Deconstructor of Fun

JUNE 3, 2019

The reason for this acquisition was the success of Small Giant’s hit game, Empires & Puzzles. Since mid 2017, Empires & Puzzles has raked in $260M in net revenues with only 34M installs. data from the ever amazing Sensor Tower. data from the unrivalled GameRefinery. It has been there ever since. Wooga GmbH.

Puzzle 52

Puzzle Feature Build Balance 52

Game Analytics

DECEMBER 5, 2022

Reigns does a good job balancing this information while leaving enough mystery for unexpected twists. Horror in the Darkness is a text-based horror puzzle-esque game. Choice is limited – this is much more of a mystery and puzzle-type game. Data can tell you a story of its own. Is this a safe choice? What’s the risk like?

Horror 109

Horror Games Mobile Mobile 109

Radiator Blog

NOVEMBER 10, 2021

none of Dishonored's morality system and I think this is good, the "stealth puzzle = humane cage free assassination" philosophy has aged poorly imo 69% less stealth. and I think this balance tuning is intentional. Very streamlined, much faster, low stakes, and often just setting up the inevitable ensuing gunfight. Kind of sad.

Fighting 130

Fighting NPC Puzzle AAA 130

Deconstructor of Fun

JUNE 24, 2024

Genre-Specific Winners: Puzzle Games Prevailed: The genre fell by only 6% YoY in downloads and gained 10% in IAP revenue, thanks to new games like Block Blast and Royal Match, and established hits such as Candy Crush and Gardenscapes. Puzzle remained strong by focusing on retaining its current user base through events and live operations.

Mobile 75

Mobile Mobile Games Mobile Gaming 75

Logic Simplified

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024

Even so, different types of video game-level designs, such as shooter-level design, platformer-level design, puzzle-level design, multiplayer-level design, etc. A game design document plays a crucial role in collating data from studying the players’ preferences, demographics, etc, and planning and creating a game that keeps them hooked.

Mechanics 60

Mechanics Games Playtesting Concepts 60

Deconstructor of Fun

JANUARY 29, 2024

Another example is the 'Puzzles' collection mechanics, where the player farms puzzle pieces in hard match-3 levels to assemble pictures. So we decided to loop the puzzles at the same time as adding new ones. So this choice brings this event the needed level of complexity. This way, we can engage the player for longer.

Mechanics 98

Mechanics Content Puzzle Games 98

Deconstructor of Fun

JUNE 6, 2023

Especially with their two most recent titles Lily’s Garden and Penny & Flo , Tactile has been a stronghold for story-driven puzzle games with the collapse mechanic. Each level presents players with a puzzle to solve, and failing to notice items or power-ups can gradually increase that cognitive load and lead to frustration.

Balance 52

Balance Puzzle Mechanics Animation 52

Deconstructor of Fun

SEPTEMBER 11, 2023

Yet, the real game-changer came when they borrowed a fraction of these strategies and applied them to an entirely new puzzle game. Optimization, in its many facets, lies at the heart of Spyke's development ethos: “We optimise for speed, for quality, and for data-driven decision-making. That is my number one priority”.

Tile 64

Tile Co-op Games Puzzle 64

Deconstructor of Fun

JANUARY 19, 2021

Unless otherwise specified, all the data has been provided by the powerful Sensor Tower and analyzed by the author(s). Data from China, Korea and Japan are excluded as this analysis focuses on Western markets only. Small Giant did it with Puzzle and Empires. All revenue numbers show net revenues.

Cross platform 52

Cross platform Mobile Mobile Platformer 52

Game Analytics

DECEMBER 28, 2022

relied on data to figure out what they wanted this game to be. Stranger Things: Puzzle Tales by Next Games. Stranger Things: Puzzle Tales wasn’t initially created for the Netflix Platform. So, technically Stranger Things: Puzzle Tales wasn’t released in 2022. Which is a difficult balance to strike.

Mobile Gaming 98

Mobile Gaming Mobile Mobile Games 98

Filmustage

DECEMBER 15, 2024

Managing cast and crew expenses resembles a complex puzzle where pieces keep changing. Producers must balance cost savings against professional expertise when choosing between union and non-union talent. Production managers must keep accurate records of each department's spending while balancing these elements.

