Video: What's one of the highest-earning mobile releases out there? The answer may surprise you
Time for a bit of gardening
- What's made one match-three hit a $4 billion success story?
- And what can it tell us about why this sort of thing is popular on mobile?
- Dig into Scott's latest video to find out
In his ongoing quest to demystify the world of mobile gaming and put us all out of a job (joking, of course), Scott Westwood has dug into a thorny topic. Yes, this week he's gone into the weeds to look at an unexpectedly mega-popular blooming flower of mobile gaming!
This $4 billion hit has raked in the cash with a simple combination of match-three puzzles and basic house-decorating mechanics that has gone on to influence the rest of the world. And by now you've probably already guessed what it is if you're a frequent reader.
Yes, this week Scott digs into Gardenscapes, giving us a brief look at why it's so popular, why it shakes perceptions of the mobile world and why developers should sit up and take notice. How did a humble match-three become a bigger earner than Metal Gear Solid? Well, Scott'll tell you.
Now, personally speaking, I've never been much of a fan of Gardenscapes. But it's undeniable that the simple, easy-to-play nature of it has broad appeal. I mean, criminy, how many of you out there have sunk more than a few hours into Balatro, for example?
And while I hope that Gardenscapes doesn't end up being the model for all of mobile going forward, it's undoubtedly had a huge influence that warrants a closer look. After all, not everything can be a standout indie hit with an unusual core mechanic. Sometimes you just want to sit back, relax and solve some puzzles on mobile.
Meanwhile, if you want to keep in touch with some of our other regular features, then be sure to check out Off the Appstore. Each week, our resident explorer Will Quick takes a gander at new mobile releases that you can only play outside of the iOS App Store and Google Play!
