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The Casual Gaming Insights Mobile Marketers Need to Know in 2024

By Liftoff·Jul 23, 2024·5 min read

Summary

The 2024 Casual Gaming Apps Report reveals significant shifts in user acquisition costs, with overall CPI doubling to $2.17. iOS costs surged to $4.83 CPI due to privacy changes, while Android remained low at $0.65. Regional analysis shows LATAM has the lowest CPI ($0.44) but lower D7 ROAS (4.6%) compared to NAMER (6%).

Emerging trends include rising genres like 3D Match and Mahjong Solitaire, innovative LiveOps events, and new monetization tactics like pick-one bundles and web stores that bypass platform fees.

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