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By Munira Rangwala

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Hyper casual games gained 3.8 billion installs in Q1 2023 with new games hitting the top charts like “Attack Hole - Black Hole Games” by Home Games and “Mob Control” by Voodoo garnering 44M and 30M installs respectively.

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There is no playbook that can determine the success of a game, keeping your gameplay short and simple is one of the easier ways to succeed. Using tried and tested gaming mechanics can help you leave your mark in the dynamic hyper casual game market. Mechanics are the foundation of a hyper casual game as they play a huge role in attracting and engaging your players for higher LTV. Instead of simply sticking to one, using a mix of mechanics can help elevate your game play.

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We’ve put together a detailed list of hyper casual gaming mechanics that are working wonders for some of the most acclaimed hyper casual games in the market. Take a look!

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1. Stack

This gaming mechanic is simple - it is based on physics and balance. All players need to do is stack objects. Sounds simple? Most developers give their own twist to this gaming mechanic. For instance, they allow players to rotate the object or even increase the speed as the player progresses in game play.

Which games are doing this best?

Tetris is the obvious choice. But even Cat Stack by Full Fat is nailing this stacking mechanic. Stack by Ketchapp is yet another leading game in this genre.

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2. Resize

Simple gameplay and level structure are the keys to acing the resizing mechanic. Resizing can be adapted to any theme. Usually, players are given an avatar which they have to shrink or inflate to fit through specific gaps. 

Which games are doing this best?

Jelly Shift by Say Games allows players to resize a block to fit through various gaps. Players in Join Clash 3D focus on collecting objects to grow and the mechanics work against the player to decrease its size. High Heels! is yet another excellent example of resizing/desizing gameplay.

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3. Swerve

Here’s how swerving gameplay works - players need to drag their finger on the screen vertically or horizontally in order to avoid obstacles or race down a tube. The key lies in the precision of the players. This remains to be one of the most interesting gameplays as players can spend hours trying to perfect the timing of their swerve.

Which games are doing this best?

Temple Run has aced the swerving mechanic - its pinpoint accuracy makes for super intense gameplay. In Aquapark.io by Voodoo, skilled players can swerve off the track, and skip huge chunks of the race. Trippy Ball 3D - Color Run Arc is another fantastic example of swerving mechanics used wisely. The track in this game changes its altitude and the key is where to skid in the next turn, or if the object will fly off the track or not.

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4. Rhythm-based

Isn’t it fun timing the goal of your game with music? That’s the beauty of rhythm-based mechanics. Just like swerving, this gameplay mechanic usually runs at high stakes - one wrong move and it’s game over. Rhythm-based gameplays thrive on an intense symphony which makes this gameplay all the more exciting.

Which games are doing this best?

Amanotes. In Tiles Hop: EDM Rush Music Ball, players need to control a ball and guide it to hit tiles in sync with the music. Magic Tiles 3 is yet another rhythm-based game where you have to tap on the musical notes that fall along the screen. Sounds doable, right? The catch is that the notes move really quickly and a single mistake is enough to send you right back to the beginning.

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5. Merge

If you’re using merge mechanics, ask yourself this simple question - Why should players merge these objects? Usually, in merging games, users need to find two similar objects and merge them to form something new and improved. The merging can either be a race against time or it can be based on earning rewards every time the objects merge. 

Which games are doing this best?

Car Merger lets players unlock faster cars. Sheep Fight is another example of merging mechanics at play. Users are only allowed to merge similar objects. As the levels progress, objects may start to look very similar which increases the difficulty level of the game.

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6. Push

Pushing mechanic revolves around characters pushing other players or objects. Most often, a player has to push objects off the screen so they are the last one standing. This mechanic allow players to move their characters freely with some help from physics. The ideology is simple - push before you get pushed!

Which games are doing this best?

Push ‘Em All allows players to push other players, objects, and structures out of the track before they push you out. Increasing the number of players and objects on the track increases the difficulty in subsequent levels.

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7. Dexterity

Dexterity or agility mechanics are often confused with timing mechanics. Here’s the difference - timing mechanics are about tapping the screen at the right time. Dexterity mechanics involve repeating a motion. Most often, users have to keep their fingers on the screen to help the object move forward. For example, players could be alternating from swiping left to swiping right in rapid succession.

Which games are doing this best?

Jelly Jump is one such game that relies on dexterity mechanics. Once players have pressed the jelly, it will start moving/jumping. The user then has to move his finger across to move the jelly. Tiles Hop: EDM Rush helps you feel the rush as you jump on the magic rooftop tiles.

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8. Wheel

Branch off to mini games from the main game play with a fortune wheel that involves spinning a virtual wheel to win a prize or reward. This feature introduces an enticing element of chance and excitement to keep players engaged and entertained throughout their gaming journey. 

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As observed, the best hyper casual games rarely use just one gaming mechanic. It is best to use anywhere between 1-4 mechanics. Try A/B testing which mechanics combined make for an interesting game play.

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Source: https://appmagic.rocks/blog/hyper-casual-first-quarter-2023

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