The game isn't reaching the top of Yandex Games — where players are lost
The game is ready, uploaded to the platform — but installs are low, players leave after the first few minutes, and revenue doesn't cover the investment.
A familiar story: most often the problem isn't the idea itself, but that the game isn't "tailored" to the rules and audience of Yandex Games.
The platform lives by its own laws: here the first screen decides everything, along with loading speed, clarity of mechanics without a tutorial, and how quickly a newcomer gets their first reward.
Promoting a game within the platform is a separate job, not a one-time build upload. The algorithms show the game more readily the better it retains players: if a person comes back on the second and third day, the platform itself starts feeding traffic. If they leave after a minute — no external campaigns will save it, the investment simply burns up.
Player retention and game monetization are directly connected. When progress is tangible, there are daily tasks and a clear goal, the player stays longer — and then ads and in-app purchases work without annoyance rather than driving people away.
We've seen dozens of projects where changing the first minutes and the reward logic multiplied return rates — without reworking the game itself.
We handle this task end to end: we look at exactly where the audience is lost on Yandex Games, rebuild the funnel from first launch to repeat visits, and bring the game to a state where the platform itself brings in new players.
We work on a professional stack for browser games — the client gets a stable result on any device, not "it works on my computer."
Next — a short breakdown of your game and a plan: what's stopping it from growing into the top and where to start so the investment begins to pay off.
What the client gets from a game for Yandex Games
A game for Yandex Games is not "just another channel" — it is a ready-made audience that has already come to play. The platform brings in visitors itself, and your job is to make sure they stay, come back, and generate revenue. For the client, this means reach without the cost of acquiring each player individually.
The main value lies in retention. If a game hooks players from the first minutes and gives them a clear goal, the player comes back on their own — not because you paid for another impression.
The longer a person stays in the game, the more ad impressions and in-app purchases they generate — game revenue grows alongside engagement, not in spite of it.
A separate benefit is brand awareness. The game format works more gently than a banner: characters, style, and the platform's name stay in memory, and the player voluntarily spends minutes with the brand, not seconds. Such contact is memorable and carries over to your other products.
We design the game specifically for the platform's rules and its audience: we think through the first screen, the return loop, and revenue points. You get a working product, not a demo — with clear retention mechanics and built-in monetization.
Game Development Formats Tailored to the Client's Task
The game format determines not only the budget and timeline, but also which task it will accomplish: attract a new audience, retain the existing one, or strengthen the brand. Below are the four scenarios clients most often come to us with.
For each, we select the mechanics, pacing, and depth of progression so that the player returns rather than playing through just once.
| Format | For whom | What it gives the client |
|---|---|---|
| Simple arcade | Quick launch, demand validation | The game is ready in a tight timeframe, understandable from the first seconds, easy to promote |
| Casual game with progression | Retention and repeat visits | The player returns for new levels, session time and the number of daily visits grow |
| Multiplayer | Competitive excitement, virality | Players bring friends to play together — reach grows without extra ad spend |
| Branded game | Awareness and loyalty | Brand characters and style are built into the mechanics, the player remembers the company through experience, not through a banner |
How to choose a format for your task
If the goal is to quickly test audience interest, we start with an arcade: a short loop, minimal mechanics, a clear entry point. When retention matters, we add progression and rewards — the player sees a reason to come back tomorrow.
For competitive projects, we build multiplayer: live opponents hold attention longer than a single-player game and invite friends on their own.
A branded game is a separate story: it works on awareness, so we select mechanics that reinforce the company's image rather than hinder it.
We launch projects on Yandex Games and other platforms — the game is immediately available to the audience without installation. We choose the format at the start together with you: we'll discuss the task and come back with an estimate and a plan.
How a project runs: from brief to launch
The process is structured so that you can see the project moving and influence the result at every step, rather than waiting blindly for the finish. Below are the stages of game development for Yandex Games: from the first conversation to launch and post-release support.
- Brief and goals. We discuss the task: who the game is for, what genre it is, and what we consider success — player retention, reach, repeat visits. We lock in expectations for timelines and scope.
- Plan and estimate. We come back with an assessment, a breakdown of work, and a schedule. You know what you will get and when, before development starts.
- Concept approval. We show the game scenario and key mechanics. Edits at this step are the cheapest — we change things on paper, not in finished code.
- Implementation. We build the game in iterations and show intermediate versions. You test it yourself and give feedback along the way, not at the end.
- Game testing. We check how it works on different devices and browsers, and fix balance and minor issues. Separately, we prepare a build that meets the platform's requirements.
- Game launch. We publish on Yandex Games, check how moderation goes, and monitor the first metrics.
- Support. After release, we update content, fix any issues found, and help with seasonal promotions.
What you get at every step
A clear plan instead of a "black box": you always know the status, what is done, and what comes next. Approval is built into the process, so the result matches expectations instead of being discovered after the fact.
Why it's faster this way
Early edits and intermediate demos save time on rework. The game reaches launch assembled and tested — with no surprises during platform moderation.
What is included in the delivery
You receive not a set of files, but a working product ready for publication on the platform. Below is the package as seen by the client: exactly what will be in your hands and what task each part addresses.
- A finished game — a built and tested project that runs in the browser on desktop and mobile devices without installation. You immediately see the result, not intermediate drafts.
- Platform integration — connection to Yandex Games: accounts, ad units, progress saving, leaderboards, and achievements. The player comes in and plays, rather than figuring out settings.
