The annual GDC presentation from Dave Rohrl, Steve Meretzky, and Juan Gril on the most interesting design trends in the mobile gaming market. Now in its 10th year, it offers some of the most entertaining insights on mobile games and their annual evolution.

1. The Year in Mobile Games
Steve Meretzky (Independent)
Dave Rohrl (Mobile Game Doctor)
Juan Gril (Microsoft)

2. Welcome!
• Silence your devices
• Fill out your evaluation emails

5. 2009
#1 - The Sims 3 #2 – The Oregon Trail

6. 2010
#1 – Angry Birds #2 – Bejeweled 2

7. 2011
#1 – Angry Birds #2 – Smurfs Village

8. 2012
#1 – DragonVale #2 – Slotomania

9. 2013
#1 – Candy Crush Saga #2 – Clash of Clans

10. 2014
#1 – Clash of Clans #2 – Candy Crush Saga

11. 2015
#1 – Clash of Clans #2 – Game of War – Fire Age

12. 2016
#1 – Game of War – Fire Age #2 – Clash of Clans

13. 2017
#1 – Candy Crush Saga #2 – Clash Royale

14. 2018
#1 – Candy Crush Saga #2 – Fortnite

15. sources:
Gamasutra
AppAnnie
musical accompaniment:
written by Irving Gordon
sung by Nat King Cole

16. 1. PACK ANIMALS

26. The Year in MOBILEGames

33. The Yearin Mobile Games

34. [source:
AppAnnie]

35. [source:
AppAnnie]

37. [source:
AppAnnie]
(1-2-2017)

38. [source:
AppAnnie]
(1-8-2018)

39. [source:
AppAnnie]
(1-7-2019)

42. Theories
• Co-branding efforts
• Website polish
• Enabled “party play”
• YouTube influencers
• Local servers
• Xbox version
• Sharing revenue with game developers

48. Lessons
• Some games are hits right out of the gate, but…

49. Lessons
• Some games are hits right out of the gate, but…
• Don’t assume that there’s a magic bullet

50. Lessons
• Some games are hits right out of the gate, but…
• Don’t assume that there’s a magic bullet
• Think about getting to the tipping point, especially if
you are aiming at this younger demographic

51. 2. LE ROYALE WITH GUNS

52. Copyright © Mobile Game Doctor 2019

53. Copyright © Mobile Game Doctor 2019
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2018-03-16
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2018-04-13
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2018-10-27
2018-10-31
2018-11-04
2018-11-08
2018-11-12
2018-11-16
2018-11-20
2018-11-24
2018-11-28
2018-12-02
2018-12-06
2018-12-10
2018-12-14
2018-12-18
2018-12-22
2018-12-26
2018-12-30
2019-01-03
2019-01-07
2019-01-11
2019-01-15
2019-01-19
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2019-01-31
2019-02-04
2019-02-08
2019-02-12
2019-02-16
2019-02-20
2019-02-24
2019-02-28
2019-03-04
Fortnite Grossing Rank, Games, United States
iPad iPhone

54. Copyright © Mobile Game Doctor 2019

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63. Copyright © Mobile Game Doctor 2019
The Problems with Mobile
• Worse mobile control scheme
• Long session times
• Better visibility on big screen
• Competitive disadvantage

64. Copyright © Mobile Game Doctor 2019

65. Copyright © Mobile Game Doctor 2019
8-17

67. Copyright © Mobile Game Doctor 2019
Why Would a Younger Audience Skew Mobile?
• Limited access to consoles
• Ability to play at school
• Easy play when co-located
• Greater parental comfort with mobile payment

