What's Driving the Increase in Engagement in Online Gaming?

Over the last decade, the number of people gaming online has risen sharply. This isn't simply because of increased access to the Internet (although, that probably does help) but is due to a host of other factors.
We want to briefly examine some of the reasons behind the increase in engagement in online gaming. This should give you (and other developers) ideas on what to include in your games.

Simplicity

We're now at a transitional point. Many people under the age of 60/65 likely grew up playing a few games. They understand what a game is. It is no longer how it was a decade or two ago, when an older person would look at you with a rather inquisitive eye and wonder just how to hold a controller or interact with a game. Most people, at least in the Western world, have a general idea of how gaming works. However, simplicity is still key.

The most popular online games are those that seem inviting to a player. Ones that are easy to dive into at a moment's notice. We are seeing this across the whole gaming industry. Simple games are more popular than complex ones because people don't want to learn a treasure trove of mechanics.
For example, you'll probably have an easier time convincing a non-gamer to play something like Gates of Olympus 1000 (a slot machine) than something like Call of Duty.

Easily Accessible

Nowadays, you don't need a beefy computer or a games console to play online. If you've got a reasonably modern phone, and many of us do, then you'll have the ability to play online.

A lot of these games don't really require a massive time commitment from you either. We are talking a few minutes per day. Take Bejeweled, for instance (we are sure you've played that, or know somebody who has), the game can be played in short few-minute bursts. It keeps people coming back.

Free

OK. You've got us. Not all online games are free to play. Most of the popular ones are, though. Being free makes these games much, much more accessible to the masses. Do you think something like Fortnite would be as popular as it is without that? Although, admittedly, Fortnite probably still would be.
By lowering the barrier to entry, and earning money in other ways, game developers are drawing more people into their games. When it works, it does work.

More Social

Socialness is the key to driving engagement in online games. An online game that lacks social features will probably not be that great at all. Plus, social aspects of games draw people in through word-of-mouth marketing.

We don't know if you remember, but in the early days of Facebook, the place was overloaded with games like Triple Town or Bake Shop Drop (these can now be found elsewhere). Barely a day would go by where you wouldn't have somebody posting on your wall, begging for in-game resources. If you were nice, you'd help them out.

Other games have social aspects in other ways. Guilds, clans, voice chat, etc. Being social means more fun. It keeps people playing, even if the game is terrible.

Incentives for Playing

Unless you've been living under a rock, we do not doubt that you've seen a sharp increase in the number of limited-time battle passes, cosmetics, daily quests, etc. These help to keep people logging in.
Daily and weekly tasks, for instance, are up there with the best ways to drive player engagement. Offer good enough rewards, and people will come back and play often. Even when they feel like they are tired of the game, there is just something that will compel them to play, just because they don't want to miss out on their rewards. You'll be surprised at how much cash is poured into learning the psychology behind this.

If you're a gamer, and you probably are since you're here, you likely have a few games that you do daily missions for. Each time you log in, you're engaging with the game. It just makes the game more populated and probably grabs a bit of cash from your wallet too.

The Rise Will Continue

Online gaming isn't going to die off any time soon. Many games nowadays have some sort of online aspect to them, even if they are traditionally single-player. Expect game publishers to continue to embrace online gaming because that's what keeps people sticking around and spending money.

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