Informal and hyper-casual cell video games have reigned over the cell world as of late. However they’re not the one recreation style out there on the market. Whether or not you’re a curious participant or a recreation developer, in case you’ve been eager to be taught extra about all of the totally different sorts of cell video games, you’re in the appropriate place.
Choosing a recreation class
Selecting a recreation class to your cell recreation within the shops will have an effect on how customers see it. So any ASO technique for cell video games might want to take recreation genres into consideration. Furthermore, earlier than establishing your recreation’s advertising and marketing technique, try to be positive about its class and the genres it matches into, to be able to goal the appropriate viewers.
ASO-wise, your recreation’s class will influence relevancy and competitors. Relevancy as a result of it’s prohibited by app shops to position your app in an unrelated class, but additionally gamers might be extra more likely to obtain your recreation when scrolling by the class (or trying to find that class) in case your recreation matches.
As for competitors, every recreation class has its personal huge gamers and by selecting a class you’ll set your recreation in opposition to all the opposite video games on this class. Some could have much less competitors than others and fewer competitors means the next likelihood of higher rating.
Don’t be afraid, you’ll be able to all the time change your recreation class in a while in case you really feel the one you select doesn’t work. That doesn’t imply you need to usually change it, give your ASO technique a while to construct rating and natural conversions earlier than giving up on a recreation class.
Informal vs. Hyper Informal
Informal video games are the predominant gaming class on cell. Most cell video games, no matter their style, match within the informal class. Just lately, hypercasual has been rising as properly, difficult the informal style.
Informal video games are supposed to be straightforward to play, they’re simply comprehensible by the participant and that’s what makes them so profitable: they’re the most performed recreation style on Android and are projected to attain 17,463.7 million downloads worldwide this 12 months. The principle guidelines are:
- low barrier to entry
- straightforward guidelines
- brief gaming session
This helps make informal video games simply playable by anybody at any given second. Even with solely 5 minutes of free time throughout a piece break, you’ll be able to simply pull out Sweet Crush and play for a short time.
Hyper Informal video games are an amped-up model of informal video games. Whereas the latter is already straightforward and fast to make use of, hypercasual is even simpler. They depend on straightforward recreation mechanics, with a transparent aim for the customers.
They usually use 2D designs with easy shade schemes in addition to looped mechanics. With a minimalist participant interface and no meta layers, the participant faces an easy aim that may be performed repeatedly and once more.
Uncovering the totally different cell video games genres
Every app retailer has its personal checklist of recreation classes, they solely barely differ however additionally they present that not everybody all the time agrees on the {qualifications} of video games. Knowledge.ai (previously App Annie) classifies cell video games into 3 classes (On line casino, Core Video games, and Informal Video games), after which video games style as subcategories.
We’ll check out all these (sub)classes and introduce them to you:
AAA video games
AAA video games are categorised all all through the gaming trade as “high-budget, high-profile”, normally distributed by well-known publishers. Vastly profitable on PC and consoles, they’ve began being an increasing number of integrated into cell gaming with the rise of cell phones’ performances.
They’re huge video games, with enormous world-building and punctiliously crafted gameplay. They’re additionally usually linked to huge gaming franchises.
Motion video games
Motion is sort of a big class by itself, it normally consists of video games with action-packed mechanics. You want to be fast in your ft (or more than likely in your fingers), with razor-sharp reflexes. They create challenges to gamers, with very dynamic gameplay.
It additionally consists of many subgenres comparable to:
- Platform video games (primarily about leaping and climbing), video games just like the OG Mario
- Shooter video games (utilizing weapons to take part in motion)
- Combating video games (close-ranged fight video games)
- Beat ’em up video games (just like preventing video games however as a substitute of one-on-one fights, they’re in opposition to a considerable amount of folks)
- Stealth recreation (sneaking round with out the enemy noticing you)
- Survival video games (begin with minimal assets and gather assets to outlive)
- Battle Royale (survival recreation with a one-man standing angle) which can be its personal recreation class
Journey video games
Journey video games are fairly a big class. So long as you are taking the participant on an journey (any sort of journey), you’ll be able to qualify as an journey recreation. Pokémon GO for instance makes gamers stroll round to catch new pokemons, whereas survivor.io places them in harmful conditions the place they should survive. It’s a way more generic class.
Arcade video games
Arcade video games solely require easy management, interplay, and gameplay. They’re a really addictive style of video games, usually engaged on an infinite loop the place the participant wants to achieve the very best rating doable, and begin over when he makes a mistake. This consists of video games like Subway Surfers, Temple Run, Indignant Birds, and Minecraft.
They’re low-stakes video games the place gamers work in direction of the next rating or a brand new milestone. Some arcade video games additionally depend on classic aesthetics, taking part in on digital remakes of precise real-life arcade video games.
Battle Royale video games
Battle Royale video games are fairly widespread as of late, particularly because of Fortnite’s rise to success. This sort of recreation takes place in a digital world the place folks (alone or in a crew) should combat different gamers till there’s just one participant (or crew) standing.
Normally, as time ticks by, the world (or area) tends to shrink in measurement to carry folks collectively and make it tougher. Fortnite and Apex Legends are a few of the most profitable Battle Royale video games.
Board video games
Similar to their real-life counterparts, cell board video games are normally a digital adaptation of board video games. That is the class the place you’ll be able to fulfill your must play chess in every single place. Many coloring video games appear to be additionally utilizing this class as of late, as may be seen from the screenshot under of the highest free app within the US within the Play Retailer.
