This document discusses idle clicker games and why they are popular. It begins by introducing the author and his background in the games industry. It then defines idle clicker games and explains their origins on PC and rise in popularity on mobile. Key points made include that these games have strong retention rates, are popular with players due to short sessions, and are profitable for developers and publishers. The document provides tips on idle clicker game monetization through in-app purchases and ads, and recommends features like limited time events and leaderboards to drive engagement.

1. IDLE CLICKER GAMES
WHY ARE THEY SO POPULAR AND HOW CAN I GET IN ON THE ACTION?
David P. Chiu
DC Games Consulting LLC

2. • 12+ years in games industry
• Intel in Gaming Developer Relations & Business Development, US Gaming Marketing &
Campaign Strategy
• Head of Business Development and Developer Relations at Kongregate
• Vice President of R2 Games USA
• Worked on hit games such as Clicker Heroes, Politicats, Game of Thrones Ascent
• Now at DC Games Consulting LLC
WHO AM I?
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3. HOW DID IDLE CLICKER GAMES GET STARTED?

4. WHAT IS A
CLICKER GAME?
• AKA tapper, idle, or incremental
games
• Relatively new genre
• Recently gained massive popularity
• For a deep-dive into the genre:
www.gdcvault.com/play/1022066/Idl
e-Games-The-Mechanics-and
(Kongregate, Anthony Pecorella)
DC Games Consulting LLC

5. ORIGINATED ON PC
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6. GAINED MASSIVE POPULARITY ON MOBILE
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7. BIG BRANDS GETTING INTO ON THE ACTION
DC Games Consulting, LLCDC Games Consulting LLC

8. MANY IDLE
CLICKERS IN THE
TOP CHARTS
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9. TRAILER PARK BOYS
• Launched April 20, 2017
• Highest peak grossing ranking for idle clickers
• iOS Top Grossing 72 Game in the US
• Consistently in Top 100-200 Grossing (US)
in first month
• Currently iOS Top Grossing #165 Game (US)

10. WHY ARE THEY SO POPULAR?

11. POPULAR
WITH PLAYERS
• Easy to pick up and play
• Short sessions are perfect
for mobile
• Constant cycle of positive
reinforcement and
progression
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12. POPULAR WITH
DEVELOPERS AND
PUBLISHERS
• Incredibly strong retention
• Top games have:
• D1: 50-70%+
• D7: 30-40%+
• D30: 15-20%+
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Source:AdVenture Capitalist, Kongregate

13. POPULAR WITH
DEVELOPERS AND
PUBLISHERS
• High retention + multiple
sessions a day = Ad $$$
• Idle clicker games in Top 200
grossing based only on IAP
• Rewarded videos can double
game monetization
• Advertisers love them
• CPMs are high
DC Games Consulting LLC
Source:AdVenture
Capitalist,
Kongregate,
The Rise and Rise
of Idle Games

14. POPULAR WITH
DEVELOPERS AND
PUBLISHERS
• App stores love them!
• Regularly featured and re-
featured
• Many received Editors’ Choice

15. POPULAR WITH
DEVELOPERS AND
PUBLISHERS
• Top idle clicker games have millions
of downloads
• Top games generated 8-figures in
revenue
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16. POPULAR WITH
DEVELOPERS
• Ideal for self-publishing
• Low production cost
• Short dev cycle
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17. Leverage Existing Assets
• Many popular clicker games are spinoffs of other
games
ØCloudstone à Clicker Heroes
ØTime Rifters à Time Clickers
ØBest Fiends à Best Fiends Forever
ØBush Whacker à Crusaders of the Lost Idol
• Even lower cost and faster dev time

18. IDLE INNOVATION AND BEST PRACTICES

19. IDLE CLICKER
INNOVATION
• Genre keeps evolving
• More features
• IP/ brands
• Combining genres
• Deeper and deeper monetization
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20. IDLE CLICKER GAME MONETIZATION

21. IDLE CLICKER GAMES:
IAP MONETIZATION
Typically feature 3 types of currency:
• Soft currency
• Earned through gameplay
• Hard currency
• Bought from IAP or slowly accumulated through
gameplay
• Prestige/ Ascension currency
• Earned when you reset the game in exchange for this
currency that grants bonus stat boosts
• Can be used to buy certain characters/items/artifacts
that can only be purchased using prestige/ ascension
currency

22. IDLE CLICKER GAMES: IAP MONETIZATION
Hard currency is typically used for:
Fast Forward/TimeWarp
• Earn X hours of soft currency at the current rate
• Can offer multiple time spans (1 hour, 4 hours, 1 day, 3 days, etc)
Speed Multiplier
• Buy a permanent multiplier boost
• Can be for soft currency accumulation (3x gold), damage per second, damage per tap, etc.
Temporary Boosts
• 2x gold boost for X hours or days
Instant Prestiging/ Quick Ascension
• Pay hard currency to earn the prestige/ascension currency or bonuses without having to
reset your game and restart from level 1

