Roskachestvo: All tested Match-3 genre games manipulate users
Recently, Roskachestvo analyzed Candy Crush Saga, Royal Match, Homescapes, Dwarves World, and 10 other popular mobile games in the Match-3 genre. Experts were interested in whether they contained manipulative mechanisms. As it turns out, they did.
Royal Match
Roskachestvo reported that such mechanisms were found in every game. The most were counted in Merge Dragons!, Homescapes, and Jewels Planet (15 each), and the least in Candy Crush Saga (10).
However, the organization noted that manipulative mechanisms vary in their level of impact. Some aggressively urge gamers to spend money, while others subtly create addiction to the games. For instance, loot boxes fall under the former, whereas daily rewards belong to the latter.
According to Roskachestvo, the most common types of manipulative mechanisms in Match-3 games are:
- using limitation systems, such as life systems;
- conducting time-limited events and distributing exclusive rewards that create a fear of missing out;
- social pressure to join teams;
- player ranking systems that foster feelings of competition and obligation;
- providing generous bonuses to new players to build dependency;
- using various types of in-game currencies and resources, making it difficult to assess the real value of items.
"A key finding was the artificial difficulty of levels: many are designed such that victory is within 1-2 moves, which can then be purchased," Roskachestvo noted.
Roskachestvo also pointed out that some game developers misuse misleading ads—advertising that does not match the main gameplay. Among them are the creators of Homescapes, Royal Match, and Lily’s Garden. Experts believe this is unfair to gamers and should be regulated.
This is Roskachestvo's second study on mobile games in recent months. Previously, the organization searched for (and found) manipulative mechanisms in titles without being genre-specific.