2024 has seen the dawn of several new trends for browser-based and mobile gaming. It has kept a lot of people on their toes – not just the consumers but the developers and marketers also. To help get everyone onto the same page, here are the biggest changes in gaming trends that we saw this year.
Puzzle games saw big gains in 2024
This year, one of the biggest areas of growth by far was in puzzle games. Puzzle games are a very broad category, but they generally refer to word puzzle games, block games in the same vein as Candy Crush or Tetris, and certain genres of strategy games, such as free-to-play tower defense. People simply cannot get enough of them.
Puzzle games succeeded so well this year by focusing more on retaining their current player base through events and major updates, as opposed to prioritizing the acquisition of new players. This has been a highly successful strategy that more companies need to learn from moving into next year.
Casino games continue their steady rise
Casino games and online slots have seen a boost this year as well. Though casino games can mean a lot of things, they also refer to the table games and live dealer games found at an online casino. Games listed at www.newcasinos.com are exactly the kind of casino games that have been making it big in 2024.
The best kinds of casino games are found at licensed operators and are designed by reputable software providers. Some of the best software providers who are not only trustworthy but also saw growth this year are Evolution, Pragmatic Play, Relax Gaming and Push Gaming.
The rise of hybrid casual games
As popular as mobile gaming is, it has always suffered from a lack of more sophisticated functionality and control schemes. Though casual gamers who exclusively or primarily play mobile games see little issue, it has always been difficult trying to get fans of more “core” or hardcore gaming, such as console and PC games, to join in too. Hybrid casual games have been aiming to fix that, and their surges this year show that things are working.
If casual games are highly simplified with only one or two rules and actions, hybrid casual games aim to make them a little more complex by combining them with other genres. These mixed genres tend to be RPG (role playing games) with crafting or survival elements, often with mechanics centered around auto-fire or auto-leveling and upgrading. These types of games have seen big boosts in 2024 and we expect to see their rise continue into 2025.
YouTube ads are dominated by the mobile market
Marketers have realized that mobile and browser game advertisements work exceptionally well on YouTube. Though gaming advertisers are still pouring money into TikTok, Facebook and Instagram, YouTube saw nearly half of all ad revenue for mobile and browser games in the United States. This makes sense, as gaming content on YouTube far outweighs other content creation and social media platforms.
Though PC gaming and console gaming ads took up a good chunk of the YouTube ad pie, mobile games were by far the ads most spent on and most shown in videos. Roughly two thirds of gaming ads on YouTube are for mobile games
Influencers and YouTubers lend a helping hand
Though YouTube ads are undeniably popular, it’s becoming harder to deny the impact that influencers have on mobile and browser games. Many marketing firms, advertising companies and game developers are realizing that one of the best ways by far to get the word out there about your game is to use a mouth that’s already very popular.
The influencer and YouTuber overlap is quite large. Many of the most popular YouTubers are gamers themselves, having amassed fanbases due to their speed runs, tournament appearances or casual playthroughs with unique commentary and banter. Millions of gamers around the world have faith in the opinions of these influencers, so when they advocate for a game, it tends to carry much more weight than a billboard or a commercial.
What advertisers are also realizing is that an influencer known for a specific kind of game can still be collaborated with, even if the browser or mobile game in question is not their usual cup of tea. It could be something as simple as a short intro ad in a video, a quick promotional demo showing off the game for a few minutes, or any other method that has them playing the game and providing some quick, positive thoughts.
Many influencers have already used their clout to help advertise blockchain games, so mobile games following a similar trajectory makes sense.
IPs and brands are beginning to take hold
Now that mobile games have been around long enough to have their own eras and generations like console gaming, mobile brands are starting to entrench themselves. People are beginning to associate quality mobile gaming with specific names and intellectual properties, such as Clash Royale, Monopoly Go, PUBG Mobile, Bejeweled and Pokémon Go.
This has limitless possibilities for marketing purposes. Major brand names are already beginning to partner with the metaverse, and more spin-offs of major brand games are being developed for mobile devices and desktop browsers. Older releases still dominate newer ones, though, thanks to more updates and longer life cycles.
Conclusion
Some of these gaming trends surprised no one, but others definitely show an evolving landscape that has mobile games becoming a force with greater influence outside the gaming realm. As long as advertisers and publishers pay attention to these 2024 trends, they should expect to see excellent results in the coming years.
Mobile games have come a long way from their very simple and humble origins. Bit by bit, they are introducing more complexity to their gameplay and their cultural footprints. These tactics are paying off very well.