68. Copyright © Mobile Game Doctor 2019
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2018-03-16
2018-03-21
2018-03-26
2018-03-31
2018-04-05
2018-04-10
2018-04-15
2018-04-20
2018-04-25
2018-04-30
2018-05-05
2018-05-10
2018-05-15
2018-05-20
2018-05-25
2018-05-30
2018-06-04
2018-06-09
2018-06-14
2018-06-19
2018-06-24
2018-06-29
2018-07-04
2018-07-09
2018-07-14
2018-07-19
2018-07-24
2018-07-29
2018-08-03
2018-08-08
2018-08-13
2018-08-18
2018-08-23
2018-08-28
2018-09-02
2018-09-07
2018-09-12
2018-09-17
2018-09-22
2018-09-27
2018-10-02
2018-10-07
2018-10-12
2018-10-17
2018-10-23
2018-10-28
2018-11-02
2018-11-07
2018-11-12
2018-11-17
2018-11-22
2018-11-27
2018-12-02
2018-12-07
2018-12-12
2018-12-17
2018-12-22
2018-12-27
2019-01-01
2019-01-06
2019-01-11
2019-01-16
2019-01-21
2019-01-26
2019-01-31
2019-02-05
2019-02-10
2019-02-15
2019-02-20
2019-02-25
2019-03-02
Fortnite Grossing Rank, Games, United States
iPad iPhone
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50
100
150
200
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300
350
400
2018-04-17
2018-04-21
2018-04-25
2018-04-29
2018-05-03
2018-05-07
2018-05-11
2018-05-15
2018-05-19
2018-05-23
2018-05-27
2018-05-31
2018-06-04
2018-06-08
2018-06-12
2018-06-16
2018-06-20
2018-06-24
2018-06-28
2018-07-02
2018-07-06
2018-07-10
2018-07-14
2018-07-18
2018-07-22
2018-07-26
2018-07-30
2018-08-03
2018-08-07
2018-08-11
2018-08-15
2018-08-19
2018-08-23
2018-08-27
2018-08-31
2018-09-04
2018-09-08
2018-09-12
2018-09-16
2018-09-20
2018-09-24
2018-09-28
2018-10-02
2018-10-06
2018-10-10
2018-10-14
2018-10-18
2018-10-23
2018-10-27
2018-10-31
2018-11-04
2018-11-08
2018-11-12
2018-11-16
2018-11-20
2018-11-24
2018-11-28
2018-12-02
2018-12-06
2018-12-10
2018-12-14
2018-12-18
2018-12-22
2018-12-26
2018-12-30
2019-01-03
2019-01-07
2019-01-11
2019-01-15
2019-01-19
2019-01-23
2019-01-27
2019-01-31
2019-02-04
2019-02-08
2019-02-12
2019-02-16
2019-02-20
2019-02-24
2019-02-28
2019-03-04
PUBG MOBILE Grossing Rank, Games, United States
Google Play iPad iPhone

69. Copyright © Mobile Game Doctor 2019
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2018-07-18
2018-07-21
2018-07-24
2018-07-27
2018-07-30
2018-08-02
2018-08-05
2018-08-08
2018-08-11
2018-08-14
2018-08-17
2018-08-20
2018-08-23
2018-08-26
2018-08-29
2018-09-01
2018-09-04
2018-09-07
2018-09-10
2018-09-13
2018-09-16
2018-09-19
2018-09-22
2018-09-25
2018-09-28
2018-10-01
2018-10-04
2018-10-07
2018-10-10
2018-10-13
2018-10-16
2018-10-19
2018-10-23
2018-10-26
2018-10-29
2018-11-01
2018-11-04
2018-11-07
2018-11-10
2018-11-13
2018-11-16
2018-11-19
2018-11-22
2018-11-25
2018-11-28
2018-12-01
2018-12-04
2018-12-07
2018-12-10
2018-12-13
2018-12-16
2018-12-19
2018-12-22
2018-12-25
2018-12-28
2018-12-31
2019-01-03
2019-01-06
2019-01-09
2019-01-12
2019-01-15
2019-01-18
2019-01-21
2019-01-24
2019-01-27
2019-01-30
2019-02-02
2019-02-05
2019-02-08
2019-02-11
2019-02-14
2019-02-17
2019-02-20
2019-02-23
2019-02-26
2019-03-01
2019-03-04
Battlelands Royale Grossing Rank, Games, United States
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2013-06-20
2013-07-14
2013-08-07
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2013-09-24
2013-10-18
2013-11-11
2013-12-05
2013-12-29
2014-01-22
2014-02-15
2014-03-11
2014-04-04
2014-04-28
2014-05-22
2014-06-15
2014-07-09
2014-08-02
2014-08-26
2014-09-19
2014-10-13
2014-11-06
2014-11-30
2014-12-24
2015-01-17
2015-02-10
2015-03-06
2015-03-30
2015-04-23
2015-05-17
2015-06-10
2015-07-04
2015-07-28
2015-08-21
2015-09-14
2015-10-08
2015-11-01
2015-11-25
2015-12-19
2016-01-12
2016-02-05
2016-02-29
2016-03-24
2016-04-17
2016-05-11
2016-06-04
2016-06-28
2016-07-22
2016-08-15
2016-09-08
2016-10-02
2016-10-26
2016-11-19
2016-12-13
2017-01-06
2017-01-30
2017-02-23
2017-03-19
2017-04-12
2017-05-06
2017-05-30
2017-06-23
2017-07-17
2017-08-10
2017-09-03
2017-09-27
2017-10-21
2017-11-17
2017-12-11
2018-01-05
2018-01-29
2018-02-22
2018-03-18
2018-04-11
2018-05-05
2018-05-29
2018-06-22
2018-07-16
2018-08-09
2018-09-02
2018-09-26
2018-10-20
2018-11-13
2018-12-07
2018-12-31
2019-01-24
2019-02-17
Pixel Gun 3D Grossing Rank, Games, United States
Google Play iPad iPhone

