By Hossein
Since the launch of the App Store over a decade ago, we have seen a variety of mid-core, casual, and hardcore games dominate the mobile gaming space. However, today, a fourth category—hyper-casual games—rules the charts of top games and apps.
Over the past few years, hyper-casual games have experienced unprecedented growth, and their popularity continues to surge. But what exactly is a hyper-casual game, and what makes this genre so successful? In this guide, we’ll explore what hyper-casual games are, how they rose to the top so quickly, and what their key elements are.
What Are Hyper-Casual Games?
As the name suggests, hyper-casual games are lightweight games with simple mechanics that deliver instant gameplay. They are truly ‘Tap to Play’ experiences.
Thanks to their simplicity, hyper-casual games are not only easy to start playing but also highly addictive and enjoyable. Crafting a compelling hyper-casual game becomes easier when you stick to its minimalist and straightforward style.
Combining basic mechanics with a minimalist user interface creates a user experience that is both accessible and highly engaging. There’s no need for tutorials—players can jump right in. In fact, compared to regular casual games, hyper-casual titles engage players with the goal of the game even faster.
Unlike other video game genres that often target niche audiences, hyper-casual games are built for the masses. If you can showcase your game in an ad and people instantly understand what it’s about, you’re on the right track.
Being able to pack relevant content into a short window of time is a core skill when making hyper-casual games. If traditional video games are like full-length movies, hyper-casual ones are more like two-minute trailers—they need to grab attention and keep players interested in a very short span.
Why Are Hyper-Casual Games So Popular?
Hyper-casual games aren’t as new as they might seem. In many ways, they’re a modern revival of 1970s arcade games. Still, they’ve evolved and currently dominate mobile game download charts, often occupying 10 out of the top 15 spots.
The rise of hyper-casual games comes down to three main factors: their global appeal, a 70% increase in downloads compared to previous years, and more developers getting into the space. The low entry barriers make it easy for creators to hit the charts.
Also, hyper-casual games are made for mobile phones—devices we carry everywhere and use all the time. This eliminates the need for any other gaming platform.
Compared to casual games that feature more mid-core elements and deeper gameplay, hyper-casual games stay simple and fun. That makes them perfect for users looking for quick and entertaining experiences.
Who Plays Hyper-Casual Games?
People who play hyper-casual games are usually looking to pass the time—during commutes or while watching TV, for example. Currently, Europe and Asia show the highest interest in this gaming genre.
A 2022 report showed that although both men and women enjoy hyper-casual games, women tend to spend more time playing them.
Types of Hyper-Casual Games
Think of hyper-casual games like the old-school arcade hits from the ‘70s and ‘80s. They’re naturally short and snappy. Remember Pac-Man? These games revolve around one or two core mechanics that keep things simple and fun.
Even though there are different styles of hyper-casual games—which shows how creative designers can be—most of them share similar features. Their user interfaces are usually clean, simple, and minimal.
Popular hyper-casual game styles include:
Puzzle
One of the most downloaded games in this style is Water Sort, where the goal is to get liquids of the same color into the same container.
Agility
Games like Zigzag fall under this category. You guide a ball along a zigzag path to the finish.
Timing
Stacking
An example is Stack, where players need to drop square blocks in the right place just by tapping the screen.
Most Successful Hyper-Casual Games
Among all hyper-casual games, a few titles stand out for how well they engage users. Here are some that you might recognize:
Crowd City: Grow your group by touching white characters who join your color. At the end, you face an opposing group, and if you have more people, you win.
Rise Up: Protect a balloon from obstacles by moving a shield with your finger. Keep it from popping as it travels upward.
Helix Jump: Bounce a ball down a spiral tower, avoiding red platforms while aiming for the highest score.
Crossy Road: Help a chicken cross busy roads safely. Avoid traffic and obstacles to reach the other side.
Jelly Jump: Save little jellies from falling by making them jump at the right time. That’s the only way they survive.
Fun Race: Avoid all the crazy obstacles and be one of the last survivors in this competitive race.
