Mobile gaming feature impact spotlight with Sensor Tower’s all-new Deep Tags

The right feature can make or break a game, and in today’s competitive landscape, understanding which ones truly move the needle is more critical than ever. For gaming brands and developers, understanding how features are performing on the market is key for roadmap prioritization. 

• What are our competitors' feature sets? 

• What percentage of games in our niche already have this feature? 

• How do games with this feature perform compared to games without this feature? 

These questions are pivotal to gauging just how crucial — and profitable — a feature might be to your game.

Our new Mobile Gaming Feature Impact report introduces Sensor Tower’s new Game IQ Deep Tags, and helping developers answer these pressing questions, and highlighting some of the unique insights that can be generated using this feature. 

Feature-Rich vs. Feature-Light: A Look Inside Top Puzzle Games

When you look at the match-swap category (one of the most popular genres in mobile gaming) it’s easy to assume that the biggest titles would also be the most feature-rich. But a quick comparison tells a different story. Heavyweights like Royal Match and Candy Crush Saga, which dominate in revenue and visibility, actually include far fewer gameplay features than Playrix’s Gardenscapes and Homescapes. Playrix loads up on elements like Voice Acting, Cinematic Cutscenes, and Rarity Systems—features completely absent from Royal Match and Candy Crush. 

The takeaway? While Gardenscapes and Homescapes have built loyal followings over the years, the raw success of simpler games like Royal Match proves that complex feature sets aren’t always necessary for winning in this genre. Sometimes, solid core mechanics and broad appeal and accessibility matter more than flashy extras.

IP Collabs: RPGs’ Winning Engagement Formula

RPGs are known for pulling players deep into long play sessions—and the data backs that up. Top titles like Fate/Grand Order, Monster Strike, and Genshin Impact all pack in robust engagement features: daily and recurring bonuses, task systems, and mini-events designed to keep players logging back in. One standout trend is the dominance of IP (intellectual property) collaborations. Games like Monster Strike regularly partner with outside franchises, while others like Fate/Grand Order are built on an IP from the start — in this case, a popular anime. 

Interestingly, even titles traditionally focused on their own worlds are branching out; Honkai: Star Rail, for example, recently launched a collaboration with Fate, blurring the lines between competing fanbases. Bottom line: whether it's original lore or outside collabs, RPGs are masters at using features to maximize player retention.

Dive even deeper with the Mobile Gaming Feature Impact report, where we dig into monetization and social tags, as well as answer questions about what exactly Game IQ Deep Tags are. Unlock hard hitting insights here.