Developing An Addictive & Immersive Android Gaming App

Any enterprise mobile application development company can tell you that two of the top priorities at any given moment are always A) trying to retain as many users as possible, and B) trying to increase session times as high as they can go. These two goals are key not only to creating a better user experience but to improving average revenue figures across the board.

But at the same time, both of these goals are often an uphill battle, to say the least. Not only do most people delete an app within the first three days of downloading it in the first place, but the average user also looks at their smartphone hundreds of times a day – meaning that you’re competing for their attention with a practically limitless number of sources.

This is why, as a mobile app development company, you shouldn’t just be trying to develop any old Android gaming app. You need to develop the most addictive AND immersive app possible. Luckily, this isn’t necessarily going to be as difficult as you might think it is. You just need to keep a few key things in mind.

KISS, or: “Keep it Simple, Stupid”

By far, the most important thing you can do when developing an addictive and immersive Android gaming app involves keeping everything as simple as possible when designing the user interface.

Don’t try to overwhelm your users with a plethora of different menu options or an interface that is difficult and confusing to use. Every decision you make should be simple enough for a nine-year-old to figure out – no exceptions.

Doing this means that interacting with your app will require far less work, which will make it far more FUN to actually use. This can go a long way towards increasing user adoption AND longevity across the board.

The Art of Multitasking: Putting the Power in the Hands of Your Users

Another critical thing to keep in mind when developing your mobile app is the idea that people aren’t necessarily going to be giving your Android game their full, undivided attention. Many people play games as a distraction – or they might engage with your app while they’re on the subway or are engaged in some other type of activity.

Because of that, you need to make sure that your app doesn’t require any more of their attention than absolutely necessary. If it’s too slow to respond to their commands, for example, they’re much more likely to abandon it for some type of alternative.

Any delay – even mere seconds – can get in the way of the reason why someone downloaded your app in the first place. People WANT to multitask while using your app – so you need to let them. Go above and beyond to make sure that your app is not only polished, but that also has a bug-free interface. It should deliver the maximum amount of value in the shortest amount of time for the absolute best results.

The Illusion of Control: Using the Freedom of Choice to Your Advantage

According to a wide range of different studies, people are at their happiest when they feel like they’re in complete control of a situation. This is true in terms of our personal lives, but it’s especially true in terms of what we choose to give our attention to.

Because of that, your Android gaming app needs to offer A) as much control as possible, while B) the freedom to choose. This is a large part of the reason why “sandbox” games are so popular, and the “Grand Theft Auto” series, in particular, is an excellent example of that.

One of the ways to use this to your advantage is through a concept called loss aversion, which essentially takes away control and encourages users to try to win it back. If you can successfully create this cycle, you’ll not only have an immersive Android gaming app – you’ll have one that your users won’t be able to keep themselves from interacting with.

In the End

Overall, try not to overdo things in terms of innovation and the application of changes when you’re developing an app of your own or if you’re working with an Android app development services partner. Again, you’re not trying to overwhelm your users. Doing this can often lead to frustration, which makes it far more likely that they’ll delete your app without ever giving it a fair chance.

Instead, try to keep things in line with the expectations that people already have and the factors that they’ve already grown accustomed to. Once you release the initial version of your Android gaming app and people start to respond positively to it, don’t come out with a totally new and drastically different user interface just because you CAN.

People don’t like change, and they’re not likely to respond positively to it. If a user starts up your gaming app only to find an unfamiliar interface, the odds are high that they’re going to get confused. That freedom of choice will be gone, and they’ll assume it isn’t coming back again – which is only going to drive them right into the arms of one of your competitors.

Instead, keep it simple. Keep it safe. Keep it familiar. Don’t be afraid to push boundaries in terms of design and the user experience, but then again – don’t push things too far.

Provided that you’re able to walk that delicate line between what you were trying to do and what your users actually WANTED you to do, qualities like the addictive and immersive nature of your app aren’t things you’ll have to worry about any longer. At that point, they will have more or less taken care of themselves.

If you’d like to find out more information about how to develop an addictive and immersive Android gaming app, or if you just have any additional questions that you’d like to discuss with someone in a bit more detail, please don’t delay – contact us today.