Mobile Game Rewards: Types and Impact on User Engagement

7 min readJul 3, 2023

In our recent blog, we discussed how to build player-centric mobile game economies. We learned about player motivations, behaviors, and spending habits; creating a player-centric mobile game economy; and more.

Before today’s topics, you can read the detailed blog here to learn why and how to build those economies.

Those who read the blog understand why game rewards are so important in mobile games. In this blog, we will look at different types and their impact on player engagement.

Three Main Types

There are three main types of mobile game rewards, and each drives user engagement in different ways. To provide players with a more enjoyable gaming experience, mobile game developers need to know each type.

1. Achievement-based Rewards

People earn rewards when they achieve something in the game. This could be reaching a milestone or finishing a task. These rewards are in-game currency, game items, or even upgraded characters and levels.

2. Social Rewards

3. Random Rewards

Random rewards, also called “reward-based mobile gaming” or “daily rewards,” are awarded to players without specific requirements. Based on the title, we understand that this type of game reward adds surprise and excitement. The biggest names in the industry, including Genshin Impact andHearthstone, have used those rewards to capture millions of users globally.

Best Game Reward Systems and Examples

Here are examples of daily rewards in mobile games, in-game currency, and prizes for mobile games. We’ll look at reward-based mobile gaming mechanics and app-based game rewards and achievements.

Daily Rewards

Daily Rewards means that if players log into a mobile game every day, they can earn rewards that would win the game studio’s award set entry. These rewards could be in-game currency, which increases day by day, or other bonuses for logging in each day.

Clash Royale and Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp also use this type of reward system to encourage players to log in daily.

Reward-based Mobile Gaming Mechanics

This is so crucial to creating engaging and enjoyable gaming experiences. Let’s take a look at the Candy Crush Saga the game gives players power-ups, boosters, and lives for completing levels or participating in special events. These rewards motivate players to play more challenging levels.

App-based Reward Achievements

They help mobile games stand out in a competitive market. Pokémon GOincludes geolocation-driven game rewards that encourage players to explore their surroundings and interact with other players in real life.

Mobile Game Reward Strategies

Creating engaging mobile game reward systems requires a deep knowledge of player incentives, trends, and customization. We’ll look at reward tiers, customization, mobile game challenges, and in-game events and rewards to understand their role in user engagement and satisfaction.

Challenges

Mobile game challenges and rewards can drive engagement, particularly when linked to limited-time events or seasonal activities. Call of Duty Mobile and PUBG Mobile offers regular in-game challenges that encourage players to complete specific tasks. These challenges give players in-game currency, skins, or other bonuses, so they must take part.

In-game Events

In-game events and rewards create excitement and urgency, which keeps players engaged with the game during limited-time periods. Genshin Impact and Mobile Legends host exclusive events, offering rewards and content. These events may introduce updated gameplay, storylines, or collaborations with popular franchises, attracting both old and new players.

The Psychology of Mobile Game Rewards

Understanding the psychological aspects of mobile game rewards is crucial for designing effective and engaging reward systems. This section will delve into player incentives and motivation, as well as rewarding items and trends in mobile gaming.

Mobile game rewards are linked to player incentives and motivation. Self-determination theory categorizes human motivation into three types: intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and motivationIn mobile gaming, “intrinsic motivation” is the enjoyment and satisfaction of playing a game.

Effective mobile game reward systems provide both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Examples of extrinsic motivational features that give players concrete rewards include daily login rewards and in-game challenges. Customization options, such as skins or avatars, can foster identity and intrinsic motivation. Striking the right balance between these two types of motivation can lead to higher user engagement, retention, and satisfaction.

Rewarding Items & Trends

Rewarding items and trends in mobile gaming play a significant role in driving player engagement and satisfaction. Some popular trends in mobile game rewards include:

Gacha Mechanics: Originating from Japanese mobile games, gacha mechanics involve players spending in-game currency or real money for a chance to get random rewards, such as characters or items. This mechanic taps into the psychological concept of intermittent reinforcement.

2. Battle Passes: Numerous mobile games have battle pass systems. These systems offer players rewards when they unlock challenges or level up. This encourages players to keep playing to earn more rewards, fostering progression and achievement.

3. Seasonal Events: Seasonal events and limited-time content can create urgency and excitement among players. Games, like Overwatch and Pokémon GO, offer events during holidays or anniversaries.

4. Social Rewards: Social rewards, such as exclusive items or bonuses referring friends or participating in in-game communities, encourage players to engage with others and spread the word about the game.

Rewarding Platforms

As we mentioned in the previous LiveOps blog, there are numerous excellent tools to consider. However, if you are short on time, you can look at the best we chose:

Game Analytics: They provide powerful analytics tools and insights, optimize game reward systems, and drive player engagement.
Playfab: The tool provides many tools to developers, including reward management and customization.
Firebase: Firebase provides mobile game developers with a variety of tools such as analytics, A/B testing, in-app messaging, and the creation and optimization of game reward systems.
Ratic: This is a play-and-play LiveOps tool that helps mobile game studios increase their retention and revenue. Developers can easily add features like rewards, leaderboards, and tournaments, which boost player engagement and revenue.

About Ratic’s Rewarding feature:

Ratic offers a versatile reward pool with Ratic Points. Rewards encompass several components.

A. Daily Bonuses: The game studio can provide daily login rewards to users, with customizable days and rewards.
B. Custom Rewarding: This feature allows game studios to set daily winning limits and multipliers for users in different countries. This is a system optimization based on advertising revenues in different countries.
C. Tournament Rewarding: The reward system for tournaments is determined based on variables such as tournament duration, level, and score. Tournament processes can be managed via a dashboard.
D. Level Rewarding: As users level up, they can earn rewards, providing an incentive for continued engagement and progression in-game.

Conclusion and Future Trends

In conclusion, mobile game rewards drive user engagement, retention, and monetization. As the mobile gaming industry evolves, developers must stay abreast of the latest trends and tools. This is to create rewarding experiences that cater to players’ needs and desires.

Future mobile game rewards include personalized, cross-platform integration, augmented and virtual reality, blockchain-based rewards, and a focus on mental health and well-being. By staying informed, mobile game developers can stay competitive. This delivers engaging, enjoyable experiences for players.

Innovative tools like Ratic will shape the mobile game reward landscape. Ratic is an all-in-one solution that empowers mobile game studios to create engaging and entertaining game experiences, offering a wealth of features such as leaderboards, tournaments, rewards, and more. Developers can improve player retention, monetization, and engagement using Ratic.

If you’re a mobile game developer or publisher, explore Ratic for rewards and user engagement. This will unlock your game’s full potential. Don’t miss the opportunity to maximize your revenue and create memorable gaming experiences for your players.

Try Ratic today and discover the difference it can make to your mobile games! Visit here to learn more and get started.