Tips for Creating Addictive Games in Small Teams

In this article, we break down all the things that can help game developers in small teams create addictive games without breaking the bank. Read more.

Creating addictive mobile and video games is a crucial aspect of the gaming industry. Game designers work hard to keep players engaged and continue playing, which translates into paid games and higher profits.

Some of the top grossing games in the US in 2022 that players just cannot stop playing include:

• Honor of Kings, a top-grossing game worldwide, generated USD 1.65 billion;
• Candy Crush Saga, a top-grossing game in the US and the most downloaded gaming app in the Google Play Store;
• Roblox, a top grossing game in the UK; and
• PUBG and Genshin Impact earn 60% of their revenue in China.

China, Japan, and the United States account for the majority of in-game spending on mobile games. Most revenue from China and Japan is attributed exclusively to the highest-grossing iOS and Android games.

Clearly, both video games and mobile games, whether simple or AAA, have been considerably profitable, which inspires more game developers, big or small, to make a more engaging gaming experience.

10 Key Strategies to Produce Addictive Games in Small Teams

Here are ten of the most addictive games as of 2023 according to various sources:

1. Fortnite [1]
2. League of Legends [1] [2]
3. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) [1]
4. World of Warcraft
5. Minecraft [1] [2] [3]
6. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim [1]
7. Slither.io [2]
8. Happy Wheels [2]
9. Fallout 4 [2]
10. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas [3]

These games are known for their engaging gameplay, immersive storylines, and interactive features. Many of them are multiplayer games that allow gamers to compete against one another, adding to their addictive appeal. From the free games category, Slither.io, Happy Wheels, and Fallout 4 are great options for gamers on a budget. On the other hand, games like World of Warcraft and Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim offer a more premium experience, with expansive worlds and a vast amount of content to explore.

Regardless of the game, it’s clear that gamers keep coming back for more, thanks to the addictive qualities of these top 10 games. Similarly small teams with limited resources can also create fun and addictive games through these 10 tips:

1. Target a niche audience.

Experienced developers understand that addictive gameplay is tantamount to gamers’ desires, preferences, and motivations. This could involve creating a game that caters to a particular interest, like a puzzle game for math enthusiasts or a survival game for fans of the outdoors. 

Popular mobile games were also created with a particular niche in mind. An addictive game such as Roblox, for instance, was designed to fill the lack game genre for children as young as 5 years old. Understanding these preferences and what makes a video or a mobile game fun for a particular group of gamers can provide direction for mobile game or video game development on a tight budget.

Here are some inexpensive ways to know your audience better:

1. Use online market research tools: Creating addictive mobile games for a particular niche can only be done by conducting a sound online market research. Small team of developers on a tight budget can use online tools like Google Trends, SurveyMonkey, or BigCommerce to These tools can help you delve into the internal motivators that prompt a purchase, learn customer behaviors, and identify trends.
2. Leverage social media: Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can also provide valuable insights to create an addicting game for your target niche or audience. Many developers use these platforms to gather feedback on their mobile game or video game designs and pricing models. Some even join guilds to monitor conversations related to their genres.
3. Analyze your competitors: Analyzing your competitors is another great way to gain insights into your target audience. By studying their marketing strategies and analyzing their customer base, you can get a better understanding of what works and what doesn’t in your industry. Also, this would keep you knowledgeable of the intellectual property rights of other games so as not to compromise your own.
4. Attend industry events: Attending industry events such as trade shows or conferences and encouraging people or friends in the industry to attend is a great way to meet potential customers face-to-face and get feedback on your product.
5. Conduct focus groups: Conducting focus group discussions with people with video game addiction can be an effective way to gather qualitative data for a certain mobile gaming app or video game being developed.

By conducting market research, a game designer will be able to better understand their target audience’s needs and create a video or mobile game that captures the gaming market. Remember that only the right audience will avail themselves of the paid version of your game.

2. Create a compelling mission game concept.

Playing games with a compelling mission-based gameplay concept keeps gamers going. This could be anything from saving a princess to defending a fortress from invaders. One of the most popular online games of all time is World of Warcraft where players explore imaginary worlds. This thrill of discovery (even of places that don’t really exist) can be extremely compelling.

To make the mission-game concept compelling, it needs to be challenging but achievable. Gamers should feel like they are making progress and getting closer to completing the mission as they play. Additionally, the mission should be tied to the game’s story or real world events so that gamers feel invested in the outcome. In the Counter-Strike Global Offensive Game, for example, the players are divided into two teams: terrorists and counter-terrorists. They must complete objectives or eliminate the other team to win.

Finally, the mission game design should be replayable. Even after the player has completed the mission once, they should feel motivated to play the daily quests again in order to improve their score or try a different approach.

