Best Video Game Monetization Models: Learn How to Monetize Gaming on Mobile

The mobile gaming market is exploding with millions of gamers playing games on their smartphones and tablets globally. Selecting the appropriate monetization strategy is essential to the success of your game as a developer. At Melior Games, we’ve investigated many monetization techniques for mobile games without sacrificing the gaming experience. In this post, we’ll examine the top video game monetization strategies for mobile gaming.

1. Freemium Model

While offering in-game payments for premium features, content, or virtual items, the freemium model lets users download and play the game without charge. 

  • Free Items: To keep players interested, make sure your game’s free edition offers them enough fun and content. Introduce 
  • In-Game Currency: Allow users to purchase in-game items, boosters, and personalization options with real money by using virtual currency. 
  • Premium characters, levels, or features that can only be accessed through in-game purchases are referred to as gated content. 

The freemium model draws in a large audience and encourages gamers to spend money to improve their gaming experience.

2. In-App Advertising

Through the integration of advertisements into the game, in-app advertising generates income via impressions, clicks, or video views. 

  • Banner Ads: Put banner advertisements in the game’s non-intrusive parts, like the loading screens or menus. 
  • Interstitial Ads: Employ full-screen advertisements that show up during gameplay’s organic pauses, like in between stages. 
  • Rewarded Video Ads: Give gamers in-game incentives for watching a quick video ad, such as additional lives or virtual money. 

Many users, including those who do not make in-app purchases, contribute to the cash generated by in-app advertising.

3. Subscription Model

Gamers who want access to premium features, content, or an ad-free experience must pay a regular cost under the subscription model. 

  • Tiered Subscriptions: Offer several subscription packages with different access and benefit levels. 
  • Exclusive Content: Offer members access to characters, levels, and in-game stuff that are exclusive to subscribers and unavailable to non-members. 
  • Ad-Free Option: Permit ad interruptions so that subscribers can play the game uninterrupted.

To maintain long-term player retention, subscriptions provide a consistent and predictable revenue stream.

4. Paid Game with In-App Purchases

Under this approach, gamers can choose to purchase additional in-game items for content or advancements after paying a one-time charge to download the game. 

  • High-Quality Base Game: Make sure you get a full gaming experience and significant value from the first buy. 
  • Optional Enhancements: Offer in-app purchases with cosmetics, boosters, or extra content to improve gameplay. 
  • Regular Updates: To keep players interested and entice more purchases, the game should be updated frequently with new features and content. 

This business model mixes the initial money from in-app purchases with recurring revenue from game sales.

5. Gacha Mechanics

Gacha methods allow users to use real or virtual money to buy in-game items, characters, or awards.

  • Loot Boxes: Make it possible for players to buy a loot box with a random assortment of goods.
  • Limited-Time Events: Host unique Gacha events with rare or exclusive items to encourage purchases and create a sense of urgency.
  • Fairness and Transparency: Ensure that participants receive fair and equitable treatment and are informed of their chances of winning certain products.

Benefits: Gacha systems have the ability to make significant profits by satiating users’ need for unique and exclusive things.

6. Battle Passes

A progression path of rewards can be unlocked by purchasing battle passes, which are seasonal content offerings. 

  • Seasonal Content: Frequently refresh the game to include themed content that corresponds with particular seasons or occasions. 
  • Tiered Rewards: Offer two tiers: free and premium. The premium tier offers more exclusive and valued incentives. 
  • Engaging Challenges: Provide players with tasks and missions to finish in order to advance through the battle pass and get prizes. 

Player engagement and retention are increased with battle passes, which promote consistent play and expenditure.

Conclusion

To balance player satisfaction and revenue production, selecting the appropriate monetization plan for your mobile game is critical. A winning approach at Melior Games entails knowing your audience, providing insightful material, and preserving an equitable and pleasurable gaming environment. The key is to develop a game that people adore and want to invest in.