Card video games
Card video games are cell variations of precise card video games. Along with many variations of Solitaire video games, this class has one rule: it has to incorporate playing cards. If you wish to play UNO! on-line with your folks (and even full strangers) or if you wish to play The Witcher’s Gwent, that is the class the place one can find what you’re searching for.
On line casino video games
On line casino video games are a self-describing recreation style. Similar to real-life casinos, the aim is to wager after which win cash. Most of those on line casino video games are cell variations of on line casino machines or video games, for individuals who might have extra luck within the digital world.
Academic video games
Academic video games (or Children’ video games as they’re categorised on the App Retailer) are a class of video games geared toward children. The aim is to show the participant one thing helpful (loads of video games concentrate on studying to rely for instance).
From coloring to maths and even cooking, these video games are all about instructing children new expertise.
Multiplayer on-line battle area (MOBA)
MOBA video games experience on the success of video games like League of Legends. They’re largely a multiplayer model of Battle Arenas. Gamers crew up with different gamers and try and win over one other crew. There are a number of sizes of video games doable, with groups turning into larger or smaller.
It’s a recreation that’s performed on-line, instantly with different gamers, and with a robust social element.
Massively Multiplayer On-line Function-Enjoying Video games (MMORPG)
Massively multiplayer on-line role-playing video games or MMORPGs are like RPGs on steroids. As their identify exhibits, they’re video games set in huge digital worlds the place gamers get to work together with one another.
Normally, Motion-oriented video games are very fashionable and profit from the success of well-known MMORPGs like World of Warcraft, which made its cell debut not too way back.
Music video games
No surprises right here, music video games are centered round musical components. A number of the most profitable cell music video games contain the participant tapping to the rhythm of music (usually well-known modern songs) to achieve factors and attempt to final so long as doable.
Puzzle video games
Puzzle video games are amongst the preferred. It’s even the popular gaming app style within the UK, and the second most performed on cell gadgets worldwide. This style of video games should embody some kind of puzzle and technique. There are a lot of several types of puzzles, from Dominoes to Sweet Crush, which requires fixing puzzles and assembly goals.
Match-3 and Merging are two puzzle mechanics which can be encountering a whole lot of success currently. As an off-the-cuff sort of style, the class drives customers in quest of leisure and enjoyable, with a contact of technique and forward-thinking.
Racing video games
Racing video games are all about setting the gamers by a course and letting them compete (between themselves or in opposition to computer-generated opponents) and attempt to make the most effective time. Most racing video games embody vehicles or bikes, (like Mario Karts for instance), however some embody extra authentic racing occasions.
One of many present high free video games on the Play Retailer within the racing class is a hyper-casual recreation the place you should race by espresso orders.
RPG video games
RPG stands for Function-Enjoying Recreation. RPG is a recreation class significantly profitable on consoles and PC, nonetheless, it’s been rising on cell audiences as properly. This class of video games tends to incorporate larger video games, some with giant open worlds.
Usually paired with journey genres, RPGs have the participant act as the principle character (whether or not customizable or not) to finish the storyline. Typically there’ll even be a number of storylines, the principle one in addition to some facet quests. They’re price over 8 billion in shopper spending solely on cell.
Simulation video games
Simulation is likely one of the hottest cell recreation classes. It accrued over 3 billion downloads worldwide in 2021. This class is designed to emulate real-life conditions and supply an alternate actuality. One of the widespread simulation video games is The Sims, they’re significantly widespread on PC however they do have a cell recreation as properly.
With simulation video games, the participant is immersed in a brand new state of affairs and must make their means by it. From flying planes to constructing cities, there’s no expertise that’s not possible for Simulation gamers.
You possibly can strive your hand at being a Goat (with Goat Simulator), a farmer (with Stardew Valley), or a prepare dinner (with Cooking Mama). The immersive gameplay expertise breeds success.
Sports activities video games
That is a straightforward class to grasp, sports activities video games embody each cell recreation that’s primarily based on a sports activities theme. It may be soccer (or soccer for the US residents studying this) video games like FIFA for instance.
There are even some video games that enable the participant to strive their arms at parkour. Sport simulation video games put the consumer within the spot of an athlete and have them act out the game (whether or not in groups or alone), they will additionally handle sports activities groups, and many others.
So long as the sport is about sports activities, then it matches within the class.
Technique video games
Technique is the very best subgenre by shopper spending ($9.7 billion in keeping with Modify). Technique video games depend on the participant’s decision-making to find out the result. A number of the hottest video games are Technique comparable to Conflict of Clans and Conflict Royale.
The aim is to win (whether or not which means beating your opponent or fixing puzzles) because of your wits. There are a lot of totally different mechanics that can be utilized for technique video games, making it a really numerous recreation class.
Trivia video games
Similar to real-life trivia video games, cell trivia video games are all about answering inquiries to earn the very best rating doable. There are a lot of topics out there to assist avid gamers check out their information with a enjoyable twist.
Phrase video games
Phrase video games revolve round, properly, phrases. Similar to Wordle, the sport that took the world by storm final 12 months, these video games are centered round phrases. From Scrabble to Hangman, and even crossword, so long as phrases are concerned they’ll be on this class.
Phrase video games might not be one of many largest recreation classes of the shops, nevertheless it’s one which has existed for lengthy, and nonetheless has its personal public.
Regardless of who you’re and what you want, there’s a (cell) recreation for you on the market.
Marine Nozerand
Hello there, I am Marine (she/her), I am a Content material Supervisor at Apptamin. Apptamin is a artistic company specialised in app movies (video advertisements, app retailer movies, and many others.).
