With the continuous growth of mobile technology and the internet, there are many digital versions of games like Monopoly, Catan, Scrabble, Solitaire, etc. In fact, GlobeNewsWire reported that the mobile gaming industry in 2024 was estimated at US$ 100.5 billion. Within the market, board games experienced an 80% growth in revenue and 15% in the number of users, between 2022 and 2024 (This is according to data shared by Mariusz Gąsiewski, the CEE mobile gaming lead at Google). But now the question is, what is making the mobile platforms so attractive that the classic games market is growing at such a tremendous rate? How is the mobile gaming world turning retro games into modern games? This article will be looking at how mobile games have made it possible for these timeless games to adapt to the modern world.
Fitting Complex Interfaces On Small Screens
Responsive designs are one the apex of the gaming industries. Imagine having your game being played on any device, i.e., PC, tablet or mobile phone, without affecting the quality or reatures of the game. It has become easy to play different kinds of games on mobile phones as apps can easily adapt to different mobile screens.
Whether you want to play poker on a casino website or download a Ludo app from your Google Store, there is no limit. For instance, sophisticated platforms like the
online casino Dolfwin demonstrate exceptional mobile-first web design. You can decide to play your desired games on a 5-inch or 7-inch screen; you are not limited. In fact, such a platform can allow you to play either in portrait or landscape mode. No matter how complicated the platform is, having a responsive design aces the clients. It’s no wonder that 74% of users are more likely to come back to a platform that works well with any mobile device.
Intuitive Touch Controls
Intuitive controls make the gaming experience much better. In a
report by MoldStud, it was realized that at least 75% of users prefer touch controls for casual gaming experiences. Other statistics also revealed that approximately 40% of users would leave an application if they came across problems relating with control.
As designers continue to hack control for classic games, more gamers are getting more invested. When it comes to touch controls, precision is key. Designers aim to reduce complex actions by making them intuitive taps and swipes. Studies have shown that doing this (simplifying controls) can lead to up to a 30% increase in player retention rates.
One interactive form of
touch control is gesture recognition. Mobile game designers incorporate varieties of gestures that significantly enhance the user engagement and interactivity. For instance, studies have shown that swift motions (made possible by swipe gestures) add to an immersive gaming experience. A classic like “Fruit Ninja” incorporates the slicing action that makes it fun and interactive. Another technique that is common, and very effective, is pinch-to-zoom. This allows players to focus on a specific area, and is especially helpful in strategy and exploratory type of games. More players report having increased satisfaction when they can interact with their environment and have an in-depth exploratory venture.
Just as a summary, the different mechanic types of touch controls include:
- Tap to simplify single actions
- Swipe to assign special moves
- Pinch to enable zoom and movement
- Haptic feedback for tactile responses
Maintaining The Original Game’s Spirit
The game spirit is the reason why the classics will never lose their fragrance. For example, the classic Nintendo game Super Mario Bros. has been redeveloped to suit modern gameplay mechanics.
However, the nostalgia that comes with the game has made its popularity stick with the classic Nintendo lovers. Once you hear the Super Mario theme, your mind immediately reverts to the late 1900s, when arcade gaming was the order of the day.
Another classic that has not lost its touch is the “Angry Birds” series. The classic uses a slingshot mechanism that has the real-world feeling of launching projectiles. The game became popular in the early 2010s when smartphones were infiltrating the market. However, in 2019, many Angry Birds games were removed from the Apple Store and Google Play Store and replaced with a more modern version, “Rovio Classics: Angry Birds,” in 2023.
The only reason why these games have retained their popularity is because, even though the game mechanics are now more modern, the spirit is the same. It would be a disaster if Rovio would decide to alter the game by removing the main characters like Red, Bomb and the Pigs. Also, if Nintendo would make a mistake of changing the iconic red shirt, blue overalls and red cap of Mario to any other color, the game would just die.
Celebrating The Creativity Of Modernity
All in all, there is a huge amount of applause for
game developers who have stayed true to the classics. A simple game like Ludo has received such a modern touch that ensures the game lives on. Over the next years, you can be sure that more classic games and their remakes will be roaming through the modern mobile gaming platforms.
