Casual Games refers to any type of videogame that does not require a significant time investment to be played, won, or enjoyed. As a whole, a casual gamer is someone who simply enjoys playing any videogame without having to invest significant time.
What are Casual Games Features
Mobile App with a Wider Appeal, Web-based
There are many distinguishing characteristics to casual games. First, many casual games are web-based. They are often found on personal computers or mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. Additionally, they are targeted at a broad market. This is in contrast to “hardcore games”. A game that is targeted at niche gamers and hobbyists. Casual games typically have a low learning curve. Many of these games only have a few controls. Most buttons have one or two buttons, which will be the most important for controlling the majority of the game.
There are simpler rules and fewer skills
Casual games tend to have shorter sessions, simpler rules, and require less knowledge than the more difficult games. You will therefore need to spend less time playing and winning. These games can be played over short time periods. These games are less time-consuming than other “hardcore” ones, which can require up to 40 hours to reach the last stage. Microsoft Solitaire is regarded as one of the most successful casual games ever released on a personal computer. It was released in 1990 and has attracted approximately 400,000,000 gamers.
There have been many casual games published along with hardcore games throughout the history video games. In the 1990s and 2000s there was a lot of effort to capitalize upon casual games. Many game developers and publishers called themselves casual game companies. They published games for web browsers, PCs and, later, smartphones.
Lower Cost
Casual games typically cost less than the hardcore game, in order to reach as many people as possible. All game monetization methods can be used: from retail distribution to free to play to ad support.
The term “instant game” (or hyper-casual) was first used in 2017 to refer to very simple-to learn games. Games that are not downloaded and can be played using an existing app such as a messaging app or web browser. These games often show ads to their players, and they are usually free to download.
Genres
Casual games are available in many game genres. Big Fish Games and Gamezebo published early-2000s classifications that identified seven most popular casual game genres:
- Puzzle games: Bejeweled series. Collapse! series, Luxor series
- Hidden object games: Mystery Case Files series, Mortimer Beckett series, Hidden Expedition series
- Adventure games: Dream Chronicles series. Aveyond series. Nancy Drewseries.
- Strategy games (including time-management): Diner Dash series. Delicious Series. Cake Mania.
- Arcade & action gaming: Plants against Zombies, Peggle series and Feeding Frenzy Series
- Word & Trivia Games: Bookworm, Bookworm Adventures series and Bonnie’s Bookstore
- Slingo Quest! Deluxe, Luxor Mahjong
Acquiring Casual Games Players
The platform distribution will be a major factor in acquiring players in the casual gaming sector. Mobile games distribution is generally in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Other app stores, like Amazon, may also be used for distribution. A publisher might distribute for PC on Steam or other publishing platforms found on the Web. Marketing is tailored to drive buyers to gaming sites or stores.
Marketers often focus on acquiring mobile casual gamers through Facebook advertising and Google App Campaigns. This is because they are highly effective channels for acquiring installs of apps.
Facebook Mobile App Install Campaigns are a popular source of advertising traffic. This is because it offers advertisers the best volume and quality. The Facebook platform’s potential requires creative testing. It also requires constant adaptation to new Facebook advertising strategies and algorithms. Facebook has increased the frequency at which its advertising products change over the last few years. Top mobile app marketers have also increased the frequency with which they make strategy changes. Looking back, it is clear that the strategy we implemented 6 months ago is different than what we are using today. This statement would be true regardless of the time frame, even if it was five years back. Our strategy has been evolving to ensure that we keep up with Facebook’s best Mobile App Install Campaign practices.
Google App Campaigns is another option to Facebook’s ad solutions. It allows advertisers to create ads where people are able to download an app right from the ad. App Campaign ads are created to encourage app downloads. These ads contain all the settings for Google App Campaigns.
App campaigns can also be promoted using other types of advertising, such as text ads or display ads. The conversion rates for these campaigns are not as high as App Campaigns. It is easier to convince people to install your app if they have to do a few clicks.
Tips and tricks for Casual Games Marketers
Facebook Mobile App Download Campaigns and Google App Campaigns offer the best opportunities to recruit players for casual games. If you are not making the most of Facebook and Google Ads, it is time to improve your game.