Playing mobile games is a great way to pass the time or bond with friends. It can also improve your concentration, hand-eye coordination, and even your mood. However, out of all the benefits it delivers, there is one surprising gain that comes from mobile games: earning money.
This perk isn’t exclusive to developers either. Even the average player can make money by playing mobile games. Read on to learn more about how you can make a profit through this simple hobby.
1. Play-to-Earn Games
Play-to-earn games have become increasingly popular in the gaming industry. That’s due to how simple the mechanics are: play the game, win, and earn rewards that have real-world value.
These prizes come in various forms like crypto tokens, virtual land, weapons, and even non-fungible tokens or NFTs since many play-to-earn games are made with blockchain technology. Players can then transfer or sell these in-game assets in exchange for real money.
Some play-to-earn games require you to have a crypto wallet, while others may only need a digital wallet like PayPal. So, if you don’t want to bother with managing a bitcoin account or any other cryptocurrency, look for games that allow you to use mobile wallets instead.
However, it’s important to practice caution and do thorough research if you want to venture into this side of mobile gaming. Some programs pose as play-to-earn games but, in reality, are scams or tools that gather your private information.
2. Sell Game Accounts or Virtual Items
If you’re an avid player, you likely have a high-level mobile game account filled with various in-game items. Many of these things might be from your non-stop grinding and farming, while others are in-app purchases you made to upgrade your character or improve your gameplay.
These investments add monetary value to your mobile game accounts and the items in your virtual inventory — which you can get when you sell them. Believe it or not, some players are willing to pay good money for high-level game accounts or rare virtual items within a mobile game.
They do so to save themselves the effort of playing the entire thing to get to the level they want or access a rare item. So, if you have an old but high-level account with incredible loot that you don’t want to use anymore, consider selling it instead of just deleting it.
3. Join Esports Tournaments
You can also try your hand at competitive gaming or esports to earn money. A requirement for this is that you have to be exceptionally talented at the game. You compete in tournaments to win prizes or advance to bigger events where you can get more winnings.
Mobile games like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, PUBG Mobile, and League of Legends: Wild Rift hold esports tournaments for players around the world. Of course, the winning players will take home the prize money and are crowned as the best in their respective games.
One catch here is that you need to be part of a team, especially for PvP tournaments. That means you’ll have to either prove your gaming skills if you want to join a group or create your own to compete in these events.
4. Become a Mobile Game Tester
Another neat way to earn money through mobile games is by becoming a game tester. This job offers two perks: you’ll get paid and play a new game before it’s released to everyone else.
As a mobile game tester, your main responsibility is to check for technical errors such as bugs, glitches, inconsistencies, and control issues. You’ll also determine the overall user experience (is the concept clear and cohesive throughout the game? Are there boring parts that need improvement? Does it feel engaging?).
Aside from earning money, becoming a mobile game tester is also a great way to get into the industry as it gives you an insider’s view of what’s happening behind the scenes.
5. Develop a Mobile Game
If you have a knack for programming and a vision for a unique game, mobile game development might just be your ticket to earning hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. You can do so by adopting various monetization strategies such as running ads, offering in-app purchases, or charging players to download and install your mobile game.
Another way you can monetize your game is by partnering with brands that will pay you in exchange for advertising their products or services in your game. Licensing is also a viable strategy to earn money through a one-time payment or a revenue-sharing agreement.
Conclusion
The benefits of mobile gaming go beyond its entertainment aspect. Its popularity and the growing interest in the industry opened many doors of opportunities — which includes making a living out of a fun hobby.
Both players and developers have numerous opportunities to earn money in this industry, and this article discussed some of them above. From playing play-to-earn games and selling gaming accounts to becoming a game tester and developing your own game, there are many ways you can gain profit from mobile games.
