Hyper-casual games have been coming out on top of the gaming industry, the chart below (by Sensor Tower) shows the most downloaded genre in Q2 2022 were hyper-casual, this is a positive sign for the development of this game genre in the next periods of 2022 and 2023.

 This guide will show you what to know about this type of mobile game, including how you can create them, how they can be monetized, and what tools you need to get started.

(Top Games by Worldwide Downloads)

What is a hyper-casual game? 

A hyper-casual game is a mobile video game that is easy-to-play, and usually free-to-play; they also feature very minimalistic user interfaces, according to Wikipedia. It offers instant gameplay and usually has a minimalistic interface and simple mechanics such as stacking, turning, and falling. Interestingly, the simplicity of a hyper-casual game makes it extremely engaging, satisfying, and addictive. That is the reason why it can attract a bunch of audiences and generate revenue with a freemium monetization model. Another benefit to this type of gaming app is that users do not have to worry about storage limits, it will take up less space on a user’s device than other types of games, making it less likely to be uninstalled. 

How to create hyper-casual games without coding 

It is possible to create hyper-casual games without knowing how to code. There are several options available. Scratch, for example, is a free programming language with an online community that makes it possible to create interactive games. The tool is useful for understanding the core concepts of programming. There are also visual scripting tools you can use, such as Bolt Visual Scripting for Unity. This is a tool designed specifically for game developers that do not want to write code. To get started, there are several online courses available for those who want to create hyper-casual games without writing code.

How to make a hyper-casual game?

There are top 10 mechanics to make a hyper-casual game that game developers should know.

Testing the performance of a hyper-casual game 

The balance between difficulty and ease of use is one of the most important components of a successful hyper-casual game. It is essential for the game to be instantly accessible but a developer also shouldn’t want a game to be too easy or difficult. 

Marketers should A/B test their mechanics at different speeds to find the perfect balance that will increase time engagement without it becoming a frustrating experience. Developers will also need to test ways in which you can monetize your app without damaging the quality of your game’s user experience. 

Monetization and hyper-casual games 

Monetization is also a vital component of any successful hyper-casual game. These games rely on ads to optimize revenue so it’s necessary to know the different ads you can implement and how they will be incorporated into the user experience

3 ad formats to consider 

Rewarded video ads 

This type of monetization model is known as the “hottest revenue generator” on the market, this ad format rewards users for viewing ads. They can then use this reward to progress through the game, creating a win-win scenario for the user, advertiser, and publisher. For instance, users can be given valuable items or extra lives after watching 30 seconds of ads. 

About 77% of users are willing to watch a 30-second ad if they are rewarded with a discount from a retailer, as a study by OpenX revealed. Moreover, implementing rewarded video ads is also a smart way to increase retention and session length. 

Banner ads 

Advertisers might be familiar with this type of ad. A study by Liftoff found that this traditional format can be more effective than video ads that aren’t built specifically for that ad campaign. The study also showed banner ads outperforming native ads when it comes to post-install engagement on Android. 

Interstitial ads 

Interstitial ads can take up the entire screen during the session, ensuring that the user takes notice. This ad format can be static full-screen ads but can also include video, store locators and even playable content. 

Developers will need to decide whether interstitial ads on your hyper-casual game will be skippable. Making it possible for users to skip ads may be better for retention and session length, but it will also have a significant impact on revenue. Developers should A/B test these ads to find the right balance that allows their games to perform well in these metrics.