Coin Sort is a hybridcasual sort puzzle game by Lion Studios, released in March 2023, and it has scaled to over $1.3M in IAP revenue in just the past month, according to AppMagic.
Let’s break down the design and monetization strategies that drive this success.
Intuitive Gameplay
The game features a simple yet engaging core mechanic where players sort similar types of coins into stacks and merge them to clear them from the screen. Visually distinct coins—marked not only by color but also by number—combined with brief onboarding make it easy for players to interact with the game. Combined with straightforward booster system, to keep the experience fresh, the game regularly introduces new elements like random color coins and hidden coins. Notably, the game skips a traditional main menu, dropping players directly into the action with autosave functionality, making it ideal for quick play sessions. Additionally, features such as puzzle calendars, daily rewards, and level races further boost engagement.
Progression Difficulty
While early levels are a breeze, the game gradually ramps up in difficulty. If players choose not to revive after getting stuck, the game resets progress to a previous checkpoint, adding an extra layer of challenge. This, combined with the randomized spawning of coins, introduces difficulty through unpredictability, keeping players more focused. Additionally, as players progress, unlocking additional deck slots becomes essential—but these are only made available at specific milestones, serving as both a progression hurdle and an economy sink.
Hybrid Monetization
The game strikes a smart balance between IAPs and IAAs, creating a well-rounded hybrid monetization. Banner ads remain consistently visible, while interstitials appear after level ends and idle intervals of around 50 seconds. RV ads offer players valuable incentives such as extra rewards, health refills, access to ended level races, and temporary deck slot unlocks. On the IAP side, items like boosters, revives, health refills and deck spaces are tied to soft currency, subtly nudging players towards making purchases. A particularly clever touch is how the game animates the shop after interstitials, teasing the ad removal offer in a smooth upsell moment. In addition to Ad removal options, in-game shop contains exclusive offers and the loss aversion bundles make IAPs more appealing to both casual spenders and engaged players.
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Original Post: Kavindu Priyanath-LinkedIn
