What's your opinion of "Freemium" Mobile Games?

blackcanary · Apr 4, 2015

Quite a significant chunk of mobile games are in the 'freemium' category and there are a lot of negative views of such games. However they're probably the games in the mobile market that currently make the most money, Clash of Clans and Candy Crush make their developers millions each year.

I've played and still play some Freemium games to this day, although I can say that I've never paid for any DLC or felt the need too. They can be rather scummy at times, asking you to beg your friends to play or requiring purchases to get very far.

Despite some bad experiences with freemium games, I don't personally think they're all bad. I'm quite enjoying The Simpsons: Tapped Out lately and I think it's a model which if done properly can work quite well.

I wouldn't really consider any of the freemium games I've come across to be much of a gaming experience, they're basically all time wasters and essentially none of them provide any sort of good gameplay although I suppose they don't necessarily have too. I would rather pay $5 on a good game however that I can play without ads or needing to make any additional purchases to complete it. Usually paid for games tend to provide a much better gaming experience overall but that's to be expect.

Still I think there's definitely a demand for such games and for something that's free how much can you really expect? Do you all play any such games and what do you think of them overall?

Squigly · Apr 5, 2015

I'd much rather pay money for a full game than play a freemium game, having to fork out money to unlock more content or to have more "energy" to progress faster. It's a silly gimmick that makes the game fun at the start but when you're forced to pay or to wait for a long time to make progress most people would just call it quits.

Michael · May 27, 2015

It annoys me when app developers basically make you pay for their games just to unlock some super move or some cheat. I find it to be annoying and most free games I have played aren't bad. They are quite entertaining and if there is a full one I'll buy it.

niightwind · Jul 4, 2015

I don't bother with any payed features on mobile games anymore. It just isn't worth it. I would rather wait out what time I need to unlock the next part, or keep playing over and over again until I beat it on my own without buying my way through. Pay-to-win in general really sucks, but most "freemium" mobile games are at least possible to get through without forking out any cash.

It is really annoying when you can't get to new levels or features without either paying or inviting friends, though. I got really annoyed with that in Candy Crush; I had been saving the free gems or whatever currency it was they use in that app for if I ever really get stuck in a level, but I didn't want to spam people with invitations to the game just so that I could unlock a few more levels, and had to waste them on that.

Overall though I'd much rather buy a full game app if it was something I really enjoyed. Much easier than getting a "free" game that tries to trap you into making a purchase.

Liselle · Dec 30, 2015

Freemium games probably generate a lot of revenue which is why they don't usually release a paid game. I would prefer a paid game so I can just not worry about buying upgrades in the game. A free game is nice but it is bound to make you stop playing at some point and offer you to buy something to continue or to make you one of the top players.

I've paid for some upgrades in a game when it was some "Starter Package" for $1. Needless to say, a few days later I got to the point where if I don't pay again I probably won't be able to progress in the game so I just uninstalled the game. Don't bother with paying for upgrades, refills and whatnot because it's not worth it. Whatever you're putting in, someone is going all out on purchases and that really takes away the experience.

DeFence · Jun 5, 2016

I've played (and paid for) my fair share of those.

It's totally understandable to have freemium games, or games with ads in them. Developers need to make a living too, and that's fine. However, they shouldn't shove the paid option in your face, because then what's the point of making the game free? Just make it paid, or include a demo version.

Games with obstructive ads are also annoying. Same as games that are advertised as "free", but prompt you to pay to continue. I don't mind supporting the devs if I like the game, but they shouldn't be misleading.

I think a good compromise is games that have a paid option where you can unlock the next level or get in-game currency or whatever by paying, but there's also an option for people to earn it by watching videos or ads. At least that's a viable option for those who can't pay anything. And for those who want the whole game free without paying or ads, well, there's no free lunch.

fcuco · Aug 6, 2016

blackcanary said:
Quite a significant chunk of mobile games are in the 'freemium' category and there are a lot of negative views of such games. However they're probably the games in the mobile market that currently make the most money, Clash of Clans and Candy Crush make their developers millions each year.

I've played and still play some Freemium games to this day, although I can say that I've never paid for any DLC or felt the need too. They can be rather scummy at times, asking you to beg your friends to play or requiring purchases to get very far.

Despite some bad experiences with freemium games, I don't personally think they're all bad. I'm quite enjoying The Simpsons: Tapped Out lately and I think it's a model which if done properly can work quite well.

I wouldn't really consider any of the freemium games I've come across to be much of a gaming experience, they're basically all time wasters and essentially none of them provide any sort of good gameplay although I suppose they don't necessarily have too. I would rather pay $5 on a good game however that I can play without ads or needing to make any additional purchases to complete it. Usually paid for games tend to provide a much better gaming experience overall but that's to be expect.

Still I think there's definitely a demand for such games and for something that's free how much can you really expect? Do you all play any such games and what do you think of them overall?

The whole freemium thing only is problematic when you can pay your way around it purchasing power ups that allow you to beat the game more easily, I can understand buying more lives, that makes sense, but once you add a way to basically cheat by buying stuff in game I lose all interest. Call me old school but I want to do this the "real" way.

