, in the quest of creating appealing designs, do not make the mistake of overwhelming people with too many difficult controls and components on the screen. The design should be clear, faster to download on all devices with high-resolution images. Also, avoid too many colors or details as it could be annoying for many.
Make It Interesting App
Although this is not a secret, many developers still adopt the wrong approach to make their games interesting. Moreover, they fail to leverage the full potential of social media and other engaging elements. First, you must start with an exciting concept based on the objective of the game, then make it fun, interactive, and dynamic. Gamers should always be hooked while playing and discover new features while moving forward to advanced stages. Make sure that users come back to the game app and share it with their friends. You can use social media platforms to drive engagement and allow users to share their rewards, progress, and score with other members.
Plan Monetization
No, we are not implying that you must prioritize monetization. Of course, your attention should be to create a top-quality game for people and get as many users as possible to download it. Charging an amount for this will only disrupt its popularity. However, you need to find a way to earn revenue from the game because your ultimate goal is to make a profit. Right? So, work on a monetization strategy once your game is famous and have enough audience. Have a clear roadmap to achieve required outcomes, avoid obstacles, and attract more users. But never compromise on the quality, or experience because these two factors are primary to earn well.
Cross-Platform Compatibility for App
You cannot restrict your game app to one operating system or device when there are several different users out there. It is a big risk and you must avoid it. Although iOS and Android are more popular, you still cannot ignore users of Blackberry and Windows. There is no way to tell which device or platform will gain popularity in the future so make your app available on all devices, smartphones, and tablets. Yes, this will be time and money consuming but the returns will be worth every penny. If you have a shoestring budget, then start with one platform, iOS, or Android, and then as the number of downloads increases, launch it on other platforms.
Update the App Frequently
Technology is evolving every day and your game must keep pace with advancements and demands. To ensure more retention, scalability is a key where you introduce new features, characters, levels, and other layered features. Also, as each operating system has updates within a few months, the game should be compatible with them. The design and interface must not be hampered. Based on the initial feedback and reviews of users, you can create new designs and introduce more updates. Fix the bugs regularly on older versions to keep the attention of gamers.
Conclusion
Yes, the game app development industry is unpredictable but it must not stop you from diving into it and explore better opportunities. The entire journey of bringing an idea into a reality through a game app is fun, exciting, and a learning experience. You might find it stressful at times but finally, it will be nothing less than rewarding. These secrets mentioned-above will keep you prepared for all the surprises you might encounter during the process.
Author’s Bio: Alicia works with the editorial team of A3logics, a leading mobile development company. Exploring the latest technologies, reading about them, and writing her views have always been her passion. She seeks new opportunities to express her opinions, explore technological advancements, and document the details. You can always find her enjoying books or articles about varied topics or jotting down her ideas in a notebook.