3. Create a simple yet engaging gameplay loop.

Playing hypercasual games often poses gaming addiction because of the simplicity of the gameplay mechanics that can be learned quickly. In fact, some of the most addictive games in the world, such as those listed in Game Quitters’ article, are based on straightforward gameplay mechanics that are easy to understand but difficult to master. 

Playing games with engaging gameplay has the following aspects:

1. Social elements into the game – socialization is a basic human desire. Multiplayer games that are inclined to create an avenue of camaraderie, cooperation, or competition are more likely to create successful mobile or video games. Being able to make friends with other players is a successful game development metric.
2.  Simple and focused – Remember the Candy Crush Saga, which has been one of the top-grossing mobile games of all time? It has over 9 million players, reportedly playing for three hours or more each day. In fact, at one time, a single player spent $2,600 in a day just to play it. This is a classic example of a simple but top ranking game app in Google Play Store.
3. Has variable reinforcement per level – This can be done by introducing elements of progression to the game, such as leveling up or unlocking new features, that provide a sense of achievement and reward for the player’s efforts. Implementing daily challenges or events can also create a sense of urgency and excitement, encouraging players to return to the game regularly. Apex Legends and Team Fortress, are just examples of video games that have unique reinforcement game levels that makes such games addictive.
4.  Leveraging procedural generation techniques – consider using procedural generation techniques in the game to create replayable content without having to create new assets from scratch every time. This approach can help you make the most of your limited resources while still keeping your players engaged in the game.
5. Utilize social media to create engaging gameplay – Social media is a powerful tool that can be used to promote games, build communities, and even get feedback from players during the game development process.
6. Playtest and feedback – It’s also important to gather feedback throughout the game development process by conducting surveys of the next version or beta testing with a small group of players. Playtest your mobile game or video game with others to get feedback on what works and what doesn’t. This can help you identify areas where you can improve the game without spending additional resources.

4. Use intuitive game controls

Another factor that makes a game addictive are intuitive game controls. Playing video games with easy-to-use game controls, allows players to focus on the game play, which keeps them engaged. Developers can create addicting games by keeping the control scheme simple and easy to learn. It’s also a good idea to use common control elements, such as swiping or tapping, that many gamers are already familiar with.

Subway Surfers, an endless running mobile game similar to Temple Run has only 4 controls namely:

• Left/right arrow – Move left/right
• Up arrow – Jump
• Down arrow – Roll
• Space – Activate hoverboard

By providing visual cues and feedback players would understand how to use the controls and the outcome of their actions. Ultimately, intuitive mobile game or video game controls can make or break a game’s addictiveness, so it’s crucial to get them right.

5. Utilize open-source software.

Game developers can utilize free game engines and tools to create addicting games and reduce game development costs. There are many free game engines available that are ideal for beginners, such as:

1. Godot is an open-source game engine that uses common tools, making it easy for beginners to use. 
2. Unreal Engine and Unity – These engines provide a large set of tools that help the game development journey, including pre-built assets, physics engines, and scripting languages. 
3. GIMP or Blender for creating 2D or 3D graphics. 
4. Audacity for sound editing. 

By leveraging these free resources, small teams can create high-quality addictive gameplay without breaking their budget.

6. Create the ecstasy of winning.

To make any addictive mobile games or video games, it’s crucial to create an ecstasy of winning that forces players to stop playing and improve. This can be seen in addictive mobile games like Candy Crush and Angry Birds. Playing games with stages that are excruciatingly difficult, then solving them with big rewards just enough that they are almost ready to leave, creates a dopamine release in the brain, which is one of the most powerful and pleasurable chemical releases. By using a system of increasing difficulty and big peaks, players are willing to put in more effort and time to win, which makes the game more addictive. Ultimately, incorporating these elements can keep players of all skill levels invested in the game.

7. Incorporate in-game purchases, currency, and collectible items.

In-app purchases, in-game currency, and digital collectible items can certainly enhance the gaming experience and create addicting games. By providing players with a sense of ownership and progression, they are more likely to invest time and effort into the game.

To create an effective in-game economy, game developers must balance the supply and demand of goods and services. They can also create opportunities for players to earn currency through gameplay, such as completing daily quests or winning battles. Grand Theft Auto, for instance, allows players to spend real-world money at an in-game casino. Such games that offer the thrill of making money and spending it, allow players to stay motivated to keep playing and improving their skills.

8. Consider multiple platforms

According to research, games that are available on multiple platforms has a wider reach and can attract a larger audience. Additionally, on the side of the players, playing video games such as racing games that can be switched between platforms without losing their progress enhances the overall gaming experience.

Cross-platform game development is also more efficient in terms of monetization and updates, and can save developers’ time spent designing the UI. Cross-platform games have the potential to be more profitable in the long run.

9. Outsource certain tasks to freelancers.

Game development can be expensive. But there are ways to cut game design costs without sacrificing the fun aspect or quality. One way is to use open-source software instead of purchasing expensive proprietary software. There are many free and open-source game engines available, such as Godot and Unity, that can be used to create addictive gameplay at a lower cost.

