Soft Landing to Conversion: Introducing Onboarding Best Practices Part 3

Onboarding is the phase where a player's attitude toward a game's monetization is largely set, and this final installment of a three-part series examines how top-grossing mobile games introduce new players to paying mechanics without making them feel tricked. Written by GameRefinery's Japan and China analysts in June 2022, it draws on qualitative examples from leading iOS and Android titles across Eastern and Western markets and multiple genres, following earlier parts on storytelling and retention.

The first tactic is introducing monetized items through free samples. Roblox hands out free accessories while displaying priced premium items in its shop. Tycoon games such as Family Island and Township offer a free speed-up or starter premium currency, and Match3 titles like Homescapes and Royal Match provide free first-time boosters. These samples create a contrast with later session restrictions and make premium cosmetics look more appealing next to free common ones.

The second tactic is new-player gachas. Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle offers a beginner-only Single-Summon guaranteeing one of three SSR characters for five Dragon Stones. Call of Duty: Mobile pairs a Lucky Board tutorial with a free pull, while PUBG Mobile's Rookie Roulette ties gacha currency to beginner achievements and daily tasks, linking monetization to engagement loops.

The third is new-player offers and starter packs, often time-limited. Examples include the Chinese MMORPG Westward Journey's eight-day daily offer system, Call of Duty: Mobile's COD Points and skin pack, Garena Free Fire's low-priced Newbie Bundles, Dokkan Battle's Welcome Packs (available for 100 hours), Coin Master's First Timer Pack (under 24 hours), and genre-tailored packs in Township and Homescapes. Finally, Japanese idle RPG Houchi Shoujo rewards the first real-money purchase itself with doubled currency, an exclusive character, and extra login rewards for two days, tying conversion to retention.

The authors conclude that these mechanics transfer across genres with adjustments, and that monetization, storytelling, and retention work best when tightly linked into one engaging first-time experience.