70. Copyright © Mobile Game Doctor 2019
Lessons
• Mobile Battle Royale is hard
• Kid appeal is important
• Runaway mobile success may not be about mobile
• Mobile-only BR hasn’t worked
• …yet

71. 3. 10 YEARS

80. iGen (gen Z)
• Doesn’t socialize in
person
• Addicted to their phone
• Less interest in drug
consumption, or sex
• Developmental delay of
2 years or more

83. What can we learn from these games

90. not here!

91. Original iPhone Price (unlocked): $499
iPhone X: $999

92. 4. A TALE OF TWO CLONES

100. Gardenscapes
Matchington Mansion

101. Gardenscapes
Matchington Mansion

104. Matchington Mansion
Gardenscapes

105. Matchington Mansion
Gardenscapes

106. [source:
AppAnnie]

113. Release Dates
Gardenscapes
iOS – June 2016
Android – July 2016
Homescapes
iOS – July 2017
Android – August 2017
Matchington Mansion
iOS – June 2017
Android – September 2017

115. Lessons

116. Lessons
• There may be room for not just one clone, but two…

117. Lessons
• There may be room for not just one clone, but two…
– If there’s enough innovation

118. Lessons
• There may be room for not just one clone, but two…
– If there’s enough innovation
– If the genre is popular and supports multiple games

119. Lessons
• There may be room for not just one clone, but two…
– If there’s enough innovation
– If the genre is popular and supports multiple games
– If both games are executed at a very high quality

120. Lessons
• There may be room for not just one clone, but two…
– If there’s enough innovation
– If the genre is popular and supports multiple games
– If both games are executed at a very high quality
– If neither clone suffers from a late-to-market problem

121. Lessons
• There may be room for not just one clone, but two…
– If there’s enough innovation
– If the genre is popular and supports multiple games
– If both games are executed at a very high quality
– If neither clone suffers from a late-to-market problem
-or-
• Dave, Juan and I have no idea what we’re talking about.

122. 5. THE LONG AND WINDING
BRAWL

123. Copyright © Mobile Game Doctor 2019

124. Copyright © Mobile Game Doctor 2019
The Great Mobile MOBA?
• Resource collection
• Multiple abilities per character
• Steady streams of grunts
• Turrets and base defense
The Great Mobile Team-Based Shooter!

125. Copyright © Mobile Game Doctor 2019

126. Copyright © Mobile Game Doctor 2019
Regular Game Modes
• Gem Grab
• Bounty
• Heist
• Showdown (Solo or Duo)
Ticketed Events
● Robo Rumble
● Boss Fight
● Big Game
Modifiers
● Meteor Shower
● Energy Drink
● Angry Robo
● Healing Mushrooms
Special Game Modes
● Brawl Ball
● Siege

127. Copyright © Mobile Game Doctor 2019

128. Copyright © Mobile Game Doctor 2019
HEAVYHEALER THROWER
HEALER SNIPER HEALER

129. Copyright © Mobile Game Doctor 2019

130. Copyright © Mobile Game Doctor 2019

131. Copyright © Mobile Game Doctor 2019

132. Copyright © Mobile Game Doctor 2019

133. Copyright © Mobile Game Doctor 2019

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Brawl Stars Grossing Rank, Games, Canada

135. Copyright © Mobile Game Doctor 2019
Lessons
• Supercell strikes again
• The road is long (but sometimes necessary)
• Control scheme tolerance evolving
• Content treadmill?
• We still await the great mobile MOBA

136. 6. NOTABLE GAMES 2018

147. Q & A

148. The Year in Mobile Games
Steve Meretzky (Independent)
Dave Rohrl (Mobile Game Doctor)
Juan Gril (Microsoft)