In a gaming world in which striving for greatness and technical perfection is the normality, it is also perfectly fine to feel the need for something basic, that will require close to no diligence or effort at all, while being entertaining and satisfying at the same time.
Clicker games have perfectly managed to place themselves in this gray area, blurring the line between casual entertainment and sometimes addictive gameplay, creating an experience that often defies initial expectations and keeps players wanting to tap for more.
- The difference from idle games
- Idle Farming Empire
- Clicker Heroes
- Pokémon: Magikarp Jump
- Don't undervalue clicker games!
While they may share some similarities, clicker games and idle games are not the same thing. They both fall under the bigger umbrella of incremental games, which means they are characterized by gradual progress and often involve very simple mechanics. Nevertheless, they have some features that differentiate them.
Interaction
- Clicker games primarily rely on player interaction: even being as simple as they are, they require players to click or tap on the screen to perform actions.
- On the other hand, idle games are intended for users to have the least amount of interaction. They are designed to progress automatically, even when the player is not actively engaged. Players may set up initial actions and then let the game run on its own, occasionally checking in to make decisions or upgrades.
Progression
- In clicker games, progress and the number of clicks or actions performed by the player go hand in hand, meaning that the more you click, the faster you progress.
- In idle games, there is no need for constant clicking and progress happens over time. Resources or in-game currency are often accumulated by the game itself, even when the player is offline, and players often rely on passive income generation.
Mechanics
- In clicker games, mechanics tend to be simpler and just focused on clicking to gain resources, unlock upgrades, and reach new milestones.
- In a different way, idle games may involve more complex systems, such as resource management, automation, and strategic decision-making.
Player Engagement
- Certainly, there is a bigger amount of engagement required in clicker games. They are appreciated by those people who enjoy touching, tapping or clicking on the screen repeatedly.
- Idle games are designed for players who prefer a more hands-off experience. They are often chosen by people who want to enjoy the game's progress without constant interaction, while still feeling satisfied.
Of course, there are cases in which mechanics and features from both categories are combined. To sum their differences up, we could say that the primary distinction is the level of interaction and the approach to progression. Both genres try to satisfy different users’ preferences and can be enjoyable in their own capacity.
Now, let’s take a look at a few examples of highly addictive clicker games.
Idle Farming Empire is a mobile clicker game developed by Futureplay. It blends farming simulation with clicker mechanics. Players start small, cultivating crops, expanding their farm, and utilizing upgrades to optimize resource production.
The clicker progression system is a key feature, making the game accessible for a relaxed gameplay experience, while unlockable areas, manager characters, contracts, challenges, and events keep the gameplay engaging and strategic.
This game is an excellent choice for those who enjoy management games with clicker interaction, offering a casual and immersive farming experience on mobile devices.
The addictive and captivating sight of making the farm grow makes the player crave for more and more power, which is why the game also takes advantage of in-app purchases, which enhance the user’s experience beyond the simple tapping.
Clicker Heroes is a mobile clicker game, also released for other platforms such as PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, by the company Playsaurus. Here, players battle monsters by tapping the screen, accumulating in-game currency for hero recruitment.
The game also incorporates idle progression, allowing for continued advancement even when not actively playing. Upgrades, ancient powers, and relics provide depth to the gameplay.
Ascension adds replay value, while its humorous tone and a dedicated online community contribute to its appeal.
Just like the first game we saw, Clicker Heroes offers the player the chance to buy power-ups within the app using real money, and not just in-game currency. This goes to show the value of IAPs in this category of games.
Magikarp Jump is a mobile game based on the popular Pokémon franchise, developed by Select Button and published by The Pokémon Company. In this game, players find themselves in the Pokémon world and must raise and train several Magikarp specimens, known for their jumping abilities.
The game revolves around feeding, training, and participating in jumping leagues with the aim of discovering various Magikarp patterns.
The game offers a constant stream of content updates, including new events, decorations, and Magikarp patterns, to keep players engaged.
Once again, IAPs are available within the game, although here The Pokemon Company has decided to set a limit of buyable diamonds, and that is something that happens in other mobile games developed by the Japanese colossus.
Even though they might not have all the fancy features, intense action, or amazing graphics of other mobile games, mobile clicker games are very much appreciated because they are easy to pick up and can be enjoyed by almost anyone.
This is why it could be a very good idea to invest in a thorough app marketing campaign to monetize a mobile clicker game. If done right, it could achieve important results and generate a good amount of revenue.
Mapendo has worked with a clicker game developer in the past with two goals in mind: new installs and new players. Mapendo’s strategy involved switching from banner to video ads in the second phase of the campaign and, in doing so, was able to scale in-app purchases, doubling the ROI.
