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?

Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop

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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 the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!

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Please share feedback and comments - [email protected]

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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