This is going to be a bit of a different article. I recently took a minute to look at some of the more popular Android games in November. Some thanks to the people at Qualityindex.com for this information. I will be going over why I think they are so popular and what we can learn about the state of the industry.
I will be doing this in three parts: the game itself, why it is popular and what we can learn from it. If you own an android, check out android games hacks.
The most popular Android games
#1 Angry Birds Star Wars – Everyone has heard of Star Wars. Almost everyone with access to gaming has heard of angry birds.
Why? It is popular because it would almost have to be. You don’t get less indie and more mainstream than Star Wars and Angry Birds these days. Anything this mainstream has to be popular by default.
What can we learn? We can learn that people will often buy games on brands alone. No amount of effort or quality can beat having a name brand.
#2 Expendable Rearmed – A top-down shooter in the style of Smash TV. These games are easy to make and to learn so they are a good fit for android. For more mobile games, check out this list at TL Android Games for some of the latest and greatest gaming experiences for your Android phone.
Why? This game is popular because it got a lot of social exposure. It also has some decent artwork which does not hurt. It was also a previously popular game which gives it retro appeal.
What can we learn? Social media can make an otherwise rather unremarkable game into a huge deal. This is mostly down to the fact that social media users have the ability to make any comments and start any discussions they wish, and so it won’t be hard to find some positive ones in the mix. Not only can it help the game become more popular but it can also help with their online reputation too, and utilizing something like these instagram tools could be beneficial to how many followers they receive going forward. After all, the more people that know about a game that may not be high in the ratings, the better. This is the new industry we live in. Retro appeal is another huge selling point for many games.
#3 Line Runner – A simple jumping game along the lines of Bit Trip Runner.
Why? We honestly are quite confused why it is so popular. Apparently a free game paired with Android/Tablet functionality can get you up to #3.
What can we learn? Simplicity sells. Low cost or free cost games also sell, and allow you to make money other ways. Much to my chagrin, simple games gain extreme popularity. It’s part of why Mortal Kombat is still around despite having been one of the worst fighters on the market for years.
#4 Need for Speed: Most Wanted – Need for Speed made a name for itself as a wildly popular and brain dead racing game that had maybe, 2 decent games out of the series. Regardless, it is still at the top of the industry today.
Why? Need for Speed is popular because it is Need for Speed. A simplistic racing game much beloved by many. Is my condescension at this series palpable? Good, it could use more criticism. The other part of the popularity is paid reviews from big and medium size companies alike. If you do love your racing games, then perhaps you should check out this list of classic racing games by All Car Leasing. There’s definitely some one’s worth going back to play!
What we can learn? There is a reason that even excellent developers go to work for EA and other large companies. They have the money to make any game popular. This is a harsh and undeniable truth.
#5 Knights of Pen and Paper – Some people decided that they’d make of game of just the character customization and turn based fighting of JRPGs.
Why? Knights of Pen and Paper got quite a bit of promotion. They have more youtube videos than some of those higher up. The game is perhaps not as popular as it could be because it has slightly more depth than most games.
What can we learn from all of this?
Depth of any level does not sell. However Youtube promotion can bolster a game of any type.
What does all this tell us about the Android industry?
The Android industry is in many ways, the same as the rest of the industry. Name brands and promotion sell above quality. Depth can actually make your game sell worse rather than better. Android gamers are not particularly any better or worse than the other market. All of it is moving towards the mainstream.
Personally, I feel we have lost something valuable with this move. However I also believe that this change is irreversible without a market collapse. Short of the world economy collapsing, there is no looming collapse for the industry. We are, for better or worse, in the era of the mainstream gamer.
