Spot Top Games' David Guo: Evony Still Reigns as the 'King' and Into the Casual Game Battlefield!

Top Games, Inc., the creators of the popular mobile game Evony: The King’s Return, has reached an impressive milestone with over 230 million downloads. The game is a classic real-time strategy (RTS) title that blends strong social elements. According to David Guo, the co-founder and CEO of Top Games Inc., mobile gaming plays a pivotal role in everything the company does. Evony: TKR is a free-to-play game, where players can enjoy the game for free, but can choose to speed up progress by making in-game purchases. This monetization strategy has proven successful. In 2024, Evony generated $299,701,595 in revenue. Furthermore, in 2023, Evony ranked #1 with 10.1% of total consumer spend in the "Top 20 Global Game Subgenres by Consumer Spend in 2023," powered by data.ai. This showcases the team’s exceptional balance between in-app purchases and gameplay mechanics.

Casual Games Have Spotted the Attention of Many Developers

Currently, many developers are focusing their efforts on the casual gaming sector. Casual games are often designed to be simple, requiring no complex controls or steep learning curves. They primarily aim to pass the time and enhance user engagement. These games come in various themes, from classic match-3 puzzles to action-packed endless runners. Furthermore, more and more casual games are diversifying their in-game mechanics, blending different elements. For example, in 2024, Top Games launched Aquarium Crush, a casual match-3 game that integrates puzzle solving, decoration, and social interaction. The game is continuously updated with new features and content, keeping players engaged.

Hard to Launch New Games, So Just Buy Them

However, the gaming industry faces several challenges. These include the homogenization of game creation and marketing strategies, rising development costs, and the ongoing trend of major companies acquiring independent studios. Some companies within the gaming industry have adopted the approach that launching new games is increasingly difficult. As a result, they have shifted to a mergers and acquisitions (M&A) strategy, where they simply buy a new game each time someone invents one. According to disclosed data, new game releases in 2024 are notably fewer than in previous years. This indicates that many studios are finding it more challenging to develop original, engaging games that enhance the player experience.

In contrast to the above, David Guo, the CEO of Top Games, shared in an interview with TechBullion after receiving the NYX Game Award in 2022 that Top Games focuses on providing top-tier player experiences and services. “We design games from the player’s perspective. For gamers, a game is not just a hobby or entertainment, but a way of life. We aim to create the best gaming experience possible and cultivate long-lasting gaming communities that would continually enhance that experience.”

Looking at Top Games' performance in 2024, it is clear that the company has remained committed to this mission. The Evony series continues to evolve, offering new features and expanding gameplay from a player-centric perspective. In addition to their flagship game, the team is now exploring various types of games, including match-3 and action-based casual games, striving to create more entertaining, high-quality mobile games.

"Swimming against the current" has become a core standard for the entire team. While developers face many challenges and obstacles, finding a unique development style suited to the team’s strengths and focusing on the projects at hand remains crucial in today’s competitive environment. Avoiding unnecessary hype and maintaining a focus on original, experience-driven design is not only vital for the company but also for the industry at large. From the player's perspective, more developers are respecting originality, concentrating on refining the games, and enhancing the overall player experience. This is a clear indication of their commitment to creating games that truly serve the player.