Player personas provide marketers with critical insights into players’ behaviors and motivations, but creating them requires investing in marketing research.

In this month's Competitive Intelligence Roundtable, our expert panel discusses player feedback, establishing trust with research teams, and why regular research reports are a must.

Cash Frenzy introduces a social bonus in which players' avatars and bet amounts are added as symbols on a bonus reel set, and landing their symbol during the bonus awards a payout. Plus, a social prize wheel with upgrades in Lotsa Slots and a Whac-a-Mole-style bonus in GSN Casino.

Quick Hit Slots’ The Game of Life Payday cleverly adapts mechanics from the Game of Life board game by having players choose one of four careers and move around a game board to earn traditional slots bonuses.

We tore down Legend of Mushroom’s economy to see how its fast-paced gacha creates a slots-like flow without gating core gameplay.

In this month's Product Design Roundtable, our expert panel discusses Stumble Guys' decision to transform interactive emotes into abilities and what that means for the app's identity and key KPIs.

Paid progressions are an innovative hybrid of new-user bundles and battle passes that represent a major opportunity across markets.

Candy Crush Saga introduces a competition in which players complete levels to catch up to a rival player and earn prizes. Plus, an interactive discount mechanic in Hidden City, and a randomly spawning accelerator in Angry Birds Friends.

Screw Pin - Jam Puzzle borrows heavily from top puzzle app Screw Jam. Players solve physics-based puzzles by moving screws that anchor boards to the playing area. Screw Pin broke into the top 100 highest-grossing puzzle apps three months after launch and entered the top 75 on August 6, 2024.

Toca Boca Days marks Toca Boca’s first multiplayer app. It is designed to offer a safe experience for kids by limiting communication, ensuring anonymity, and requiring parental involvement to unlock key features. The app builds on Toca Boca World's character customization while introducing a 3D art style.

Candy Crush Saga’s Bonus Box Offer and Zen Match’s Big Bonus Buy introduce a new twist on chain offer events by requiring players to complete missions to unlock certain rewards. Incorporating missions into these events increases players' motivation to buy the IAP since they feel like they've earned it. Additionally, the difficult mission requirements drive players to use boosts frequently.

Core apps are innovating on the crowd-runner ad formula by adding cinematic intros, perspective shifts, and novel mechanics from apps in other genres.