How Does Royal Match Make Money?

Royal Match is a free-to-play mobile puzzle game with a match-3 mechanic boasting 100M+ downloads on Android. Since it’s free, how does Royal Match make money? Plus, you might have seen its ads everywhere online which needs a hefty marketing budget, especially if they’re done by well-known personalities. Here’s what you need to know about its earning model.

How Does Royal Match Make Money?

Royal Match makes money in a few different ways:

In-game Purchases

Royal Match utilizes a freemium model, meaning the base game is free to play but makes money through optional in-app purchases (microtransactions) which can range from $0.99 – $99.99 per item.

This is where the main chunk of Royal Match’s monetization comes from. Players can buy virtual currency (“coins”) via the Shop to get various in-game benefits such as:

• Extra moves: If you run out of moves during a level, you can buy more to keep playing. This compels players who are addicted to the game to purchase it.
• Special items: These Special items that help you complete levels more easily can be bought through microtransactions.
• Life refills: The game limits the number of lives you have. Buying refills lets you keep playing without waiting.
• Limited-time offers: The game frequently features special deals on coins or other items, tempting players with a sense of urgency or FOMO (fear of missing out).

Royal Pass (subscription)

At level 37, players unlock access to a premium subscription option. This “Royal Pass” provides a tiered system of rewards over a month-long period, which encourages continued play. The game offers exclusive content for paying subscribers.

Events

Royal Match frequently runs in-game events that offer players a chance to earn special rewards. The game often subtly encourages players to make in-app purchases to mimic the benefits they’ve enjoyed during the event.

All in all, Royal Match strikes a balance between offering a free-to-play experience and using the right marketing tactics for players to spend money on additional features through various in-app purchase options. The game has made more than $1.1 billion in revenue which is a huge feat, making it the #1 top grossing puzzle on the Google Play and #3 Puzzle on the App Store.

Why is Royal Match Nothing like the Ads?

Mobile game ads are notoriously different from the actual product and this has been the case for a long time. While it can lead to early uninstalls after the user finds out that the game is nothing like the ad, many possibly stay back which is why such ads seem to work for developers. Because Royal Match was advertised so much, it has amassed 100M+ installs which is a huge feat.

Ads like the one for Royal Match are meant to be eye-catching and unique to grab your attention and take you to the download page on the store. So, you might see dramatic situations or hilarious reactions in the ad, however, the game itself could be simple and casual. It may even focus on a particular aspect of the game that more people might like and click on.

That was everything you need to know about how Royal Match makes money and why it’s advertised so much.