23. IDLE CLICKER GAMES:
GACHA MECHANIC
• Random draw for a valuable item in the game
• Incorporate CCG elements like varying rarity levels
(common, uncommon, rare, legendary)
• Simple and repeatable sink for hard currency for users to
chase desired reward

24. CCG MONETIZATION IN IDLE CLICKERS

25. CCG MECHANICS IN IDLE CLICKERS
• CCG mechanics in idle games popularized by Clicker Heroes,
Taps to Riches and Crusaders of the Lost Idols
• Most recently by Trailer Park Boys and Office Space
• CCG mechanics greatly improve IAP monetization

26. CCG MECHANICS IN IDLE CLICKERS
• Previously, the CCG mechanics were ancillary
• Pets inTapTitans and Nonstop Knights
• Now integrated into core loop
• Office Space,Trailer Park Boys
• Effective appointment mechanic
• Offer free pack or card draw every 4-6 hours

27. CCG MECHANICS IN IDLE CLICKERS
• Office Space follows Taps to Riches model of gachafied managers that provide bonuses for currency generators

28. CCG MECHANICS IN IDLE CLICKERS
• Shop Tutorial introduces Medium Pack and gives player a free one
• Gives player an Epic card and then shows him/her how to use the cards

29. CCG MECHANICS IN IDLE CLICKERS
Trailer Park Boys
• Upgrading characters (biz managers) and businesses (soft currency generator requires cards AND liquor (pseudo-hard currency)
• No direct prestige currency in the game (replaced by liquor and cards which gate progress)

30. CCG MECHANICS IN IDLE CLICKERS
Trailer Park Boys
• Shop refreshes 5 hours with 3 cards that you can buy directly with liquor
• Cards obtained from prestiging/ finishing seasons, season/business milestones or 3 gachas draws (hard currency sink)

31. CCG MECHANICS IN IDLE CLICKERS
Trailer Park Boys
• Repeating prestiging (ending and starting new seasons) will unlock new cards
• Trade unwanted cards for liquor
• Use hard currency to buy gacha draws

32. AD MONETIZATION IN IDLE CLICKERS

33. AD MONETIZATION
DC Games Consulting LLC
• Consider adding rewarded video to increase your LTV
• Good for high retaining casual games with low monetization
• Integrate mediation platform and multiple ad networks
• Negotiate superior deal terms

34. AD MONETIZATION
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• Integrate ads into gameplay (core loop or regularly repeating screen)
• Prominent surfacing/ placements
• Offer meaningful rewards
• Incorporate ads into new content or/and limited timed events
• Limit video pre-caching to minimize OTA data usage
• Avoid long ads and “bad ads”

35. IDLE CLICKER GAMES: AD MONETIZATION
• Short burst of soft currency
• Small amount of hard currency
• Temporary boost (e.g. 2x gold for X time)
• Spin in a wheel of fortune or mini-game
• Double the amount of offline gains upon
returning to the game

36. LIMITED TIME EVENTS IN IDLE CLICKERS

37. LIMITED TIME EVENT
• Weekly, biweekly or monthly events to drive retention up
• Can be tied to seasonal events/ holidays
• Progress is separate from main game
• Events lead to retention and monetization by keeping players
engaged and providing new goals and purchasables

38. LIMITED TIME EVENTS IN ADCAP INCREASES
IAP AND AD MONETIZATION
Source:AdVenture Capitalist, Kongregate

39. LIMITED TIME EVENTS:
OFFICE SPACE - IDLE PROFITS

40. LIMITED TIME EVENTS:
OFFICE SPACE - IDLE PROFITS

41. MONETIZATION: EVENT SPECIFIC
BUNDLES/SALES

42. LEADERBOARDS AND EVENTS
• In addition to Event Loot Boxes, Office Space also has an Event Corp Leaderboard with tiered prizes
• Drives engagement, competition and purchasing

43. • Dungeon Inc has weekly Tournaments with Tier Prizes
LEADERBOARDS AND PVP TOURNAMENT

44. • Tournament is based on async PvP instead of single player progression
LEADERBOARDS AND PVP TOURNAMENT

45. • Prizes are based on tiers
• Drives engagement, competition and potentially purchasing
LEADERBOARDS AND PVP TOURNAMENT

46. WHY AN IDLE
CLICKER GAME?
• Love by app stores and players
• Potential for millions of downloads
and revenue
• Short dev cycle
• Room for innovation
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47. QUESTIONS?
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David P. Chiu
DC Games Consulting LLC
david.p.chiu@gmail.com