Hole It 3D is a hybrid casual Eat & Grow game by Supersonic from Unity, released in January 2025, and it has scaled to $60K+ in daily IAP revenue, according to AppMagic.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the design choices behind this game.
Proven Concept
The game builds on the proven gameplay loop popularized by Homa’s All in Hole. Players control a growing hole, swallowing everything in their path to become larger, creating a highly satisfying core loop. Each level presents players with a set of objectives that must be completed before the timer runs out, while features such as starting boostes, gameplay boosters, and streak rewards help players to overcome tougher situations.
Difficulty Curve
The game introduces challenge surprisingly early. While hard level labels help set player expectations, difficulty seems largely driven by factors such as objective counts, map area, item size, and the time limit. Meanwhile, item arrangement patterns, item colors, and visual contrast make objectives easy to identify, while the determinstic nature of levels encourages players to learn, retry and improve. To keep the experience fresh, obstacles such as bombs and level variations like star levels are also introduced. However, the game still doesn’t feature any meta progression or liveops events.
Hybrid Monetization
Both IAA and IAP monetization are used throughout the game. Interstitial ads are delayed until level 36 to ensure a smooth FTUE, while RV ads are primarily used for life refills and booster purchases. On the IAP side, the game features an in-game shop offering bundles of soft currency, boosters, lives, and ad removal. While boosters can be obtained through RV ads, players can also purchase them in bulk using soft currency, nudging them toward spending. Additionally, the fail offer is combined with a streak-loss mechanic that leverages loss aversion.
While Homa’s All in Hole continues to generate $250K+ in daily IAP revenue, Moon Active’s Hole Stars has also scaled to $100K+ per day. It will be interesting to see whether Hole It 3D can continue closing the gap and establish itself as another long-term success.
