We go “Full Steam Ahead” with a special guest, Adam Telfer, unpacking how Steam hits influence mobile game development in 2025: from Dreamdale-ified Palworld clones to digging simulators, idle RPG mashups, and more.
The crew explores:
Why some Steam-inspired mobile games (like Repo Online) hit 10M+ downloads and $1.3M in ads
Why others (like Lilith's Palworld clone) flop despite a powerful IP remix
Which genres (like Plinko roguelites and digging sims) are best suited for mobile
The risks of literal copy-paste ports — and what actually works instead
The role of TikTok trends, Steam reviews, and organic play patterns in predicting success
Why execution, not inspiration, is the differentiator
If you're scouting Steam hits for mobile adaptation, this episode is your blueprint for what works and what crashes.
🚂 What happens when mobile devs copy Steam hits too literally?
And why do some weird first-person digging games make $1M, while others crash after launch?
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This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.
Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric
Special Guest: Adam Telfer
Youtube: https://youtu.be/wrbKxB97lJE
Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
04:01 Steam Games and Mobile Adaptations
08:46 Case Study: Power World and Dreamdale
11:45 Exploring Game Mechanics and User Experience
14:40 Potential Mobile Game Adaptations
17:40 Trends in Mobile Gaming and Copycat Games
20:57 Navigating Game Development Challenges
24:15 Analyzing Successful Game Mechanics
27:07 Exploring Innovative Game Concepts
30:20 Adapting Games for Mobile Platforms
33:49 Evaluating Game Trends and Market Dynamics
37:21 Understanding User Engagement and Monetization Strategies
43:13 Exploring Complex Gameplay Mechanics
44:58 The Future of Life Simulation Games
46:29 Innovations in Game Design and AI Integration
47:53 Speed and Physics in Gaming
49:09 The Evolution of Idle Games
55:32 The Rise of Unique Game Concepts
57:03 Advice for Aspiring Game Developers
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Matej Lancaric
User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant
https://lancaric.me
Felix Braberg
Ad monetization consultant
https://www.felixbraberg.com
Jakub Remiar
Game design consultant
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar
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Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me
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If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej Lancaric