Film 52

Film Software Balance Point and Click 52

Filmustage

JANUARY 15, 2025

From breaking down scripts (like solving a movie puzzle) to getting your team talking (without using smoke signals), every piece matters. Balance those artistic dreams with down-to-earth planning. The key to exceptional production management lies in achieving an optimal balance between creative vision and operational efficiency.

Film 52

Film Scripting Communications Cinematics 52

Deconstructor of Fun

JULY 24, 2023

It’s a breath of fresh air to endless calendar puzzles where you’re trying to set up a meeting with people. The demand for work-life balance and job security is less pronounced as the cultural norm is to work hard not only for 8 but sometimes 10 or 12 hours a day. These same call-me-anytime rules apply to everyone in the company.

Communications 98

Communications Mobile Mobile Technology 98

Deconstructor of Fun

APRIL 2, 2022

For example, keep it simple for an older player of a casual puzzle game versus a hardcore gamer who understands managing resources and more complex systems Game economists must be careful to balance monetization techniques without blocking the fun. Each different game audience needs a different economy.

Mobile 52

Mobile Mobile Balance Mobile Gaming 52

Deconstructor of Fun

OCTOBER 27, 2020

Playrix is one of the powerhouses in the puzzle genre thanks to Gardenscapes and Homescapes’ current success. Data from the best in business, Sensor Tower. Playrix has been trying out many interstitials, banners, videos and playable ads based on solving puzzles/saving animals by moving the pins in the right order.

Co-op 52

Co-op Games Puzzle Mechanics 52

Deconstructor of Fun

MARCH 14, 2023

His data and insights were based on US data as a proxy for the western market, and focused on platform privacy, or the “Apple global mobile game recession”. Diversify revenue model Cilingir urged game-makers with games skewed heavily toward either ad or IAP-based monetisation to balance their revenue mix.

Games 59

Games Cross platform Mobile Mobile 59

Deconstructor of Fun

APRIL 25, 2022

Therefore, Cookie Run: Kingdom ’s similar but improved art style with a casual Build & Harvest and in-depth RPG gameplay makes it easier to win over adult players, which is supported by the user data. System The system design of the game and the in-game stats balance demonstrate Devsisters’ high standards. or event rewards.

Baking 52

Baking Simulation Build Animation 52

Deconstructor of Fun

JANUARY 21, 2021

Unless otherwise specified, all the data has been provided by the powerful Sensor Tower and analyzed by the author(s). Data from China, Korea, and Japan are excluded as this analysis focuses on Western markets only. This makes the genre second largest on mobile in (outside key Asian markets) after Puzzle games.

Mobile 52

Mobile Mobile Cross platform Puzzle 52

Deconstructor of Fun

JANUARY 13, 2021

Unless otherwise specified, all the data has been provided by the powerful Sensor Tower and analyzed by the author(s). Data from China, Korea and Japan are excluded as this analysis focuses on Western markets only. Mediation platforms have access to a large scale of marketability data across many publishers.

Mechanics 52

Mechanics Puzzle Advertising Studios 52

Deconstructor of Fun

MAY 4, 2020

All the data is derived from Sensor Tower’s fantastic data plarform. Clash of Clans has shown unprecedented staying power by staying in the top 10 grossing since 2012 (data: Sensor Tower). This game packs some of the best balanced, nerve- wracking, strategic gameplay on a mobile device. Cover image: Talouselämä. #1

Puzzle 52

Puzzle Mobile Mobile Mobile Gaming 52

Deconstructor of Fun

FEBRUARY 24, 2020

Will you make another puzzle game?”. Some of the puzzle games I’ve worked on. Puzzles are one of the biggest market categories and it continues to grow each year. The puzzle market is at a saturation point where it is hard to compete head-to-head with companies with a solid track record like Playrix, King and Peak Games.

Studios 52

Studios Build Puzzle Concepts 52

Deconstructor of Fun

JUNE 6, 2022

The fact that Battle Passes have been successful on audiences so alien to each other like MOBAs and Match-3 Puzzle fans shows how versatile its design can be. Passes can generate different player experiences, follow a different balance, and emphasize different components depending on the genre and audience.