I am not going to lie to you, I play a lot of Candy Crush, like, a lot, and I've doing it for several years now yet I have refused to buy any powerup no matter how frustrated I get with a level.

AnonLu · Aug 6, 2016

Freemium and mobile games really aren't worth my time. They don't provide adequate amounts of fun for me whatsoever. I don't have much of a problem with them, as they're free, though.

Pyrlia · Aug 8, 2016

fcuco said:
I am not going to lie to you, I play a lot of Candy Crush, like, a lot, and I've doing it for several years now yet I have refused to buy any powerup no matter how frustrated I get with a level.

I'm exactly the same way! I don't have any problem with freemium games, but that doesn't mean I want to cheat my way through them. I know people who have a philosophical problem with freemium games (since they're "tricking people" into paying for them), but I've never felt that way myself. Why shouldn't developers get paid for their hard work?

AnonLu · Aug 8, 2016

Pyrlia said:
I'm exactly the same way! I don't have any problem with freemium games, but that doesn't mean I want to cheat my way through them. I know people who have a philosophical problem with freemium games (since they're "tricking people" into paying for them), but I've never felt that way myself. Why shouldn't developers get paid for their hard work?

On the other hand, mobile game developers get paid through ads and such anyway. Not to mention, the mobile game market is like the darker realms of Steam. 98% of games are either rip offs of other popular games, or utter garbage. Mobile games aren't that difficult to develop.

Steamroller · Aug 9, 2016

Young mobile videogame developing Studios have to adopt a freemium scheme of business in order to please their stock market investors, a stock investor doesn't care for creative design or anything that we, the consumers, value, only wants a return of the investment even if the game is just a pile of turds shown in the screen.

fcuco · Aug 12, 2016

Pyrlia said:
I'm exactly the same way! I don't have any problem with freemium games, but that doesn't mean I want to cheat my way through them. I know people who have a philosophical problem with freemium games (since they're "tricking people" into paying for them), but I've never felt that way myself. Why shouldn't developers get paid for their hard work?

I only have a problem insofar as they create a game that basically deceits you into believing that it could be possible to advance on your own without having to buy any powerups. I am ok with other people buying them, I don't care about that I only want to challenge myself but if they create a game where the mechanics will basically prevent you from advancing unless you pay then this is no longer a game but a scam. Make them challenging but also make them possible to beat.

Avex · Nov 20, 2016

Honestly I have no issues with it. If the game is free, high quality and you're not forced to pay I don't see why the company isn't allowed to make some money from it.
Like you mentioned, Clash of Clans is along these lines. It's high quality. You can get gems from removing obstacles.
Yes those who buy gems make faster progress, but I had a near maxed out TH10 base before I quit and sold the account without spending a dime.

Andrei Birla Marian · May 18, 2017

I think it's a deception. It should be called "free to download / pay to play", something like that. Limiting your freedom to play a game automatically decreases its popularity, no matter how good it is. I strongly agree that developers need to be supported, but certainly not that way. It can create special content in the game that can only be accessed through a donation or other solutions already in the market.
Frankly, when I see "inapp purchases & contain adds", I am convinced that I DO NOT download that application / game.

overcast · Jun 15, 2017

If I like the game and If I have the money, then I don't mind playing the game and then in such case I'd shell out some money. But not a lot of those games are good enough. I have spent some money to buy game extras and the mods. But it all comes down to game genre. And what I can do with it so far.

arachnophobik · Jun 15, 2017

I'm two sided when it comes to freemium games, but that's mainly because it's free. And I feel like I don't have much to complain about because I pretty much get what I paid for... which is nothing. Besides, the company has to make money somehow, as long as they don't abuse that power then it's okay for me. If they abuse it to the point where it's ruining the economy and community, then I say they're just digging their own graves.

Okaviator · Jul 3, 2017

Honestly it really depends on what kind of freemium game it is. Games like World Of Tanks Blitz that have no timers to play battles is what makes the game special. However, games like Game Of War Fire Age are complete cash grabs that you should stay away from.

Sino989 · Jul 3, 2017

I am not a big fan of freemium games because like everyone pretty much said, a lot of the things you have to pay for to use which is dumb for just a mobile app that you're probably only going to play for a few weeks anyway. It just seems like a big waste of money to me.

WarVet · Jul 3, 2017

Honestly, most game developers out there are in it for the money. As long as the game is quality content and not "Pay to win" I don't see a problem with it. Personally, i spend my money with gaming unless I buy the media. That said a little marketing here and there can't hurt anyone.

OursIsTheFury · Jul 3, 2017

When you have to pay a game to even advance to higher levels to higher scores, there's no point in playing. For casuals, sure, but for someone who calls himself a gamer and has to pay money to get an advantage on a mobile game is just embarrassing and you're better off spending that money on a good PC or console game, since you'll have your money's worth on those instead of having to grind on mobile games then having to pay them money so you can get top scores.

What's your opinion of "Freemium" Mobile Games?

Active Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Founding Member

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member