One of the fundamental things in any game is mechanics. It is the game modules that are responsible for making the game interesting for users. The types of mechanics are responsible for the user’s control of the game, respectively, they are responsible for the first impression and feeling of the game.
Unfortunately, today it is quite difficult to create a game that is different from others, but with the help of various types of mechanics, developers are able to diversify the gameplay. Therefore, game mechanics may be combined in order to develop a unique game. After all, a successful hyper-casual game requires it to be unexpected and intriguing.
We need to keep in mind that hyper-casual games are developed for a wide range of players, so they need to be easy and fast to play. This is because hyper-casual games are often chosen as a way to distract from everyday activities and reduce time. Learn about the top 10 types of game mechanics if you are planning to release a real boom!
1. Timing Mechanics
Timing game mechanics are the most popular type of hyper-casual games. It is easy for people to control the game and achieve the goal. The sense of timing mechanics is based on timely tapping on the screen to perform a certain action. For instance, catching or hitting a ball with your hand. Timing hyper-casual games perfectly train attention and the ability to react quickly to any object that flies, crawls, or rides. Developers consider precision to be the most important feature of this game’s mechanics.
For developers, it is important to create a clean environment without any distracting elements and not to prevent the player from reaching the main goal. People choose hyper-casual games to relax and involve themselves in the game, but not for difficulties. It is better to provide a potential player with a clear goal and difficulty making a perfect shot.
2. Stacking Mechanics
Some people can name stacking hyper-casual game mechanics old-fashioned, but others consider it a real classic. This type of mechanics is a complicated version of timing, because every player’s tap affects the outcome of the game. Stacking mechanics differentiate from others with the presence of objects dropping from the sky.
An example of a hyper-casual game in stacking mechanics is Tetris. The player observes objects that fall from the sky, are stacked on top of each other, and the user can rotate them. The better you put a block on the previous object, the higher your chances to last longer and win.
3. Turning Mechanics
The hyper-casual games in turning mechanics require players to control the main object, or rather, control it left and right. The player shouldn’t keep a finger on the screen, thereby controlling every movement of the object. The player needs to swipe in the right direction when it is needed. Different visual effects can easily confuse the player in three-dimensional space, due to which he cannot concentrate on a particular subject.
By the way, all turning hyper-casual games are 3D, so many developers use different illusions for the best player experience, because it is easy to trick the human’s visual cortex. A good example of such a method is the Ponzo Illusion. Games with unexpected twists and visuals can easily trick the player into feeling bewildered. Turning games make people play again and again until they memorize every action and complete the level.
4. Puzzle Mechanics
Puzzle games differ from hyper-casual games with puzzle mechanics in the difficulty of gameplay. Hyper-casual puzzle games are simpler. Yes, the use of logic is necessary, but for the players, everything is much easier. Also, these games have no end. The player does not play for the time being, which is a classic for puzzles, but until the level is completed.
Puzzle hyper-casual games allow players to kill the time and enjoy straightforward gameplay. Moving different objects on the screen, players need to guess how to complete the level correctly. These games don’t have an end goal and can be played for hours if the player wants.
5. Swerving Mechanics
Swerving mechanics may look like turning at first glance. But they have a big difference. The swerving mechanics of hyper-casual games require you to constantly hold your finger on the screen and do not release it. You need to control the object, swipe left, right, and jump. For great dynamism, the developers come up with various obstacles to make it more interesting for the players to spend their time.
Swerving mechanics are often used in racing, driving, running, and jumping. In 3D games, obstacles can be unpredictable, and players often lose, but they remember the places of losses and play further, thereby passing the level. Swerving games give a lot of satisfaction to players and those who master it.
6. Merging Mechanics
Merging hyper-casual games are about combining objects of similar types, for instance, eggs, puppies, or dragons. Players enjoy the progress of the game as well as the achievement of their goals. There is no end goal in merging games, just unlocking all characters or objects. People are interested in what will happen next and they continue to merge objects, thereby killing time and relaxing.
Since hyper-casual games are designed for a wide range of players, games with merging mechanics are straightforward to play. There is no complicated story or task, and every person will understand such a game from the first opening. Simplicity, fun, and minimalism are the foundations of merging hyper-casual games. An example of successful merging hyper-casual games is Merge Dogs by Zepni Ltd.
7. Rising and Falling Mechanics
Rising and falling hyper-casual games are about interesting journeys of the objects for players. The game is not limited in time and with each level, it is more difficult to achieve the goal. The difficulty is that the players do not know what awaits them from above or below. The developers are introducing various obstacles that do not allow players to relax.
Helix Jump by Voodoo is a good example of a rising and falling game. The big ball can jump until the player has passed the entire level. Going down, the player can notice that the red surfaces that kill the ball are located at different levels and the player needs to be careful not to lose.
8. Color-matching Mechanics
Simple and minimalistic hyper-casual games with color-matching mechanics allow developers to influence the human mind by distinguishing different shades of colors. Games like these train attentiveness and provide the human brain with some kind of useful training. Objects can be of different shapes and appearances, but they are similar in color, and a person needs to reunite them together.
This is a fairly popular type of hyper-casual game mechanic that is effortless, quick, and easy to play. A popular example of a color-matching game would be a snake that approaches food and can only eat certain colors.
9. Direction Mechanics
In the direction type of hyper-casual games, the player is able to remove sand or other obstacles from the way to achieve the end goal. The goal can be to get to the water tap, open the hatch, and more. In games like this, people need to use logic and be careful to set the direction of the object correctly. This object can be a liquid, such as water or lava, balls, and much more. The developers pay a lot of attention to the physics of such a game in order to make it as realistic as possible, for instance, the movement of water on sand.
One of the most popular hyper-casual games based on direction mechanics is Where’s My Water? by Disney. With every level, the game is becoming more and more difficult and interesting. Usually, in games, we control the behavior of the main object or character, but in this case, we control the environment, and the system takes over everything connected with the object. As we mentioned above, the object can be water or balls.
10. Pushing Mechanics
The last type of hyper-casual mechanics in our list is pushing. Often these games are 3D, with a beautiful and minimalist design, as well as obstacles on the way. In our case, obstacles are objects that need to be thrown into the deep. For example, you are running in a hurry, and a crowd of people is running towards you, knocking you down.
A similar concept is found in the game Push Em All by Voodoo, where you use special equipment to push everyone in the way. Games like these positively affect the players, creating a sense of liberation from the unnecessary. Moreover, it is interesting and distracts from the daily routine.
The Bottom Line
It is quite difficult to differentiate your developed hyper-casual game from all others and become successful. Therefore, developers found out which types of mechanics are suitable for hyper-casual games and can be combined to create a unique application. By the way, our top 10 hyper casual game mechanics is compiled by developers of worldwide popularity. We hope you learned more about games today and you will use your new knowledge in near future. Wish you easy game development!