Content 52

Content Mechanics Balance Mobile 52

Grid Sage Games

JULY 17, 2022

I could save the data to revisit it later, after adjustments are made. Of course this change comes with significant balance repercussions, which we’ll cover when we get to discussing that topic further below. Sample Garrison content list from Beta 11. I wrote about this factor in my recent article on game design philosophy.

Beta 52

Beta Content Balance Mechanics 52

Deconstructor of Fun

JUNE 3, 2020

This article is the last and, the most important piece of the “scaling” puzzle focusing on the nothing less than the game that is being promoted and the teams that are promoting it. The key to success is balancing IPM and LTV, and making sure that the gains on the IPM side are higher than the losses on the LTV side of the equation.

Games 52

Games Mobile Mobile Art 52

Deconstructor of Fun

AUGUST 29, 2021

This conviction is not until yet backed by KPIs (data from Sensor Tower). Nevertheless, Everdale is not a placement puzzle like a typical city-building game. This game is likely straightforward to balance, but it’s not very creative for the players to play. We’d be equally terrified to balance a more player-friendly game.

Build 52

Build Simulation Balance Mechanics 52

Deconstructor of Fun

DECEMBER 13, 2022

This is a well-balanced team in terms of disciplines, covering software, design, and art. Charles Lee (Art Lead) , veteran art director and concept artist with past experience at Blizzard , Sony Pictures Animation , and who until very recently worked in the Visual Development of Netflix hit Arcane (damn!).

Studios 52

Studios Mobile Mobile Console 52

Deconstructor of Fun

JANUARY 17, 2020

Unless otherwise specified, all the data has been provided by the wonderful services of App Annie and analysed by the author(s). Kudos to their unrivalled data support! Here are the three things you need to know about ironSource: #1: They’re developing the most robust, data-driven growth engine for mobile games. #2:

Mechanics 52

Mechanics Platformer Studios Data 52

Deconstructor of Fun

FEBRUARY 17, 2020

Unless otherwise specified, all the data has been provided by the wonderful services of App Annie. Even with the boost brought by Mario Kart, Racing only accounted for approximately 1% of the mobile market revenue ( compared to RPG which accounts for 30%+, or strategy/puzzle that account for 15% ).

Racing 52

Racing Games UX Mobile 52

Game Design Advice

JUNE 5, 2016

If we can describe what makes certain problems interesting in this particular way then we may learn something about “interestingness” in general, about the difference between data and meaning. Deep games require knowledge, explanation, creativity, and cleverness. How to avoid the trap of a local maximum in solution space?

Feature 40

Feature Terrain Games Baking 40

CG Spectrum

JUNE 10, 2024

Some game designers focus on combat balance, using spreadsheets and simulations to provide challenges without impossibility. Technical artist - Balancing creative and technical skills, technical artists liaise between artist and programmer teams to help problem-solve and bridge the two departments. What does a game designer do?

Film 52

Film Animation Animation Concepts 52

Deconstructor of Fun

JANUARY 10, 2021

Unless otherwise specified, all the data has been provided by the powerful Sensor Tower and analyzed by the author(s). Data from China, Korea and Japan are excluded as this analysis focuses on Western markets only. Laura Taranto has 12 years experience in casual games and is a product advisor and puzzle game aficionado.

Puzzle 52

Puzzle Mobile Mobile Games 52

Deconstructor of Fun

AUGUST 27, 2019

Unless otherwise specified, all ranking, downloads and revenue data below has been acquired through the wonderful data services of App Annie. A well balanced revenue market share split across the East and West. the second piece of the puzzle. To make sure you don’t miss on all of the ?content Source: BoomBit website.

Balance 52

Balance Content Mechanics Mobile 52

Deconstructor of Fun

MARCH 22, 2021

Especially since the game seeks to dominate the puzzle genre, which is the largest and arguably the most competitive genre in mobile games. They boast industry’s largest in-app video ad network, a robust mobile ad mediation platform, and a data-driven user acquisition platform. In other words, everything you need for game growth.

Puzzle 69

Puzzle Mobile Mobile Mechanics 69