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Video games going viral has become the goal for developers, particularly those that produce mobile games. International phenomena like Pokémon Go and Candy Crush represent the ultimate success for brands that want to reach millions of people with a single offering. In this post, there are some of the key factors that lead to an app going viral. The ideal scenario is to launch a new game or content and drive massive traffic to your app. If you have the right game plan, you can achieve great success in the game and as well as sustain a good relationship with the new users. 

The game plan might include a shrewd PR campaign, for instance. Evernote generated buzz by discussing its app with high-profile media outlets such as TechCrunch even when it was still in a closed beta period. The coverage sparked interest among tech-savvy readers, laying the foundation for a big launch. Instagram's founders drew on their Silicon Valley clout to make waves with their app's debut by letting bigwigs such as Twitter's Jack Dorsey have early access to the app, Instagram gained instant street cred and onboarded 300,000 users in its first three weeks. Instagram's meteoric rise source, of course, not every company has friends in high places or gets featured in TechCrunch.

What do people want from a viral game?

People like to feel good, and they like to share content that makes other people feel good. So keeping it light and uplifting significantly helps with going viral.

Valid launch date

A Tuesday launch, however, often proves to be the sweet spot. Not only are people craving a little novelty to shake up the workweek, but there are also several days left to drive increased engagement toward the weekend. By the time Friday rolls around, a well-marketed app can be a hot happy hour topic or a prime weekend activity, thus inspiring even more downloads.

Innovative ideas of game development

People have so many options for the video games they download, articles they read, and videos they watch, they will not waste time on something that doesn't immediately spark their interest. Using upbeat, specific, and engaging language are critical to enticing users to check out an app. A direct yet conversational tone also enhances usability. Any text involved is subtle and reflects the tone of the app, further enhancing the overall experience. Intuitiveness is everything. Games that are hard to use do not go viral. 

User feedback and continuous improvement

Early adopters of Flappy Bird and Farmville didn't obsess over those games because they were exceptionally challenging. They were fun, intuitive, and challenging enough to keep people engaged. There's no confusing interface or cumbersome onboarding process. The navigation is simple and straightforward, allowing users to become immersed in the experience right away. People deal with enough problems and obstacles in their everyday lives. 

They expect their games to be so intuitive, they barely need to think about what they're doing. Drawing on commonly used standards for menus, sign-ins, and functionality decreases the friction so people can immerse themselves in the app experience. Incentives drive social sharing.

Sharing is Caring

The key to developing a viral video game is making people want to share it. Part of the appeal of Pokémon Go or Candy Crush is that they enable users to play with their friends and family members and give them something to talk about. Burst campaigns, in which companies purchase a significant amount of advertising within short periods of time, are great ways to get people's attention. If the game or app is good enough, they'll become hooked and will share their experiences on social media. 

Games that inspire FOMO have a real competitive edge, which is why casual games, video streaming, and multi-functional messaging games have dominated in recent years. Integrating social sharing into the app not only makes it easy for users to post about it on Facebook or Twitter, but it also encourages them to seek out other enthusiasts through hashtags and social searches. All of this engagement promotes retention, which is necessary to sustain the app's popularity. Apart from mainstream channels you can also consider publishing your games on platforms like Poki, Crazy Games, which will attract more people hence increasing your user base.

Basicity for a Viral Games

Games go viral when brands master the perfect formula of relevance, tone, and execution. But they also have defining features that differentiate them not just from competitors, but from every other game on the market. With millions of pieces of content generated every second, in the form of articles, blog posts, Facebook posts, YouTube comments, and countless other ways of sharing and interacting, even really great companies can struggle to stand out. Those that rise above package a compelling message, a user-friendly product, and a killer marketing strategy, and that's what it takes to go viral. 

Now that you know the basic, got any ideas for your own viral model?