This blog post examines the trend of smartphone games shifting from competitive play to spectator-focused formats, and the underlying changes in modern lifestyles driving this shift.
With smartphones advancing at an astonishing pace, smartphone games are simultaneously diversifying in type and becoming more sophisticated in functionality. This progress extends beyond mere hardware improvements to significant advancements in software as well. As new technologies are applied, various game elements like graphics, sound, and artificial intelligence are being enhanced, providing users with a more immersive experience. For instance, high-resolution displays paired with high-fidelity sound systems heighten a game’s realism, while advancements in AI technology enrich both the difficulty and fun factors of gameplay.
Visiting smartphone app stores where games can be downloaded reveals top-grossing or popular game rankings. Interestingly, while not strictly regular, the types of games people prefer tend to change relatively cyclically. This is partly because game developers consistently incorporate new ideas and technologies to release games across diverse genres. Among these, RPGs (Role-Playing Games) have consistently ranked high in game charts even before mobile gaming’s rise. Just a few years ago, simple puzzle games like ‘Candy Crush Saga’ and ‘Anipang’ were popular. These puzzle games were loved by many due to their simple controls and short play sessions. However, as seen with top-grossing games like ‘Clash of Clans’ today, the trend is shifting towards games that don’t require frantic finger movements, but rather progress by simply watching the screen and making a few taps. When a game becomes ‘trendy,’ it means many people find it ‘fun.’ But what exactly is the fun in a game you just watch?
First, let’s examine two types of games. Puzzle games like the once-popular ‘Candy Crush Saga’ or ‘Anipang’ demand full concentration during each play session, fostering tension and competitive drive to beat other players. These games have the advantage of being easily accessible to anyone, thanks to simple rules and intuitive controls. On the other hand, games popular today, like ‘Clash of Clans’, require you to build your own village to win. To construct buildings in that village, you simply click once to start building a structure, and it completes after a set amount of time. The major difference between these two types of games lies precisely in ‘time’. Games like ‘Anipang’ can feel rushed, where you can’t reply to messages during a match, and incoming calls interrupt the game, forcing you to restart. However, in games like ‘Clash of Clans,’ you can click to build a structure, then check messages or handle other tasks while the required construction time passes, allowing the game to progress in the background.
Not only the gameplay style, but also the game’s purpose and the player’s motivation differ significantly. Puzzle games primarily aim to achieve the highest score within a short time, with this tension and sense of accomplishment becoming the main source of fun. In contrast, strategy games like ‘Clash of Clans’ find enjoyment in setting long-term goals and devising plans to achieve them. These games make players constantly think of new strategies, execute them, and feel a sense of accomplishment when seeing the results.
Games like ‘Candy Crush Saga’ or ‘Anipang’, popular a few years ago, foster a competitive dynamic with other users. By displaying stage-by-stage ranking lists, they immerse players in the game as they strive to achieve higher scores than other users. The popularity of this type of game likely stemmed from the competitive nature of seeing how much progress one could make in a short time. However, recently, the purpose of games has shifted away from simply beating other users towards emphasizing personal fulfillment, such as developing and decorating one’s own village.
Observing people using smartphones on the subway lately, they frequently glance at their phones but rarely for long. For instance, they might check Facebook, then switch to news for a moment, reply to a newly arrived message, play a game, return to Facebook, and repeat the cycle. Modern people simply don’t focus on just one thing. They are too busy with other tasks to hold onto one thing for long and compete. Playing a game like ‘Clash of Clans’ in this context allows them to occasionally zone out and watch passively as the game progresses without feeling like time is being stolen. Without much effort, the village’s completion level increases over time, making it easy to feel the sense of accomplishment that is the game’s purpose and appeal.
In other words, games like the once-popular ‘Anipang’ required intense immersion and competition within a set timeframe, making them popular precisely because their competitive structure was perceived as fun. However, the current trend leans toward games that can be enjoyed alongside one’s work, rather than relying on such competitive structures, which is why games like ‘Clash of Clans’ are trending now.
Modern society is structured such that without capital or connections, one must exert tremendous effort to obtain what they desire. Consequently, modern people live busy lives striving to achieve their goals, constantly thirsting for that sense of accomplishment. In this context, time-consuming games become worthwhile activities if they offer tangible rewards commensurate with the time invested, and if that investment doesn’t feel like time ‘stolen’ from other pursuits. Even if it’s virtual reality, isn’t playing a game that progresses by spending time quietly watching the screen and making a few taps appealing because it offers both the longed-for sense of accomplishment and fun?
Furthermore, another crucial element of smartphone games is social interaction. Many modern people experience reduced direct social interaction amid their busy daily lives. In this context, smartphone games provide experiences to connect with others, cooperate, or compete through virtual spaces. For example, ‘Clash of Clans’ allows players to team up with users worldwide via its clan system, fostering a sense of belonging and the joy of collaboration. These social elements significantly amplify the game’s enjoyment and act as a crucial factor in sustaining long-term immersion.
In conclusion, the evolution of smartphone games and the resulting shifts in trends are deeply connected not only to technological advancements but also to changes in modern lifestyles. Games have become more than mere entertainment; they serve as important tools for relieving daily stress, achieving a sense of accomplishment, and providing a platform for social interaction. Moving forward, smartphone games will continue to evolve into more diverse and complex forms alongside technological progress, and accordingly, people’s game preferences and trends will also keep changing.
