Not every mobile game fails quietly. Some launches become cautionary tales, discussed for years because they highlight exactly what can go wrong when planning, design, or market alignment breaks down.
Looking at failed games isn’t about blame—it’s about learning. Below, we’ve rounded up five mobile games that failed to stay in the market. We’ll break down the reasons for their failure and give specific advice on how developers can avoid similar outcomes.
Dungeon Keeper – When Monetization Destroys Gameplay
The mobile reboot of Dungeon Keeper is one of the most notorious examples of failed monetization. Players loved the original PC game for its humor and strategy, while the mobile version was aggressively built around wait timers and paid ads.
The main action was intentionally slowed down to increase the number of microtransactions, turning the gameplay into a frustrating experience. Players quickly felt manipulated rather than entertained.
Lesson:
Monetization should support fun, not replace it. If progression is intentionally built without the ability to pass without spending, players will not continue the game. Your brand reputation may suffer long after.
Harry Potter: Wizards Unite – Strong IP, Weak Core Loop
Backed by a world-renowned franchise, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite seemed destined for success. Its main gameplay loop, however, was unable to maintain player interest despite high production values.
The experience lacked a consistent motivation, clear direction, and rewarding progress. After the first thrill passed, many gamers didn’t find the reason to return.
Lesson:
Engagement is increased by strong IP. However, only effective mechanics can maintain player interest. Brand strength should never be used as an excuse for cliched or shallow gameplay.
Apex Legends Mobile – Quality Alone Isn’t Enough
Apex Legends Mobile delivered a high-quality product and accurate gameplay. However, it was shut down within a year.
The problem wasn’t the game; it was the market. The long-term monetization of mobile battle royale did not warrant more support; the competition was already fierce, and user acquisition expenses were significant.
Lesson:
Even well-made games can fail if the genre is oversaturated. Time to market is just as important as execution.
The Walking Dead: Our World – Too Late to Chase Trends
This AR game came out after the height of the location-based gaming hype. Although technically sound, it was released at a time when player interest in the format was already beginning to decline. The game’s low development depth and repetitious duties made it difficult to keep players interested, and it was finally dropped.
Lesson:
Trend-driven development is risky. By the time the game launched, the market may have already moved on. Check long-term demand, not short-term hype.
NBA 2K18 – Poor Mobile Optimization Hurts Trust
The mobile version of NBA 2K18 had performance issues, high price expectations, and poor adaptation of console gameplay.
Refund requests and unfavorable reviews resulted from player experiences with crashes, excessive memory usage, and controls that weren’t compatible with the mobile game.
The lesson:
Mobile is not a “smaller console.” Mobile games should have a specific design for mobile hardware, sessions, and user expectations from day one.
What all these failures have in common
Despite their different genres and budgets, these games have similar problems. Teams did not test early core mechanics or underestimate market realities. Monetization or technical limitations trumped the gameplay experience.
Most importantly, these failures show that planning mistakes are costly, especially after the game’s release.
How to Avoid These Mistakes in Your Own Mobile Game
Early validation is the first step towards the success of mobile games. Prototypes and proof of concept help to test critical cycles before full production. Maintenance and monetization should start together from the planning stage.
With market analysis, you can avoid investing in ideas that are unlikely to succeed. You will be aware of your competitors, audience expectations, and long-term support expenses.
Build smarter mobile games with Melior Games
Melior Games concentrates on planning to avoid expensive errors.
We offer contracted services for art creation and game development, supporting:
- Core gameplay development and PoC
- Market and genre validation
- Design for retention and monetization
- Mobile-optimized art, UI/UX, and performance
Melior Games helps turn ideas into games that players actually want to come back to.
👉 Let’s build your next mobile game together with Melior Games. We study the reasons behind failures to create long-term success.