Grass Cut: In this game from Voodoo, your job is to mow grass in areas with various shapes. The grass is your enemy—it keeps growing back!
Key Metrics for Hyper-Casual Games
Game developers need to track specific KPIs and invest in the right marketing channels to make sure they turn users into revenue effectively.
To evaluate whether a hyper-casual game is likely to be profitable, you need to look at how users interact with the game and how long they stay engaged.
- Session Time: The amount of time users spend in the game. Longer sessions usually mean players are completing more levels.
- Retention Rate: The percentage of users who return to the game after the day they installed it (Day 0).
- Average Revenue Per User (ARPU): Total revenue divided by the number of users over a certain period.
- Lifetime Value (LTV): The total profit a developer expects to make from each user over time.
Maximizing LTV is the ultimate goal for publishers. User acquisition teams use it to scale up and grow the user base strategically. Game testing helps publishers decide which games to release based on these metrics.
How Do Hyper-Casual Games Make Money?
This genre has taken the mobile gaming world by storm in recent years. From a player’s point of view, they’re fun and free to play right away. But how do they actually earn money?
Around 10% of revenue comes from in-app purchases, while a whopping 90% is made through in-app ads.
Key Players in the Hyper-Casual Industry
There are three main groups that drive the hyper-casual market forward and benefit the most from it: developers, publishers, and investors.
Developers
More and more developers are entering the hyper-casual scene. One big reason is that it’s easier to get started—small teams can do a lot.
Unlike mid-core or hardcore games that need large teams with developers, designers, analysts, and producers, hyper-casual games can be built by just two people: a developer and a designer!
They also take much less time to make. While complex games can take months or even years, hyper-casual games can be created quickly and launched fast.
Plus, there’s a growing community and lots of resources for beginners. Tools like Unity offer helpful communities where creators share ideas and support one another.
Publishers
Publishing a game takes a team. Developers often need help with traffic management, app store optimization, monetization, localization, testing, and support. Putting this team together isn’t easy for solo developers.
Marketing also takes money—not everyone can spend millions on advertising. That’s why partnering with a publisher is often the smart move.
Top 3 Publishers
Here are three popular companies that many of us know through their hit games:
Crazy Labs: Founded in 2010 by CEO Sagi Schliesser, it started with educational kids’ games but later shifted to casual and hyper-casual titles. Some of their games include Amaze, Dig Deep, and Phone Case DIY.
Voodoo: This French company launched in 2013 and has had over 5 billion downloads. Founders Alexandre Yazdi and Laurent Ritter built a global success with titles like Helix Jump, Hole.io, and Crowd City.
Ketchapp: Also from France, this company was founded by brothers Antoine and Michel Morcos in 2014. They gained fame with a 2048 clone and monetized through ads and in-app purchases. Their games include Zigzag, Rush, and Stack.
Investors
Hyper-casual games are grabbing investors’ attention. Many now recognize that these games hold the future of mobile gaming—some even say they’ll dominate over 60% of the market.
Recent investments show a clear shift toward revenue growth and building real profit margins. That’s great news for investors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Hyper-Casual Games?
They’re super light, highly entertaining games that can be played instantly. They’re cheap to develop and have a bright future in mobile gaming.
How Do They Make Money?
About 90% of the revenue comes from ads. The rest is mostly from in-app purchases. The most successful games use their ad formats smartly to keep players engaged longer.
Which Metrics Matter Most for User Acquisition?
ARPU and LTV are the top metrics, but session time and retention are also key.
How Can You Improve User Acquisition?
You need to market smart—choose the right platforms and find players who are more likely to keep playing.
Understanding trends and predicting which types of games will attract your audience can save time and energy in development.
Final Thoughts
Hyper-casual games are dominating mobile gaming because they’re easy to play, quick to understand, and highly shareable. People turn to them for stress relief and killing time.
To make up for short play sessions, developers need to optimize ad consumption and improve user engagement. Despite the challenges, hyper-casual is the most popular genre today—and it’s not slowing down anytime soon.
HosseinDigital Marketing Expert
