Nigeria, like the rest of the world, is showing dramatic growth in smartphone gaming. Playing games on an Apple or Android device is becoming the preferred modern-day entertainment option for all ages. The music and on-demand movie/television streaming services are popular alternatives, but the number of Nigerians shifting to play an assemblage of smartphone gaming releases is increasing rapidly.
The huge collection of games and game genres to choose from means there is a game for everyone. Titles such as Clash of Kings and Idle Heroes are popular in Nigeria and when compared to PC or console games, they are an immensely affordable option for gamers to purchase.
The aforementioned games are not basic either, smartphones are becoming more and more powerful and the games are developing with the hardware. Look how far we have come from the game Snake, which first emerged in 1997 on the Nokia 6110. With this ever-increasing prevalence of mobile gaming comes an opportunity for shrewd investment and these are some of the game development companies to watch in 2022.
SciPlay
Many people in Nigeria continue to enjoy playing the national lottery, but increasingly people are turning to their smartphones as a means of gambling. Online gambling is a mammoth industry with lots of operators. The market is so competitive that some of the best mobile casinos try to stand out by offering welcome bonuses and free spins, and there are sites like OnlineCasinosOnline.co.za that collate and review these offers for customers.
SciPlay is a developer and publisher of games for mobile and web platforms with a heavy focus on casino games. All of their games are offered and played on multiple platforms, including Apple, Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft. Their library includes many recognizable slot and table games and could represent a sound addition to your portfolio.
Roblox
Roblox’s gaming platform enables its users to construct and share uncomplicated block-based games without any coding mastery. Its architects are able to monetize the games created with an in-game currency called Robux. It is incredibly popular all over the world, including in Nigeria where the vast majority of Roblox users are now accessing the service via mobile devices.
They made headlines recently forcing the Roblox CEO to apologize after a three-day blackout, but that shouldn’t deter investment. Roblox Corporation is ascertaining that its block-based games aren’t a passing fad and that its stock deserves to be higher. It’s an option that could be volatile but is seemingly worthy of attention.
Scopely
This mobile-first video game developer and publisher indicated their successful business practices with its ability to acquire Marvel Strike Force. Scopely’s business model is entrenched in building long-term experiences that will engage users for years to come rather than producing fleeting hits. They also boast games that enable high levels of monetization per user with The Walking Dead: Road to Survival and Star Trek Fleet Command. Their games aren’t at the top of the charts in Nigeria, but their vision might provide a profitable future.
Activision Blizzard
Rather than focusing on the company, it might be prudent to simply invest in the developer that is making the best games. We know Call of Duty Mobile is popular in Nigeria because we have shown we have the best players at Call of Duty Mobile after Team Nigeria won the African All-Star Weekend. The stock value looks good at the time of writing and so the decision to simply invest in arguably the best and most consistent game developer could be prudent.
The recent disruptions to normal lives both here and around the world have shown us that video gaming is resilient and a consistently growing industry, therefore game development companies represent a profitable prospect for investment.
