Instant Games: Why Are They Addictive?

The 2000s witnessed enthusiasts flocking in millions to web entertainment like FarmVille and Bejeweled. These browser-based games were powered by Adobe Flash and exhibited incredible accessibility. You could play them easily and instantly by clicking a link. Yet, with the ubiquity of app stores and smartphones, native apps installed directly on devices have dominated thanks to their security and performance benefits. Adobe Flash was recently deprecated with the more advanced HTML5 technology but deserves credit for jumpstarting today’s cutting-edge gaming industry.

Tech advancements and new platforms have given rise to an instant entertainment, doing away with tedious downloads and verbose onboarding flows. This new category combines legacy Flash games’ click-to-play convenience with app-native games’ performance and quality. If you are an online gambling fan, you may already know that these immediate games also penetrated the iGaming scene to bring the thrill of split-second plays to life, akin to the scratchers sold by lotto kiosks. Watch out for deals like the IceCasino promocode to unlock more chances to play and win instant games in a casino lobby.

What Makes These So Popular?

The online gaming industry is transitioning toward subscriptions and game streaming services, and users now prefer ease of use. As for immediate games, they offer such intrinsic and seamless connections. Players love them for their quality entertainment and other attributes like:

• Appeal for Gen Z Users: The Newzoo website has recently reported that Gen Zs spend about 12 hours of screen time weekly, with the average person spending 4.3 hours daily consuming phone media. It is all about filling the time gap, addressing the desire for immediate gratification;

• Engagement, Variety, and Potential: Numerous players, investors, and developers are in the instant gaming industry, boasting remarkable engagement figures and frequent new launches. Given its competitiveness and people’s desire for immediate gratification, fresh titles will continue gracing the market;

• Cross-Platform Play: Players prefer this entertainment, allowing them to seamlessly challenge each other on different platforms and locations. This cross-platform play capability promotes immersion, social interaction, and community building;

• Engagement and User Acquisition: This type of entertainment has a low barrier to entry, so publishers and developers are using them to drive engagement and user acquisition. You’ll use just one tap to immerse yourself in a game.  

• Simple and Social Gaming Experiences: The sustained rise and appeal of instant games highlight the fascination of simple, social gaming experiences accessible from any location, at any time, and on any device. As the industry evolves, these are becoming progressively crucial in enhancing user engagement and cultivating communities across various platforms;

• New Retention Channels: The explosive success of this popular entertainment also lies in their retention opportunities. Unlike native apps that you can easily overlook, instant apps have a dedicated bot on Facebook Messenger, for instance, offering regular, non-intrusive reminders to play. You can also install your favorite game conveniently on the home screen.

What Monetization Options Exist Within Instant Gaming?

Besides gambling-style instant games, there are two primary monetization methods for this entertainment: in-app purchasing and in-app ads. The in-app purchases offer the simplest method of monetization, offering several payment methods. You’ll choose from PayPal, credit cards, and direct carrier billing.

Moreover, in-app purchases support over 50 currencies, so developers can connect with multiple markets and deliver seamless purchasing. Facebook, for instance, provides various business models for in-app purchases, including:

• Subscriptions: These valuable tools boost user engagement within a gaming platform. They implement recurring payments that ensure a steady revenue stream and enticing bonus perks or premium content. In addition, the mechanisms reward players for their loyalty based on their weekly or monthly commitment;

• Gifts Exchange: This model fosters a sense of community and enhances user retention. Users actively participate in in-game present exchanges, expressing gratitude and building camaraderie. This social aspect enriches the gaming experience and retains a dedicated user base. Players will always find value in the connections they establish through these virtual gift exchanges;

• Item Ads and Payer Promotions: The final model aims to expand the game’s audience and encourage initial purchases. It offers discounts on in-game items or virtual currency, enticing players to plunge into their first transactions. This widens the user base and establishes a monetization strategy that leverages promotions and ads to drive player engagement and financial contributions. Notably, Facebook lets you combine multiple monetization strategies to deliver better outcomes.

Experience You Will Remember

There you have it. Those are the reasons instant games are viral worldwide. On top of the entertainment appeal and instant gratification pull, gamers also enjoy playing them because of the reward-packed experiences that are typical part and parcel of the play. Are you into this entertainment? If you are, which are your favorite? Let us know right here in the comments section; we’d love to know!