Casual mobile games continue to dominate app stores, and for good reason. Their accessibility, wide readership, and possibility for monetisation make them an effective tool for both business and entertainment. At Melior Games, we transform basic concepts into excellent games. This post will guide you through the process of making a lucrative casual mobile game.
Step 1: Identify Your Target Audience
Knowing exactly who will play a game is the first step towards making it profitable.
Are you trying to reach seniors, busy individuals, youths, or children? The success of hypercasual hits like Candy Crush, Angry Birds, or 2048 lies in their extremely precise targeting.
At Melior Games, we start every project with market research — identifying your ideal player, their habits, and the trends that influence their gaming choices.
Step 2: Choose a core mechanic
Replayability and simplicity are key components for casual games. Create a core mechanic that meets certain requirements:
- It’s easy to pick up in seconds
- Fun to play for short periods
- The reward encourages replayability
Tapping, swiping, matching, stacking—mechanics that are instantly familiar. In addition, players are interested in the feel of the mechanic (nice animations, nice sound effects, and instant feedback).
Step 3: Design for short sessions and long retention
Casual games are often played during coffee breaks or on the commute. This means that gameplay should be:
- Quick to start and pause
- Easy to resume after days of inactivity
- Designed with progression systems (levels, coins, cosmetics, bonuses) that reward daily participation
Using micro-sessions, our team creates games that allow players to enjoy even a 30-second gameplay while gently enticing them to return the next day.
Step 4: Monetize smartly and subtly
Casual players are easily turned off by aggressive monetization. The most successful casual games use the following techniques:
- Rewarded video ads (watch to earn coins/lives)
- Interstitial ads (not too frequent!)
- In-app purchases for boosters, cosmetics, or ad removal
- Battle pass or daily offers to increase engagement and spend
At Melior Games, we create monetization to blend in perfectly with the gameplay so that it never feels like an annoyance or a paid service. Our clients generate revenue without alienating users.
Step 5: Launch with analytics and optimization
Once your game launches, it’s just the beginning. Based on actual player data, a profitable game learns and changes. For this reason, the game features built-in analytics tools. Analytics allow you to track:
- Player retention and churn
- Session duration
- Level drop rates
- Ad performance and revenue per user
We use this data to help you fine-tune your game experience: adjust difficulty curves, improve UI/UX, and even A/B test monetization strategies.
Step 6: Update frequently and build a community
The best casual mobile games stay relevant through regular content updates—seasonal events, new levels, and time-limited challenges.
- Keep players engaged
- Encourage word-of-mouth
- Boost revenue during key periods
Melior Games offers post-launch support to keep your game fresh and your player base growing. Community building (via social media, in-game events, or simple share mechanics) also plays a big role in increasing retention organically.
Final Thoughts: Why Choose Melior Games?
Creating a profitable casual game is about transforming an idea into a product that people enjoy, love, and are willing to pay for. Our team of enthusiastic designers and developers at Melior Games has over 15 years of full-cycle development expertise, and we have a thorough understanding of what makes casual games popular in the current market.
We don’t just make games—we make gaming businesses. Let’s bring your vision to life.
📩 Ready to get started? Contact us today to discuss your casual game project.
