Idle Outpost from Rockbite Games has become the most profitable project in its niche for many reasons — from catchy visuals with low CPI to attention to little details, like Easter eggs revealed after hours of gameplay.
While no single factor guarantees success, one detail stands out as a game changer in the genre: the introduction of parallel progressions with separate gameplay loops. These play a big part in creating additional engagement and long-term player retention.
Idle games are a long-lasting genre. While some genres have struggled with declining popularity or monetization challenges, the Idle genre has been growing steadily over the past several years, both in installs and monetization.
The ongoing popularity of Idle games shows the genre's constant evolution — improved visuals, more interesting progressions, and increasing content volume.
Fairly recently, another cutting-edge advancement happened: the emergence of parallel gameplay, connected to the core loop through balance and rewards, yet representing a new mechanic. This trend is appearing not only in Idle projects but also in other genres more and more.
In Idle Outpost, alongside the core idle mechanics, players can switch to a mode where they search for loot and fight zombies.
Core loop and parallel gameplay
This might sound like a regular mini-game, but parallel progression is more than just adding new gameplay. It must be intertwined with the core through rewards and balance.
Eventually, all players encounter obstacles in the main progression. At this point, they can switch to another gameplay mode to earn soft currency or find items that impact the core loop.
Firstly, we removed the equipment boxes from the core gameplay and placed them as loot in the parallel gameplay. In the core gameplay, we started giving out "shovels" for completing tasks — a type of energy that allows players to search for loot.
Item stats and properties depend on their type and rarity, adding an RPG component that enhances the main gameplay. This makes Idle games much deeper than they initially appear.
“We might have played a huge number of Idle and other mobile games, but we always wanted to bring that nostalgic PC experience from our childhood, before smartphones,” said Avetis Zakharyan and Gevorg Kopalyan, founders of Rockbite Games.
This includes the art style in Idle Outpost, which refers to old flash games, Easter eggs, which rarely are a thing in mobile games, and varied gameplay to constantly surprise players. The result is a project that, thanks to all its nuances, stands out in the genre. We tested the metrics at each stage, and it was a very scientific process.
During the development of Idle Outpost, the studio aimed to create something unique, different from what was already on the market.
“Players have already experienced what's on the market. Even if we hooked them with visuals and setting, they would eventually realize they had seen it all. We wanted something new. Many games lure users with one feature and then change completely (especially in the 4X genre). We thought, how can we ensure good onboarding and long-term retention while making everything blend smoothly?” Avetis Zakharyan and Gevorg Kopalyan explained.
After watching many post-apocalyptic movies featuring trading, crafting, battles, and love, it became clear that all these elements could be combined organically in the game.
At the beginning of the game, we tell the story of a survivor who wants to trade. He meets a girl, and they progress together, but she gets bitten by a zombie and gets infected. The main character cries, and the player understands that this game is not just about trading but also about battling zombies in parallel gameplay.
This variety keeps players engaged much longer. It all combines to create a unique gameplay experience with huge potential for scalability.
To sum it all up, the genre is undergoing a new stage of evolution and remains a good niche for developers. However, it requires extensive expertise and meticulous polishing.
