Developers spend countless hours creating epic games. The truth is that very few mobile games make it in the competitive mobile gaming market. There are just way too many apps in the market and even the greatest of game design concepts gets lost in the volume. Let's look at what developers must do right after they have created an epic game.

The problem of volume

There are practically at least a few hundred games that get introduced to the app stores - iOS and Android. Be it a puzzle that you’ve created or a car racing game, there are going to be hundreds of others that are offering the same to your target market.

Think about it.

When you go to the app store looking for a particular type of game, aren’t you simply overwhelmed with choice?

For instance, I went on to look for some jigsaw puzzles that I could play during commute. I ended up downloading 5 of them together because there were way too many showing up in my search. Now amongst these 5, it is possible that your game was one. But there is also a high chance that I totally missed it!

According to PocketGamer.biz, here’s what the monthly app submissions on iOS looks like:

And here are the total number of apps on the Android Play store, according to Statista:

So how will your game get discovered?

We believe that getting social will make all the difference!

Tactics for games to GetSocial

We have time and again spoken of how game developers need to focus on app engagement for sustainable growth in the competitive market, and effective monetization.

Let's look at some tactics that developers can use to engage their users right from the time they join the game.

1. Create a community  

It is important for developers to understand the value of player loyalty for growth. The only way to ensure that players remain loyal to your game is to keep them motivated and engaged. One tactic that has proven to do so effectively, is creating a community - even the top grossing games focus on keeping their players together right from the start.

Facebook study: Friendly competition keeps mobile spenders' in the game

2. 'Gamify' your game further 

Take advantage of the competing spirit of your players to challenge them against one another, and you’ll see the rise in app sessions and engagement rates like never before.

Implementing features like leaderboards and activity feeds where players can see the progress of others, can keep your users engaged. When the players can see what others are doing, they are more likely to follow suit too - even if it is just to rank higher than the others.

For instance, Adam here shared his activity in the game - not just boasting of his achievement, but also nudging other players to compete with him.

Adventure Smash activity feed fueling player competition

Also read: Benefits of activity feeds in apps

3. Encourage word-of-mouth 

You have acquired your initial set of players and you might be content for now. But you got to keep going with user acquisition. This is when you should experiment with ways to grow your users organically. The most effective tactic being word-of-mouth.

84% of people take action on personal recommendations from their friends and family, so here is a opportunity you should not miss.

By implementing Smart Invites, you can encourage your existing players to invite their friends via popular chat apps in lieu of a small incentive - be it unlocking a new level, a new feature or earning some extra points to use in your game.

Nibblers allowing easy friend invitation with smart invites

4. Re-engage them with social push notifications

Gamers get demotivated when they don’t achieve milestones in a game for a while. They also tend to explore other games that their friends could be playing. But that doesn’t mean they should forget about your game!

Using Social Push Notifications you can re-engage your players when they are not playing. But be sure to tailor your message according to the player’s activity for the best of results!  

Pokémon Go's engaging push notifications

Also read: 7 examples of push notifications that will bring back your players to the game

5. Create a communication channel 

Your players are people who love communicating with their friends and family throughout the day. This means that they could be juggling between apps to simultaneously play the game, as well as chat with them.

By implementing in-app chats, you can let players network with each other and also with the game's developer. This eradicates the need to switch apps, reducing the hassle, and keeping them longer in the game.

Ruzzle Adventure deploying in-app chat

Also read: Why games need to measure user engagement for higher monetization

Getting started

Engagement is a must-have element in mobile games. The only way mobile games can grow in a competitive market is to keep players engaged and motivated, as well as continually work on improving the gaming experience for them. But you need to get started straight from moment zero.

Getting Social with GetSocial is really easy! (pun intended)

You can check out all our products here.
And if you’re ready to get social, integrate all our social features by simply signing up.

If you want to discuss your game and your business goals with us, contact us right away!