Smartphone gaming has seen a huge spike in popularity in recent years. Games were also the most influential genre in the App Store, claiming 62% of the revenue share. But what trends are happening in app gaming right now that we can expect to stick around for a while?
We spoke to Jacek Michałski, who knows all about the latest online and mobile gaming trends. To get more facts on the world of mobile gambling, you can see more of Jacek’s work here.
Many gamers started playing casual games in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. While some turned to streaming media on the likes of Netflix during the COVID-19 pandemic, others preferred a more active role in their entertainment choice. For many, hyper-casual games made the most sense.
The genre ruled the charts in 2020. One particular casual game, Among Us, was one of last year’s most successful titles.
Hyper-casual games are easy to play and enable gamers to relax and have fun during difficult times. But those reasons might well be why these games stick around.
Puzzle games have undergone numerous changes over the past few years. The latest trend in the market is the addition of various meta-layers to the central gameplay.
This has been seen in such trends games as Clockmaker, Gardenscapes, Homescapes, along with newer games such as Project Makeover. Shared characteristics include:
This strategy enables developers to appeal to a wider audience. So rather than targeting match-3 players only, puzzle games equipped with meta layers can appeal to those gamers with an interest in fashion, design, or storytelling games.
Lastly, mobile esports is another trend making quite a splash. There were close to half a billion watching esports last year alone. While the pandemic undoubtedly had a hand in this, it’s a number that can be expected to climb, as the popularity of game-watching is increasing.
In fact, among the 18-25-year-old market, watching esports has surpassed traditional sports in terms of popularity. When U.S. representative Alexander Ocasio-Cortez played Among Us for charity, over 400k people viewed the stream.
Online casino mobile gaming trends deserve an entire post of their own. Trends include cloud gaming, Artificial Intelligence (AI), live play, and cryptocurrency. But one trend that particularly stands out is Virtual Reality (VR).
Thanks to VR, casino gaming is more immersive than ever. While top-tier software and headsets are designed for high-end laptops, fortunately, there’s more cost-effective VR equipment available for mobile and app gaming.
Thanks to this technology, you can escape to new, virtual worlds, with a whole host of exciting slots and table games.
To find a reliable polskie kasyno online in Poland, first you need to read some casino reviews and check casino rates at a trusted website.
Subscriptions have become a more common way to access app gaming, especially in the most profitable games. That’s according to the SensorTower Industry Trends report.
It’s likely that we’ll see an even greater number of games adopt this monetisation model. Examples of app gaming subscriptions include:
Subscriptions are often a secondary monetisation method and are, more often than not, in addition to in-app purchases. As they’re a money-maker for game developers, and as they’re growing in popularity among gamers, this is another trend we can expect to continue
Newzoo predicts that there will be over 3.07 billion gamers globally by 2024, with mobile gaming driving that growth. There’s no denying that this market is booming and shows no signs of slowing down. Whatever the future of mobile gaming holds, it’s sure to continue being quite a ride.
We spoke to Jacek Michałski, who knows all about the latest online and mobile gaming trends. To get more facts on the world of mobile gambling, you can see more of Jacek’s work here.
Hyper-Casual Games
Many gamers started playing casual games in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. While some turned to streaming media on the likes of Netflix during the COVID-19 pandemic, others preferred a more active role in their entertainment choice. For many, hyper-casual games made the most sense.
The genre ruled the charts in 2020. One particular casual game, Among Us, was one of last year’s most successful titles.
Hyper-casual games are easy to play and enable gamers to relax and have fun during difficult times. But those reasons might well be why these games stick around.
The Evolution of Puzzle Games Continues
Puzzle games have undergone numerous changes over the past few years. The latest trend in the market is the addition of various meta-layers to the central gameplay.
This has been seen in such trends games as Clockmaker, Gardenscapes, Homescapes, along with newer games such as Project Makeover. Shared characteristics include:
- Decor
- Fashion
- Storytelling meta-layers
This strategy enables developers to appeal to a wider audience. So rather than targeting match-3 players only, puzzle games equipped with meta layers can appeal to those gamers with an interest in fashion, design, or storytelling games.
Watching, Not Playing
Lastly, mobile esports is another trend making quite a splash. There were close to half a billion watching esports last year alone. While the pandemic undoubtedly had a hand in this, it’s a number that can be expected to climb, as the popularity of game-watching is increasing.
In fact, among the 18-25-year-old market, watching esports has surpassed traditional sports in terms of popularity. When U.S. representative Alexander Ocasio-Cortez played Among Us for charity, over 400k people viewed the stream.
Online Casino Gaming Apps
Online casino mobile gaming trends deserve an entire post of their own. Trends include cloud gaming, Artificial Intelligence (AI), live play, and cryptocurrency. But one trend that particularly stands out is Virtual Reality (VR).
Thanks to VR, casino gaming is more immersive than ever. While top-tier software and headsets are designed for high-end laptops, fortunately, there’s more cost-effective VR equipment available for mobile and app gaming.
Thanks to this technology, you can escape to new, virtual worlds, with a whole host of exciting slots and table games.
To find a reliable polskie kasyno online in Poland, first you need to read some casino reviews and check casino rates at a trusted website.
More Subscription-Based Gaming
Subscriptions have become a more common way to access app gaming, especially in the most profitable games. That’s according to the SensorTower Industry Trends report.
It’s likely that we’ll see an even greater number of games adopt this monetisation model. Examples of app gaming subscriptions include:
- The option to remove ads e.g. Sand Balls
- Access to a VIP version of the game e.g. Wheel of Fortune
- Boost er subscription games e.g. Boom Beach
- Battle passes e.g. PUBG Mobile, Fortnite
Subscriptions are often a secondary monetisation method and are, more often than not, in addition to in-app purchases. As they’re a money-maker for game developers, and as they’re growing in popularity among gamers, this is another trend we can expect to continue
Conclusion
Newzoo predicts that there will be over 3.07 billion gamers globally by 2024, with mobile gaming driving that growth. There’s no denying that this market is booming and shows no signs of slowing down. Whatever the future of mobile gaming holds, it’s sure to continue being quite a ride.
