Complete framework for analyzing gaming market opportunities at the pre-seed stage. Validate player engagement, optimize monetization, and build successful gaming ventures.
Focus on player engagement metrics: Day 1/7/30 retention rates (target: greater than 40%/20%/10%), session length (5+ minutes for casual, 20+ for core), and organic growth indicators. Monetization comes later - prove players love playing first.
Mobile games: 6-18 months, PC/console games: 18-36 months. Start with minimum viable games (MVGs) for rapid testing, then iterate based on player feedback. Many successful studios launch multiple smaller games before their breakout hit.