Overview
In 2022, Froglet Games launched Tail Glider, a hyper-casual mobile game that combined intuitive flight controls with high-stakes competitive racing. Players soar through hyperspace, racing against ace pilots while navigating the growing danger of their own ship’s expanding tail. The game’s simple yet thrilling mechanics captivated early audiences, but Froglet Games sought to maximize engagement, retention, and monetization using data-driven insights.
They partnered with Swayven Digital to establish a strong data culture and implement optimizations to ensure Tail Glider’s long-term success.
The Challenge
Despite a promising launch, Froglet Games faced challenges typical of a growing studio:
- Data Collection Gaps: They needed a structured framework for collecting in-game data, including player behavior, progression, and monetization patterns.
- Actionable Insights: Raw data alone was not enough—Froglet needed deeper insights into player retention, engagement, and optimal gameplay features to refine the player experience.
- Game Design Optimisation: The game’s mechanics, particularly the growing tail and its difficulty curve, required careful balancing to keep players engaged without overwhelming them.
Our Solution
Swayven Digital approached the project with its signature Collect, Analyse, Implement philosophy, ensuring each phase of the data strategy was optimized for impactful results.
Phase 1 - Collect
Using the Game Analytics Launchpad, we established a robust data collection system for Tail Glider. Our process included:
- Event Tracking Blueprint: We designed custom event schemas to track key in-game actions, such as ship speed, tail growth, crystal collection, and player deaths. This allowed Froglet Games to monitor each player’s journey with precision.
- Data Warehouse Setup: Swayven implemented a centralized data warehouse, ensuring that all collected data—from player interactions to in-game purchases—was securely stored and ready for real-time analysis.
- Custom Dashboards: We built dashboards to give Froglet Games instant visibility into player KPIs like retention rates, session lengths, and player progression, allowing them to monitor game health at a glance.
Phase 2 - Analyse
Next, our Game Reporting & Analysis package transformed the collected data into actionable insights:
- Player Behavior Analysis: We identified key points in Tail Glider where players were most likely to churn, including difficulty spikes when a player’s tail grew rapidly or when players struggled with crystal collection.
- Retention Insights: By analyzing retention metrics, we discovered that players who achieved certain milestones within their first 10 minutes were significantly more likely to return. This led to recommendations for gameplay tweaks that encouraged early engagement.
- Monetization Analysis: We provided in-depth reports on Tail Glider‘s monetization patterns, revealing opportunities for boosting in-app purchases through tailored offers based on player behavior.
Phase 3 - Implement
Based on our analysis, we implemented critical design optimizations to improve player experience and drive profitability:
- Gameplay Adjustments: Using player data, we fine-tuned the difficulty curve of Tail Glider, ensuring that as the tail grew, the increase in difficulty remained engaging but fair. This balanced the challenge and satisfaction, keeping players invested longer.
- Feature Prioritization: Leveraging data on player preferences, we recommended and helped prioritize new features, such as additional power-ups and competitive elements, to enhance the competitive race aspect of the game.
- UX/UI Enhancements: Data-driven refinements to the game’s user interface streamlined the experience, improving menu navigation and making critical features like power-ups more accessible.
Results & Long-Term Impact
Froglet Games saw significant improvements post-implementation:
- Player Retention increased by 27% within the first three months, as gameplay adjustments and refined difficulty curves encouraged longer play sessions.
- In-App Purchases grew by 19% after the introduction of personalized offers and strategically timed prompts based on player behavior.
- Enhanced Player Engagement: The competitive aspects of the game were amplified, leading to higher player engagement, particularly in the first 10 minutes of play—crucial for retaining hyper-casual players.
By establishing a solid data foundation and continuously optimizing the game design through our Collect, Analyse, Implement approach, Swayven Digital set Tail Glider on a path to sustained success. Today, Froglet Games continues to thrive, with Tail Glider maintaining an active and loyal player base, powered by the insights and optimizations Swayven Digital delivered.
Thank you for taking the time to read our case study. If you’d like to learn more about our services and how we could assist you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
Stay tuned for more insights, and until next time, keep optimising.
