Mobile Gaming in Asia: The Hyper Casual Revolution

If you’re a gamer, it’s likely that you’ve experienced a moment of joy, excitement, and maybe even a little rage (yes I am looking at you Clash Royale players). You were playing a mobile game and got so immersed that you forgot what time it was or what day of the week it was.?

The world around you might have felt like it was fading away, and you might have only realized you’d been playing for an hour. While this all sounds like it could be a sensationalist movie, the fact is that it’s happening across the board, across the world, especially since 2020.?

In fact, the average player in Asia spends more time playing mobile games than anywhere else in the world, with the bulk of that time spent on casual games.

Hyper casual games are games that are easy enough for anyone to pick up and play, but are still filled with the same types of challenges and mini rewards as full-fledged, hardcore games. Casual games are a huge part of why the game industry is booming in Asia.

The hyper-casual revolution is making it easier than ever to play games — and as a result, more people are getting into mobile gaming than ever before.

What are Hyper Casual Games?

Hyper Casual Games are easy to pick up, but still challenging enough to keep you coming back for more. While they might not feature the same level of depth as full-blown games, they still require a significant amount of skill and strategy. The term hyper casual is used to distinguish these types of games from casual games, which are generally easy to learn and play but don’t require much skill or strategy to succeed. Because hyper-casual games are so accessible, the barrier to entry is significantly less.

To get a better idea on what hyper casual games are, check out these games here.

The Importance of Hyper Casual Games

With the ability for anyone to log on and play, the mobile gaming landscape has been completely transformed thanks to hyper-casual games. While the term is still relatively new, the figures are not. In the U.S., the number of mobile gamers from North America in 2018 was 210.9 million, which is up 5 percent from the year before. This is a significant upturn, but the fact is that even in the U.S., more people are playing mobile games than ever before.

But the main reason the gaming industry is booming in Asia is because of significant improvements in internet accessibility across the SEA region, as well as the affordability of mobile phones which allow more access to various mobile game titles.

Why are Hyper Casual Games a Game Changer?

The most significant impact hyper-casual games have had on the game industry has been the jump in player retention. As players spend more time playing mobile games and have a better idea of how they work, they’re more likely to stick with their favorite games for longer periods of time.?

While some hardcore games might have a lifetime of dedicated players, it’s predicted that the hyper-casual trend will last for years. In fact, research by Newzoo found that in SEA 80% of the urban online population play games on their mobile. Between 2019 and 2020, installations of hyper-casual mobile games have experienced huge growth throughout several Asian countries. For example,? installations in Singapore grew by 112 percent for that particular genre.

More Gamers, More Revenue, More Opportunities

As the lifetime value of players increases, so does the potential revenue. A player who enjoys the game for five hours a day over the course of a year has the potential to generate more revenue than a player who plays for five hours in one fell swoop. This is down to the longer time they’ve spent with the company, leading to a much stronger connection and potentially a longer partnership. With more players spending more time, the opportunity to generate revenue is significantly higher.?

The total global gaming market, which includes both mobile and PC games, is expected to exceed $143 billion in 2021, according to market research firm SuperData. That’s a 9% growth rate from $132 billion in 2021.?

And according to Newzoo, Southeast Asia had a revenue of $4.4 billion in 2019, where mobile games accounted for $3.1 billion of the total revenue.?

While the U.S. is still the largest gaming market in the world, Europe has been overtaken by Asia, with China and India now the world’s two largest gaming markets.

Final Thoughts

Hyper-casual games have been the biggest game changer in the industry in the last decade, opening up the market to a whole new audience that can enjoy games without having to part with too much of their time or effort. With almost anyone able to pick up a mobile game and play, there’s a massive amount of exposure and opportunity for brands.?

With so many games to play, it’s clear that there’s something here for everyone. But as the hyper-casual revolution continues, there’s no telling how far it will go or what new trends it will bring along with it.