No wonder, mobile market is getting bigger every day and is predicted to reach up to $54 billion by 2015. Creating a successful mobile game can push a company or even an individual into the sky almost instantly. Even though the audience is big, creating a profitable game is more challenging you might thing. Just take a look on Rovio, the company standing behind the popular Angry Birds game. Rovio had to create 50 unsuccessful games before the came with Angry Birds.

So what are the requirements to make a decent game to monetize it in the end?

Brainstorm the successful ones

Probably the most crucial factor before the game development process can start is brainstorming the most successful games. Download the 10 most downloaded games and do not be scared to play them all from the start till the end. Take some notes while playing and put down the key factors you think are essential.

Take the most out of it. There is no need to invent the wheel once again, learn from the competitors.

Target the youngest ones as well as the adults

The youngest audience is being wrongly underestimated. To be successful, the game has to attract the younger once as well. Targeting only the adult audience is just not enough. Therefore, the game play has to be as simple as possible so the children can learn how to play it.

Other key factor when trying to target the big audience is making the game available for several mobile platforms and not just one. At least iOS and Android platforms are a must. Cross-platform mobile development tools like Moscrif can help here to lower the time and costs needed for the development.

First impression counts

Nice graphics and smooth animation are what really counts. With poor first impression, the user may just quit the game and never run it again. All the popular games just look amazing from the first sight. Angry Birds are not different, no 3d graphics, but eye catching pictures you just have to like.

No hours of gameplay

Mobile devices are many times wrongly interchanged for gaming consoles. Smartphones or tablets just can not be compared to consoles that were designed specifically for games. Mobile gamer is not looking for hours of gameplay. Instead, he looks for a game he can play to fill some time or just to take a little break from work.

Therefore, the game should be designed to meet this requirement. Ideally, divided into several but short levels that can be stopped and resumed any time. Many developers are creating too complex and real time game and are disappointed in the end with a low number of downloads.

Limited screens vs. PC displays

Mobile devices come with much smaller screens when compared to PCs or consoles. Therefore, putting too much of controls and action into one screen is just too distracting and users would rather uninstall it than play. “Less is sometimes more” – there were many great games developed but were too complex and unplayable.

Free version first

This might sound strange, but you will not make any profit with no free version available. Free version is important to build some community around the game and to get first downloads. Free version has to be addictive and easy to play. Afterwards, a paid version can be added with new levels or features.