The video game sector has experienced significant growth in recent times. As more games emerge, new genres have been born to keep players more engaged. One of the latest introductions in the gaming world is hybrid-casual games, which combine elements of mid-core and hyper-casual games.
Perhaps most of you are aware of hyper-casual, casual, and mid-core games but are still new to hybrid-casual games. So, what are these hybrid-casual games development? What do they entail? And why have they become popular and attractive among developers? At iXie, we take a deep dive into these games through this comprehensive guide to help you understand them to the letter.
Understanding Hybrid-Casual Games?
As initially stated, hybrid-casual games are characterized by mid-core game components and easy hyper-casual gameplay. These games are still new. However, they have gained significant popularity in recent times. In fact, players downloaded hybrid-casual games over 5 billion times in 2022 alone. This is an indicator of how famous these games have become lately.
However, to fully understand hybrid-casual games, you need to understand hyper-casual and casual games. Let’s take a deeper look at these games:
Casual and Hyper-Casual Games
A casual game concentrates on the primary gameplay. Therefore, such games are easier to comprehend and provide an ideal way to relax. Naturally, these games invite non-hardcore gamers, implying that even beginners can seamlessly play them.
On the other hand, hyper-casual games adhere to a similar logic as casual games. In fact, they are even simpler compared to casual games, particularly in terms of game controls. One swipe or tap is enough to play a typical hyper-casual game.
While casual and hype-casual games are easy to play, their gameplay is often “very basic.” As a result, players often lose interest with time. Also, there are plenty of substitute games that players can switch to at any time. This implies that most players are not loyal to a single game. Therefore, developers often find it hard to monetize such games, making them less profitable in the long run.
The Solution? Hybrid-Casual Games
As developers struggled to make their casual and hyper-casual games profitable, a new game genre has been formed: hybrid-casual games. These games combine aspects of both casual and hyper-casual games to deliver a more engaging experience. In most cases, they achieve this by adding multiple meta layers and features to the primary gameplay.
The main objective is to create an accessible game that provides monetization opportunities and drives retention. It’s like killing two birds with one stone! Hybrid-casual games allow developers to reap the most from both worlds.
Main Components of Hybrid-Casual Games
Here are the main elements that make up a hybrid-casual game:
1. Hyper-Casual Core
Most hybrid-casual games’ cores are casual or hyper-casual. Games with such cores are simple, allowing anyone to pick them up in no time. The game controls are also easy in that no tutorial is required to navigate the game. However, unlike the casual/ hyper-casual games, hybrid-casual games are a bit harder to master. This helps maintain the players’ interest.
2. Meta Layer(s)
A hybrid-casual game is built on a simple core but supports power progression through meta layers. This makes it more engaging and interesting. As a result, it creates long-term interest through the meta layers, which also form the basis for live features and services.
3. Social Features and Live Ops
Unlike a typical hyper-casual game, hybrid-casual games contain social features and live Ops, among other features that help maintain the game’s novelty. These features help in creating long-term engagement and improving the overall gaming experience.
For instance, leaderboards are a great feature that enables players to monitor their progress and compare their performance with other players. Such features not only show a player’s progress but also encourage them to play more to climb up the leaderboard. Also, players can participate in different events that provide short-term tests. This motivates players to complete these challenges, driving higher engagement.
4. Hybrid Monetization
At the end of the day, developers want to earn from their creations. That’s where the concept of hybrid monetization comes in. Monetization enhances players’ power of progression. Developers often use multiple monetization strategies, such as in-app purchases and ads, to drive baseline monetization. Also, they use battle passes and bundles to boost conversions.
Pillars of a Successful Hybrid-Casual Core Gameplay
A Google report highlighted several key pillars that must be considered to ensure the core gameplay of a hybrid-casual game succeeds. These pillars include:
- Easy controls. The hybrid-casual game controls must be simple enough to allow players to get started immediately.
- Skill elements. A hybrid-casual core should involve skill to promote player engagement.
- Power progression. As the name suggests, power progression is a statistics-based progression system that reflects the money and time spent in the game. It can take different formats. However, its main purpose is to enhance the core gameplay.
- Engaging gameplay core. The hybrid-casual core game must be simple. At the same time, it should demand the full player’s attention for it to be more engaging. Therefore, developers should aim to balance between skill and simplicity.
Why are Hybrid-Casual Games Attractive to Developers?
As initially stated, hybrid-casual games have attracted many developers. Here are some reasons behind the increasing popularity:
- The need to stand out. In a bid to stand out in today’s competitive gaming environment, more developers have ventured into hybrid-casual games to stay ahead of the curve.
- Retention. Developers have embraced hybrid-casual games due to their ability to retain players.
- Richer gameplay. Hybrid-casual games bring in more sophisticated graphics and characters, among other gaming mechanics, providing richer gameplay.
Final Thoughts
Hybrid-casual game development have taken the gaming world by storm. These games combine elements of mid-core and hyper-casual games, creating a more unique and engaging gaming experience. While these games provide simple and accessible gameplay, they integrate more immersive and engaging features. This combination of genres has become a significant force in the gaming market. From introducing meta layers and hyper-casual core to integrating social features and live Ops, hybrid-casual games deliver a more engaging gaming experience, enhancing player retention. As we look forward, these games will become the new normal and possibly integrate advanced technologies like AI to deliver a more immersive experience.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What are Hybrid-Casual Games?
Hybrid-casual games are characterized by mid-core game components and easy hyper-casual gameplay. These games are still new. However, they have gained significant popularity in recent times. These games combine aspects of both casual and hyper-casual games to deliver a more engaging experience. In most cases, they achieve this by adding multiple meta layers and features to the primary gameplay. The main objective is to create an accessible game that provides monetization opportunities and drives retention.
2. What are the main components of Hybrid-Casual Games?
The main components of hybrid-casual games are as follows:
- Hyper-Casual Core
- Meta Layer(s)
- Social Features and Live Ops
- Hybrid Monetization
3. Why are Hybrid-Casual Games Attractive to Developers?
Some of the reasons for the popularity of Hybrid-Casual Games are as follows:
- The need to stand out
- Retention
- Richer gameplay
4. What are the pillars of a successful hybrid-casual core gameplay?
A Google report highlighted several key pillars that must be considered to ensure the core gameplay of a hybrid-casual game succeeds. These pillars include:
- Easy controls
- Skill elements
- Power progression
- Engaging gameplay core