Another way is to outsource certain tasks to freelancers or other small businesses. For example, you could hire a freelance artist to create your game’s graphics or a musician to compose original music for your game. This can help reduce game development costs while still maintaining quality.

10. Seek out grants and funding opportunities.

Aside from self-funding, there are several ways an independent video game or mobile app game can be funded. These include:

• Crowdfunding requires building a strong audience beforehand and using platforms like Kickstarter or Patreon to raise money.
• Project funding – involves finding a publisher who will cover development costs and grant a share of the revenue.
• Grants and tax relief – Many countries offer tax relief as well as grant funds to support indie game developers. These grants can help cover expenses such as development costs, marketing, and other operational expenses.
• Traditional venture funds – Venture capital firms invest in promising startups and businesses in exchange for equity, and gaming is a growing sector for venture capital funding.
• Consider partnering with a publisher- Partnering with a game publisher can provide additional benefits such as access to resources and expertise in the gaming industry and even free publishing. 

Ultimately, the choice between these funding models depends on the resources available and the level of control that the developer wants to maintain over their games.

DAPPX: A Free Game Publishing Platform for Play-to-Earn Games 

📢We'd like to give you a bang of the #P2E projects that #DAPPX would showcase this quarter!!🥳

Glad to have our first batch of third parties who published their work with us.🙏🏼

Join our growing P2E ecosystem now and gain $DAPPX!😉#P2Egaming @Acent_tech #blockchain pic.twitter.com/LsnajP0l50

— DAPPX (@d_appstore) January 16, 2023

DAPPX  is a game publishing platform that allows developers to publish play-to-earn games for free and without any blockchain knowledge. Unlike other platforms, DAPPX does not have any listing fees and pays developers instantly for every game match. 

DAPPX uses NFTs and in-game currency or crypto rewards to increase player engagement. It offers easy-to-use game publishing with robust features such as: 

• High-Performance Rendering of Triple AAA Applications
• Reliable Blockchain Network 
• Functional NFT Marketplace
• Easy-to-use game publishing platform
• Games are accessible from the Your Earth DAO Metaweb.

Built on the Acent blockchain, the platform’s gaming marketplace allows developers to sell in-game digital items. Additionally, DAPPX offers:

• Tokenization of gaming projects for crowd funding
• Governance staking
• Partnerships with decentralized exchanges and promotions, and
• Technical support to help developers succeed.

The DAPPX platform offers a complete solution and comprehensive marketing services for developers to reach a wider audience for free!

Here are some of the DAPPX game features that allow players to keep coming back for more:

1. DAPPX allows new players to gain $DAPPX rewards from the Freenet mode. In turn, they can use their $DAPPX to play in the Livenet and gain bigger rewards. $DAPPX is exchangeable for USDT in KuCoin.
2. Players can choose from simple to AAA-rated play-to-earn games, making DAPPX the most convenient platform to access all types of games. 
3. DAPPX games are accessible from the Your Earth DAO Alpha metaverse! Right now, high-performing COBA Royale is the first game released on the said metaverse.
4. DAPPX also supports mobile game development. iOS and Android users will also be thrilled to access DAPPX games on their mobile phones. See upcoming DAPPX initiatives here.

So, if you already have a great idea or concept for video games or mobile gaming apps that you want to turn into a digital reality without spending money on publishing, get in touch with the DAPPX team.

Conclusion

In conclusion, developing an addictive game requires creativity and innovation, especially if developers are on a tight budget.

One way to cut costs is to plan your budget carefully and prioritize spending on the most important elements of the game. Free softwares, outsourcing, and using premade assets or templates also enables game developers to create high-quality games without spending money. Leveraging social media and online communities to build a large following is also very helpful.

However, it is also essential to strike a balance between challenge and reward to allow players to keep coming back. Developers should consider ethical considerations to ensure a fair and balanced gaming experience. For instance, game developers can provide a positive reinforcements to prevent unhealthy gaming addiction by implementing features such as pop-ups or notifications that remind players to take breaks, limit their gaming time, and encourage them to engage in other activities.

Finally, DAPPX provides an excellent opportunity to tokenize gaming projects and receive crypto rewards, while also providing technical and marketing support, and easy-to-use game publishing platform. 

By keeping these tips in mind and leveraging innovative technologies like DAPPX game developers can create fun, successful, and profitable games that keep players coming back for more.

Footnotes:

[1] 9 Most Addicting Games in the World

[2] Top 30 Most Addictive Games

[3] The 10 Most Addictive Video Games of All Time, According …

Stay glued to our community if you do not want to miss NFT airdrops and staking opportunities!

DAPPX | Acent Metaweb OS | Your Earth DAO | Blog | Twitter | Telegram | Facebook | KuCoin / $DAPPX