- Analytics — clear reports on retention, ad revenue, and player behavior. You can see which levels keep the audience and which make them leave — and what to change first.
- Training for your team — we hand over access, show how to update content, change settings, and read reports. From then on, you manage the game yourselves, without us.
- Warranty support — an agreed period of free fixes on our side: we correct errors and help with changes on the platform. You are not left alone after launch.
- Documentation — a short project description and update instructions. If the contractor changes or a new employee joins, they will quickly get up to speed.
- Rights to the game — all source materials and rights remain with you. You own the product and dispose of it at your discretion.
Such a package addresses the client's main risk: the game does not "stall" after handover but continues to bring in audience and revenue. Let's discuss the task — we will come back with an estimate and a delivery plan for your platform.
Case study: how the client's game reached the top of Yandex Games
The client came with a ready-made puzzle idea, but without an understanding of how the platform's audience would receive it.
We built a playable prototype, tested the mechanic on a focus group, and only after that launched the project into development — that way the client saw players' reaction before investing in the full version.
What the metrics showed
A month after publication, the game consistently held day-one retention above the genre average, and the share of players returning on day three nearly doubled compared to the first build.
Revenue per active player came out steady — without sharp drops after the first sessions, which for the platform Yandex Games means stable impressions and a place in recommendations.
We didn't guess, we looked at the numbers: where players leave, at which level they quit, what makes them come back. Every tweak was tested on a real audience — that's why the growth in retention and reach was predictable, not "hit or miss."
Why the client came back
After launch, we continued to run the project: added levels, monitored metrics, and adjusted the balance in time so the game wouldn't lose its position.
The client got not just a finished game, but a working asset that generates revenue and doesn't require their constant involvement.
Six months later, they came back with a new idea — and we again went the path from prototype to release. A repeat order says better than any words that the result turned out to be exactly what they were after.
How to choose the right format for the task?
Choosing a format starts not with mechanics, but with the question "what should the game bring to the business." If the goal is reach and awareness, the logic is one thing: a simple game, understandable in 10 seconds, with a short session that is easy to share.
If the goal is revenue and retention, the format is different: progression, daily tasks, reasons to come back. The same budget produces different results depending on what you put first.
This is especially noticeable for the Yandex Games platform. The audience comes for quick entertainment and is not ready to figure out complex rules — the format where the first result is visible in the first minute wins.
That is why we first fix the goal, and then select the genre, depth, and pace of the game: arcade, puzzle, runner, or something more story-driven.
Then the combination of goal and reach comes into play. A branded game lives on virality and mentions, while a revenue-driven game lives on repeat visits and internal economy.
You can mix these tasks in one project, but there must be one priority, otherwise the product turns out to be "neither fish nor fowl" and does not win in either direction.
We help you go through this choice before development starts: we analyze the task, show which format will deliver the needed reach or revenue, and only then begin implementation.
That way you do not pay for features that do not serve your goal, and instead get a game that solves a specific business task.
Common customer concerns
Customer concerns are usually the same — not about technology, but about risks: "what if the game breaks after launch," "who will update it," "who owns the rights," "will it handle audience growth." Below are direct answers to each of these fears, without generic words.
What happens if the game breaks or the platform updates its requirements?
We don't abandon the project after delivery. At launch, we fix a warranty period during which we fix bugs at our own expense — without extra charges or negotiations.
After that, we work on support: we monitor platform changes and adapt the game in time so it doesn't "fall off" due to new moderation rules or platform updates.
How are updates and new levels released?
The game is designed so it can be developed: adding levels, events, rewards, seasonal content. We roll out updates in packages — you see in advance what will be included in the release and when it will appear for players.
This helps maintain audience interest and bring people back to the game, rather than launching it once and forgetting about it.
Who owns the rights to the game and the source code?
The rights to the game, graphics, code and all materials fully transfer to you under the contract. We don't keep any hidden licenses and don't tie you to our team: if you wish, you can develop the project on your own or with another contractor.
Will the game handle audience growth?
Yes. We build in headroom for scaling in advance: the game works stably both with a modest start and with a sharp influx of players after being featured in collections.
If the audience grows many times over, the project won't have to be rewritten from scratch — the architecture is already ready for the load.
If there are questions that aren't on the list, ask them directly. Describe the task, and we'll come back with an estimate, a plan, and an honest answer about what's really achievable in your case.
Let's discuss your game and come back with a plan
To order a game, you don't need to prepare a hundred-page technical specification — it's enough to describe the idea, the audience, and how you see monetization.
We'll ask clarifying questions, dig into the mechanics, and come back with an estimate and a development plan where the stages, timelines, and team composition are clear.
After the discussion, you get:
- Development plan — stages from prototype to release with clear checkpoints, so you can see progress instead of waiting for the finish line blindly.
- Estimate of timelines and scope of work — realistic, no "we'll figure it out later": how long each stage will take and what will be required from you.
- Team composition — who exactly is running the project: game designer, developers, artist, QA tester. You understand what each person is responsible for.
- Mechanics for Yandex Games — how the game will retain the player from the first seconds and fit the platform's requirements.
- Monetization plan — ads, in-game purchases, or a combination of both: we'll pick what suits your genre and audience.
- Post-release support — updates, balance tweaks, and responding to player feedback, not "shipped and forgotten."
We work remotely and take on the entire cycle: from idea to publication and support. Behind us are dozens of launched projects, and most clients come back with new games or expansions to ones already released.
Describe your task — we'll come back with an estimate, a plan, and a team for your project.