Why did the traveling frog disappear? ——Revealing the mystery of the rise and fall of phenomenal mobile games
The once popular global idle mobile game "Travel Frog" set off a "frog-raising craze" in 2018, but has gradually faded out of public view in recent years. This article will analyze the reasons why this game "disappeared" from three dimensions: data, user feedback and industry dynamics.
1. Comparison of popularity data: from peak to silence
| Time node | Baidu index peak | Weibo topic reading volume | App Store Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2018 | 1,200,000 | 1.5 billion | No. 1 on the free list |
| December 2020 | 85,000 | 230 million | Free list 500+ |
| May 2024 | 3,200 | 1.2 million | Not on the list |
2. Core reasons for user churn
1.Single gameplay and lack of iteration: The core mechanics of the game are only to collect clovers, prepare luggage, and wait for frogs to send back photos. The official has not released new maps or interactive gameplay for a long time.
2.Weak social attributes: Compared with the hit game "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" at the same time, it lacks real-time interaction between players, making it difficult to create sustained community popularity.
3.Cultural barriers emerge: After the novelty of Japanese shrines, lottery tickets and other elements in the game faded for Chinese players, they lacked a deeper emotional connection.
| User survey sample (N=1000) | Proportion |
|---|---|
| "I feel bored after playing for a month" | 67% |
| "I hope to add a frog cultivation system" | 52% |
| "No longer follow game updates" | 89% |
3. Changes in the industry environment
1.Hyper-casual game impact: After 2020, strong social and fast-paced games such as "Among Us" and "Sheep" will seize fragmented time.
2.Impact of version number policy: The operators in China did not obtain the version update number in time, resulting in the delay in launching the updated "Four Seasons Courtyard" and other functions in the international server.
3.IP development lags: Developer Hit-Point turned to the development of "Cat Collection 2" during the same period, missing the golden period of launching peripherals, animations and other derivative content.
4. Life cycle inspiration of phenomenal products
It can be seen from the case of "Traveling Frog" that it is difficult to maintain the vitality of a product simply relying on the "cute economy" and short-term topic popularity. Successful products in the current mobile game market often need to have:
- Continuous content update mechanism
- Players create an ecosystem together
- Cross-media storytelling capabilities
Although this "Buddha frog" has gradually faded out of mainstream view, its innovations in lightweight design and emotional interaction in mobile games still provide valuable experience to the industry. Perhaps after a major version update in the future, we can see it return with its luggage again.
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