5Guide 5 of 5

Analytics & Optimization

Using data to understand player behavior and optimize your game.

Data-driven decision making separates successful live service games from the rest. Analytics help you understand player behavior and optimize every aspect of your game.

Analytics Foundations

  • 1Track the right metrics for your game type
  • 2Build dashboards for different stakeholders
  • 3Use experimentation to validate changes
  • 4Act on insights, not just collect data
1

Essential Metrics

Engagement

DAU/MAU
Daily and Monthly Active Users
Session Length
Time spent per play session
Sessions/Day
Return frequency
Stickiness
DAU/MAU ratio

Retention

D1, D7, D30
Return rates at intervals
Churn Rate
Rate of player loss
Resurrection
Churned players who return
Cohort Curves
Retention by acquisition date

Monetization

Revenue
Total and by source
ARPDAU/ARPPU
Revenue per user metrics
Conversion
Free to paying rate
LTV
Lifetime value
2

Funnel Analysis

Understanding where players drop off is crucial for optimization:

FTUE Funnel
First-time user experience completion rates
Conversion Funnel
Path from install to first purchase
Feature Funnels
Adoption and engagement with specific features
3

A/B Testing

Test Everything
Experimentation is essential for optimization. Small changes can have big impacts.

Best Practices

  • Test one variable at a time
  • Ensure statistical significance
  • Consider segment effects
  • Document and learn from results

What to Test

  • Pricing and offers
  • Tutorial and onboarding
  • Game balance changes
  • UI and UX changes
4

Backend Requirements

Event Tracking
Capture player actions
Data Warehouse
Store and process data
Dashboards
Visualize key metrics
A/B Framework
Run experiments
Real-time Reports
Monitor live
BI Integration
Connect external tools

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