Can Puzzle Titles Retain Their Status as a Leading Mobile Games Genre?

According to a study by Statista in 2019, puzzle-orientated games were recorded as the second most popular genre on the mobile market with a device penetration rate of 56.5 percent. Although the casual games category held a fractional lead, brain-testing titles came in well ahead of other highly regarded genres across the Android-specific study. So, let’s consider whether the puzzle genre can sustain its recent period of mobile dominance.

The Emergence of New Markets

Upon analyzing some of the releases that fit into the puzzle section of the market, it’s hardly surprising that the genre has enjoyed considerable modern-day success. For example, as per a report by VentureBeat back in 2017, King’s 2012 development, Candy Crush Saga, had, at the time, amassed over 2.73 billion downloads throughout its five-year stint on the mobile market.

However, over the last few years, there have been indications that the industry could be heading in a new direction in the future with varying genres beginning to flourish. Crucially, the crossover of popular open-world titles and multiplayer shooters, such as Call of Duty: Mobile, Fortnite, and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, have brought more attention to smartphone action games. However, it isn’t just this genre that is alerting the outlook of mobile gaming.

Despite only having a device penetration rate of 10.39 percent on the aforementioned Statista study, there’s a growing belief that, in time, casino games will become a leading genre on mobile markets. Fundamentally, this is evident at BonusFinder’s reviews of 2020’s best casinos, as it indicates a clear desire among operators to explore the mobile sector. For example, platforms such as Caesar’s Online Casino best suit the desires of mobile gamers. Moreover, such opportunities are also incentivized in the form of welcome offers, which can be accessed by following the respective operators’ clear rules when signing up.

Is Change Pending?

Given the ever-changing nature of the global gaming industry, there is always the potential for user preferences to alter. With that being said, it’s clear that mobile developers in the puzzle sector have taken inspiration from thriving console franchises in their efforts to retain their place as a leading mobile genre. This is apparent from both Hitman Go and Lara Croft Go, which are both turn-based puzzle games that incorporate some of the industry’s best-known characters. Importantly, Hitman Go, for example, simplifies numerous in-game elements from the series’ console developments without compromising on its stealth-orientated features.

Furthermore, refining their focuses on successful, long-standing console franchises, the contemporary era of mobile puzzle games shows a positive trend. As touched upon earlier, Candy Crush Saga has become one of the most popular games on the entire phone and tablet market, however, three years prior to its release, Angry Birds was taking the industry by storm. Although such successes aren’t guaranteed to be replicated, the fact that the Rovio Entertainment development is celebrating its tenth anniversary is a testament to the sector’s sustained appeal among modern-day gamers.

Although Possible, a Drop Off is Unlikely

Ultimately, the puzzle genre has been a pivotal element of the mobile market on both Android and iOS for much of the platform’s existence. Even though other gaming styles may enjoy significant success over the coming years, there is nothing to suggest that this will be the catalyst for the downfall of puzzle titles.