When you look at the stats, it does not matter if it’s from today or from when the first game was ever invented. The number of gamers worldwide is in a constant state of growth. 2024, for instance, has 3.32 billion gamers, this is a 100 million increase from 2023. Such consistency of growth in an economic sector only indicates how valuable the gaming industry is. Moreover, how lucrative and rewarding it is. But like all good things in life, it is the accessibility of something that makes it worthwhile. And mobiles have certainly made gaming more accessible to users. Many game developers are able to increase their target audience by availing game localization services. Localization is a targeted approach to growing your audience. If done right, it can change the game for your game development company.
The Role of Mobile Gaming in the Growth of Gamers
Mobile has made games more accessible to the general public. While before the advent of mobile gaming, it was the PC and Consoles dominating the gaming scene. However, both platforms were and still are too expensive for most people. So accessibility and affordability is one factor that makes mobile gaming ever popular. Moreover, most of the increase in gamers we see today is through casual gamers.
What is a Casual Gamer?
A casual game is one that is targeted at a mass audience. While a hardcore or AAA game is for avid gamers and hobbyists. The difference is clear to see in terms of gameplay, simpler rules, easy-to-play, and shorter sessions. Casual games are particularly easy and can be played by anyone. Moreover, such mobile games are usually free and have no barrier to entry. You do not need a high-end mobile device to play such games.
Examples of Casual Games
- Angry Bird
- Flappy Bird
- Candy Crush
- Farmville
- Crowd City
- Parking Stimulation
- Car Stimulation
- Bobs Burgers
- Clash of Clans
Games with Strong Localization
There are many localized games in the market today. The Play Store and App Store also make mobile games easy to access for users. Many are able to increase their profits and influence through localization. Here are a few of them:
1. Pro Evolution Soccer (PES)
PES is a famous football game that you can play on mobile, PC, and consoles. It is also free to play, with online matchmaking. PES is available in many languages, including English, French, Arabic, Italian, etc. You can also download commentary in various languages. If you are a football fan, you will love the game.
2. Pokemon Go
There was an entire craze for the Pokemon Go game just a few years ago. This AR technology-enabled game uses geolocation tagging to place rare Pokemons in different locations. The goal of the game, like the anime series is to catch them all. Though the hype is not the same as it was before, the game still has a cult-like following.
3. Plants Vs Zombies
You can say that Plants vs Zombie is like a tower defense game. But instead of a tower, you protect plants. You, as a homeowner need to survive the post-apocalyptic world full of zombies. To survive you need nourishment, since Walmart is not an option anymore. You need to grow your plants and crops. Moreover, you need to protect them from the undead.
4. PubG Mobile
At any given time over 200,000 people are playing PubG from around the world. It is a battle royale game in which you land on an island with 50-100 people. The last one standing is the winner. There are also other match modes such as team death match, arena, and more. You can loot items such as guns, cars, helicopters, etc. PubG is a prime example of localization done right. Any software translation agency worth its salt can help you mimic this strategy. PubG uses localization on another level. Advertising through social channels, influencers, and events is all through well-thought-out planning.
5. Call of Duty Mobile
How can any list include PubG and not consider its closest rival Call of Duty? While the console-based game is focused on the campaign mode. The mobile version of the game is about online matchplay. Call of Duty mobile also has a Battle Royale mode and other game modes. These modes include Zombies, Team Deathmatch, Plant the Bomb, and more. Also, the Call of Duty mobile is available in multiple languages. The advertising is also completely localized and is a great example for many.
Conclusion
As you can see, most of the globally popular games use some form of localization strategy. Whether it is in the game or for its marketing purposes. Do you have a good or decent game? Want to increase your reach or community? Well, your best bet is getting localization services through professionals. The better your strategy is, the more people you are likely to attract to your mobile game.
