30 Nov 2021

Hybrid Casual Games: The Latest Trend in Mobile Gaming Industry

Hybrid casual games are the latest trending area in the field of mobile game development. Leading Mobile game companies like Voodoo, who is one of the pioneers in hypercasual game development believe that hybrid casual games are the next game-changers. With the competition increasing among mobile game companies to create the best titles for players around the world, hybrid casual games can be a genre that offers engagement to players in multiple terms. 

What are Hybrid Casual Games?

Hybrid casual games are a genre where the game’s core is hypercasual while there is a meta-layer that consist of gameplay ranging from casual to mid-core games. And as the name suggests they tend to be exhibit a hybrid nature of two different genres, that offers a unique gameplay experience for players.

For example, a game has core gameplay related to a single genre( RPG, puzzle etc.) and can attract a target audience, with easy gameplay. Adding another layer of a different genre (strategy, idle etc.) brings in mid-core features to the game and better monetization benefits. 
   

Differences between Hyper-casual and Hybrid casual games?

Hypercasual games are highly popular for their swift and easy mechanics. While hybrid casual games add more mid-core gameplay elements, increasing player retention.

Hybrid casual games add medium/ long term goals and rewards to the game, while hypercasual games have short term goals and short rewards.

The Popular Hybrid Casual game Combinations

Puzzle and RPG

As individual genres, puzzle and RPG games have a large fan following. Puzzle game is a popular casual gaming genre and adding an RPG layer to the game, attracts audiences from both genres, offering more engagement and increasing player retention time. Also, the RPG genre adds monetization value in the form of collectable goods, subscriptions etc.

Idle and RPG

Games with idle mechanics are popular for features like easy gameplay and stable game progress even in the player’s absence. Idle and RPG genre combinations can assure engaging gameplay and more monetization options.  

4X Strategy and Puzzle

4X Strategy is a common technique used in many games. Features like managing resources, building troops, expansion of territories are part of 4x strategy games. Adding a puzzle game as a combination to a 4x strategy game can help to attract a  wider audience and offers a new experience to the players.   

RPG and Strategy

It is the most perfect combination in a hybrid casual game. RPG and strategy games have a natural flow to be combined into a single game. An RPG game is complemented by a strategic meta layer that adds more mid-core gameplay features to the game and engages the players to spend more time in the game.

What are the monetary benefits of hybrid casual games and how they are gonna be the trendsetters?

Hybrid casual games offer different monetization options by linking free to play and ad- options along with in-app purchases to enhance the revenue. According to industry statistics, the hyper-casual games market has grown by 104 per cent and has attained the $3 billion mark in the year 2020. New genres like hybrid casual games will have new possibilities with mobile game companies exploring and developing in this segment.

Android Game Development or in general Mobile Game Development is one of the all-time hottest areas with many mobile game companies focusing on delivering high quality and unique gaming solutions for the world market. Hybrid casual games will be the next big thing in the mobile gaming arena as they seem to have a steady and progressive future.