Mobile F2P (Merge Genre)
Project Overview
“Cafe Rescue - Merge” is an engaging merge game where players renovate struggling restaurants, upgrade kitchens, and craft delicious dishes to draw in customers. Players help chef Georgie navigate a story full of surprises and interesting characters, as she works to transform cafes and outshine competitors. With each merge, players unlock new recipes, discover exotic meals, and bring life to each café’s décor. The game’s relaxing, endless merge gameplay and captivating narrative make it a standout experience in the merge genre.
Project Overview
“Cafe Rescue - Merge” is an engaging merge game where players renovate struggling restaurants, upgrade kitchens, and craft delicious dishes to draw in customers. Players help chef Georgie navigate a story full of surprises and interesting characters, as she works to transform cafes and outshine competitors. With each merge, players unlock new recipes, discover exotic meals, and bring life to each café’s décor. The game’s relaxing, endless merge gameplay and captivating narrative make it a standout experience in the merge genre.
The Problem
Our goal was to create successful Match-3 games, but despite efforts, they fell short of our benchmark for D7 retention. In 2022, the merge mechanic was gaining popularity, so we pivoted to develop a merge-based game with an appealing restaurant-building narrative meta, aiming for improved player engagement and retention.
The Problem
Our goal was to create successful Match-3 games, but despite efforts, they fell short of our benchmark for D7 retention. In 2022, the merge mechanic was gaining popularity, so we pivoted to develop a merge-based game with an appealing restaurant-building narrative meta, aiming for improved player engagement and retention.
The Solution
1. Integrated Narrative Motivation: The protagonist’s video series goal ties seamlessly into gameplay, giving players purpose and reinforcing the game’s core promise for better engagement and retention.
2. Cross-Merge Mechanic: Unique cross-merging (e.g., Bread + Salami = Sandwich) added variety to gameplay, boosting both session length and monetization through innovative combinations.
3. Content Gating for Retention: This controlled access to content, leaving players at a cliffhanger before each gate. Carefully timed gates control content consumption, creating anticipation and encouraging regular returns. It boosted D1-D7 retention by giving highly engaged players a reason to return.
4. Parallel Merge Area: Georgie’s Farm offers a secondary merge area to create farm ingredients, which can be combined on the core screen to fulfill VIP orders.
5. Contextual UX Triggers: Smart hints and contextual prompts guide players to tasks and core actions based on in-game needs like coin levels. These nudges improve player flow, reduce drop-offs.
The Solution
1. Integrated Narrative Motivation: The protagonist’s video series goal ties seamlessly into gameplay, giving players purpose and reinforcing the game’s core promise for better engagement and retention.
2. Cross-Merge Mechanic: Unique cross-merging (e.g., Bread + Salami = Sandwich) added variety to gameplay, boosting both session length and monetization through innovative combinations.
3. Content Gating for Retention: This controlled access to content, leaving players at a cliffhanger before each gate. Carefully timed gates control content consumption, creating anticipation and encouraging regular returns. It boosted D1-D7 retention by giving highly engaged players a reason to return.
4. Parallel Merge Area: Georgie’s Farm offers a secondary merge area to create farm ingredients, which can be combined on the core screen to fulfill VIP orders.
5. Contextual UX Triggers: Smart hints and contextual prompts guide players to tasks and core actions based on in-game needs like coin levels. These nudges improve player flow, reduce drop-offs.
The Result
Cafe Rescue quickly became a standout project, achieving D1 retention of 50% and D7 retention of 25%, with in-app purchase (IAP) conversion rates surpassing those of competitors. Co-published by Potato Play, it rose to be one of the top-performing games under U Games, showcasing exceptional engagement , retention and monetization.
However, despite its success, the game was ultimately sunset when U Games closed operations in May 2023 due to funding limitations.
The Result
Cafe Rescue quickly became a standout project, achieving D1 retention of 50% and D7 retention of 25%, with in-app purchase (IAP) conversion rates surpassing those of competitors. Co-published by Potato Play, it rose to be one of the top-performing games under U Games, showcasing exceptional engagement , retention and monetization.
However, despite its success, the game was ultimately sunset when U Games closed operations in May 2023 due to funding limitations.
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