20 Apr 2025
Android

Realtime embeddable multiplayer games which can be embedded into your ...

...mobile app or web browser

Confidence
Engagement
Net use signal
Net buy signal

Idea type: Swamp

The market has seen several mediocre solutions that nobody loves. Unless you can offer something fundamentally different, you’ll likely struggle to stand out or make money.

Should You Build It?

Don't build it.


Your are here

You're entering a crowded space for embeddable multiplayer games, with 22 similar products already out there. This means there's demonstrated interest, but also significant competition. Engagement, measured by average comments, is low across these similar products, suggesting that while people might try these games, they don't necessarily stick around or actively participate in discussions. Based on the "Swamp" idea category, previous attempts haven't been overwhelmingly successful, which means you'll need a very different approach. Many of the existing implementations face technical issues like CORS errors, control problems, and loud noises, or basic feature gaps such as visible pricing. The existing solutions lack the polish for a front-page feature, and some have faced issues with offensive content and accessibility. All in all, you're in a space that needs refinement and significant differentiation.

Recommendations

  1. Start by deeply researching why existing embeddable multiplayer game solutions haven’t become widely adopted. Analyze their shortcomings in terms of user experience, technical implementation, and business model. For example, several similar products faced criticism for CORS errors, content blocking and high volume, so focus on solving these first.
  2. Instead of trying to build a general-purpose solution, identify a specific niche or community that is underserved by existing platforms. This could be a specific genre of game, a particular age group, or a platform (e.g., iMessage) with unique constraints. For example, TinyTable targets iMessage and FaceTIme, which is a good start.
  3. Consider building tools or services that enhance existing embeddable multiplayer game platforms, rather than trying to replace them. This could include analytics dashboards, moderation tools, or custom game engines. You could create plugins for existing game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine to simplify embedding multiplayer functionality.
  4. Explore adjacent problems that might be more promising. For instance, instead of focusing solely on real-time multiplayer, look into asynchronous multiplayer or tools that make it easier to create single-player embeddable games.
  5. Before investing significant resources, create a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) focusing on one key feature and test it thoroughly with your target audience. This will help you validate your assumptions and identify potential issues early on. Given issues with noise complaints in similar products, ensure audio levels are well-managed from the start.
  6. Develop a clear and transparent pricing model. One of the criticisms of similar products is the lack of a visible pricing page. Clearly outline the costs associated with your service, including any potential usage-based fees.
  7. Prioritize a polished user experience. Based on user feedback from similar products, address issues such as confusing controls, unclear rules, and accessibility problems on different devices. Ensure your game is playable and enjoyable across a range of platforms and browsers.
  8. Implement robust moderation and content filtering tools to prevent offensive content and ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all players. Several similar products faced issues with racial epithets, so be proactive in addressing these concerns.

Questions

  1. Given the existing technical challenges (CORS errors, control problems) faced by similar embeddable multiplayer games, what specific technologies or architectural decisions will you employ to ensure a seamless and reliable user experience across different browsers and platforms?
  2. Considering the low engagement levels observed in existing embeddable multiplayer games, how will you design your game to foster a sense of community and encourage players to return and actively participate?
  3. With the history of offensive content issues in similar products, what specific moderation strategies and tools will you implement to proactively prevent and address harmful behavior within your game environment?

Your are here

You're entering a crowded space for embeddable multiplayer games, with 22 similar products already out there. This means there's demonstrated interest, but also significant competition. Engagement, measured by average comments, is low across these similar products, suggesting that while people might try these games, they don't necessarily stick around or actively participate in discussions. Based on the "Swamp" idea category, previous attempts haven't been overwhelmingly successful, which means you'll need a very different approach. Many of the existing implementations face technical issues like CORS errors, control problems, and loud noises, or basic feature gaps such as visible pricing. The existing solutions lack the polish for a front-page feature, and some have faced issues with offensive content and accessibility. All in all, you're in a space that needs refinement and significant differentiation.

Recommendations

  1. Start by deeply researching why existing embeddable multiplayer game solutions haven’t become widely adopted. Analyze their shortcomings in terms of user experience, technical implementation, and business model. For example, several similar products faced criticism for CORS errors, content blocking and high volume, so focus on solving these first.
  2. Instead of trying to build a general-purpose solution, identify a specific niche or community that is underserved by existing platforms. This could be a specific genre of game, a particular age group, or a platform (e.g., iMessage) with unique constraints. For example, TinyTable targets iMessage and FaceTIme, which is a good start.
  3. Consider building tools or services that enhance existing embeddable multiplayer game platforms, rather than trying to replace them. This could include analytics dashboards, moderation tools, or custom game engines. You could create plugins for existing game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine to simplify embedding multiplayer functionality.
  4. Explore adjacent problems that might be more promising. For instance, instead of focusing solely on real-time multiplayer, look into asynchronous multiplayer or tools that make it easier to create single-player embeddable games.
  5. Before investing significant resources, create a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) focusing on one key feature and test it thoroughly with your target audience. This will help you validate your assumptions and identify potential issues early on. Given issues with noise complaints in similar products, ensure audio levels are well-managed from the start.
  6. Develop a clear and transparent pricing model. One of the criticisms of similar products is the lack of a visible pricing page. Clearly outline the costs associated with your service, including any potential usage-based fees.
  7. Prioritize a polished user experience. Based on user feedback from similar products, address issues such as confusing controls, unclear rules, and accessibility problems on different devices. Ensure your game is playable and enjoyable across a range of platforms and browsers.
  8. Implement robust moderation and content filtering tools to prevent offensive content and ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all players. Several similar products faced issues with racial epithets, so be proactive in addressing these concerns.

Questions

  1. Given the existing technical challenges (CORS errors, control problems) faced by similar embeddable multiplayer games, what specific technologies or architectural decisions will you employ to ensure a seamless and reliable user experience across different browsers and platforms?
  2. Considering the low engagement levels observed in existing embeddable multiplayer games, how will you design your game to foster a sense of community and encourage players to return and actively participate?
  3. With the history of offensive content issues in similar products, what specific moderation strategies and tools will you implement to proactively prevent and address harmful behavior within your game environment?

  • Confidence: High
    • Number of similar products: 22
  • Engagement: Low
    • Average number of comments: 1
  • Net use signal: 5.9%
    • Positive use signal: 8.3%
    • Negative use signal: 2.4%
  • Net buy signal: -2.4%
    • Positive buy signal: 0.0%
    • Negative buy signal: 2.4%

This chart summarizes all the similar products we found for your idea in a single plot.

The x-axis represents the overall feedback each product received. This is calculated from the net use and buy signals that were expressed in the comments. The maximum is +1, which means all comments (across all similar products) were positive, expressed a willingness to use & buy said product. The minimum is -1 and it means the exact opposite.

The y-axis captures the strength of the signal, i.e. how many people commented and how does this rank against other products in this category. The maximum is +1, which means these products were the most liked, upvoted and talked about launches recently. The minimum is 0, meaning zero engagement or feedback was received.

The sizes of the product dots are determined by the relevance to your idea, where 10 is the maximum.

Your idea is the big blueish dot, which should lie somewhere in the polygon defined by these products. It can be off-center because we use custom weighting to summarize these metrics.

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