"Hyper-Casual Game Audio: 10 Must-Have Requirements"

Hyper-casual games are a popular genre of mobile games that are designed to be easy to pick up and play, with simple gameplay mechanics and short play sessions. As a developer, it's important to ensure that the audio in your hyper-casual game is engaging, immersive, and enhances the player's experience. In this blog post, we'll discuss ten important sound requirements that you should keep in mind while developing your hyper-casual game.

Although some developers may not consider audio to be a crucial aspect of hyper-casual games, it's important not to ignore its potential. Well-designed music and sound effects can create an immersive and engaging experience for players, drawing them deeper into the game and increasing their enjoyment. In addition, sound can provide valuable feedback to players, helping them to understand the game mechanics better and making it easier to progress through the game. Ultimately, by paying attention to the sound requirements outlined in this post, you can create a hyper-casual game that stands out from the competition and delivers an enjoyable experience for players.?

A well-established audio system (sounds & music) will have your players hooked on your game making them more likely to keep playing and return to the game for future sessions.

Here are 10 audio considerations you can utilize to create a better gaming experience

1. Catchy and memorable music

One of the most important sound requirements for hyper-casual games is catchy and memorable music. The right music can help to create an immersive experience for the player and make the game more enjoyable. Make sure to choose music that complements the game's graphics and gameplay, and that is easy to remember. The best way to have your game remembered even after the player has kept their phone away is a catchy tune with a great melody. Think about the melodic theme from Mario.

2. Simple and intuitive sound effects

Sound effects are another important aspect of audio in hyper-casual games. Since they play in such high successions, it's important to craft them so that it isn't ear fatiguing in a few minutes of play. They should be simple, intuitive, and convey important information to the player. For example, a sound effect could indicate when the player has collected a power-up or when they've made a mistake. A well-crafted sound effect will add even further engagement. I don't know about the rest, but when I use my QWERTY, that sound feels so relaxing. A good test would be is to play the sound on a loop and see how soon you lose your bearings.

3. Clear sound when the player loses

It's important to include a clear sound when the player loses or fails a level. This can help the player to understand that they need to try again and can motivate them to keep playing. There are many ways to convey emotions through sounds and music. Speak with your composer and mention the emotion you would want your player to experience.

4. Celebratory sound when the player wins

On the other hand, a celebratory sound or music when the player wins or completes a level can create a sense of achievement and satisfaction. This can motivate the player to keep playing and progress through the game. To create a better impact, ask your developer to mute or duck other sounds while this cue takes priority. If not, what you'll hear is noise when the win cue players over the base game music.

5. Ambient sound effects

Ambient sound effects can help to create an immersive atmosphere for the player. For example, the sound of waves crashing on a beach in a game set on a tropical island can help to transport the player to that environment. If music creates an emotional connection with the player, then a proper ambiance just glues everything together in such a way that the visuals on the screen start to have a life on their own. Use it subtly and see the kind of positive difference it makes.

6. Easy-to-understand audio feedback

Audio feedback should be easy to understand and indicate when the player is making progress or performing well. This can motivate the player to continue playing and help them to understand the game mechanics better. Avoid adding sounds if it's not able to convey the message properly.

7. Volume control options

It's important to include volume control options for both music and sound effects in your hyper-casual game. This can help players to adjust the audio to their preferences and create a more enjoyable experience for them. Remember a little bit goes very far. This small gesture makes the player feel you created this game with a little thought and just not some arbitrary I want your money type.

8. Ability to turn off music and/or sound effects separately

In addition to volume control options, it's also important to give players the ability to turn off music and/or sound effects separately. This can be especially helpful for players who may want to listen to their own music or play the game without sound.

9. Sound effects that match game actions

Sound effects should match the actions and movements of the game characters and objects. For example, the sound of footsteps should match the movement of the game character's feet. What I do is ask the dev to share a video with all the game action, in that way I can create the sounds in perfect sync with the animation. This allows for very low iterations and the dev knows where exactly to place which sound in the game.

10. Smooth audio transitions

Finally, it's important to ensure that there are smooth audio transitions between different parts of the game, such as menu screens and gameplay. This can help to create a cohesive and enjoyable experience for the player. One simple method to use is a second or two of white noise. Based on the game I tend to use a variation of white noise, music, motives, or maybe some percussion. The idea is to make the transition as smooth as possible, any disturbance here will again become a sore distraction.

Lastly, be mindful and a little research goes a long way. Speak with your composer and sound professional, and make it a point to strive for quality every time. In the end, we are all here to tell wonderful stories that make great experiences.

Talk soon,

Eric?