Ad Revenue: $43k–$55k/day | DAU: ~830K

Cookingdom serves up the classic time management formula with sleek design and rapid-fire pacing. Players must complete orders in under four minutes, encouraging repeat plays and minimizing burnout. The twist? Ads are built into natural pauses, often doubling as prep-time or level breaks.

But what really makes Cookingdom stand out is its ad strategy aligned with UX. Every rewarded ad actually feels like… well, a reward.

➡️ This is a masterclass in using revenue models tailored to player psychology rather than monetizing for the sake of it.

🧩 2. Mergesticker by Lion Studios

Ad Revenue: $18k/day | DAU: ~204K

Merge games are a dime a dozen — but Mergesticker stands out by reducing the friction between play and progress. Sticker collecting brings a tactile, nostalgic edge. Players are incentivized to watch ads to unlock sticker packs rather than speed up merges — a more emotionally satisfying hook.

➡️ This mirrors a monetization trend we saw emerging in the Ultimate Sorting Game Face-Off, where UX takes precedence over aggressive monetization.

The takeaway? Merge mechanics thrive when combined with emotionally charged rewards.

🐹 3. Hamster Escape by Sunday

Ad Revenue: $9k–$15k/day | DAU: ~257K

Think Super Mario meets cut-the-rope minimalism. Hamster Escape wins by doing one thing well — tight, physics-based puzzles — and keeping everything else light. Most players complete a level in under a minute, making them more tolerant of short, skippable ads between plays.

Crucially, Hamster Escape didn’t fall into the trap of overcomplicating its loop.

➡️ It’s a great case of avoiding the common mistakes that plague casual game monetization — like feature bloat, poor pacing, or intrusive ad placements.

👻 4. R.E.P.O Mobile by Sandswept Studios

Ad Revenue: $23k–$30k/day | DAU: ~546K

How do you turn horror into a mobile-friendly, ad-supported hit? Sandswept Studios found the formula with R.E.P.O Mobile — a co-op, ghost-hunting thriller that plays like Phasmophobia lite. Matches are short, stakes are high, and after every haunting run, a well-timed ad feels like a breather, not a chore.

➡️ But this only works because the game nails the First Time User Experience. Players get hooked within minutes, and the frictionless onboarding means they’re primed for monetization early.

🛋️ 5. Dreamy Room by ABI Game Studio

Ad Revenue: $72k/day | DAU: 1.1M

This game doesn’t just ride the interior design trend — it elevates it. Dreamy Room gamifies aesthetics with racing mechanics, where users decorate rooms against the clock. Visual gratification is instant, but to finish the best builds, players lean into rewarded ads or cosmetic upgrades.

➡️ It’s a blueprint for games that understand game economy balancing — using both soft and premium currencies to drive progression, without compromising experience.

🔍 6. Word Search Explorer by PlaySimple Games

Ad Revenue: ~$160k/day | DAU: 2.7M

Sometimes the best way forward is to go back. Word Search Explorer bets on familiarity, and wins. The game is clean, fast, and never tries to do too much. Every session ends with optional rewards that enhance, rather than interrupt, the loop.

And it’s not just nostalgia — it’s strategic positioning.

➡ ️ The team clearly knows their market and chose the perfect genre to execute in. Word games have a wide appeal, are light on device load, and ideal for low-cost ad acquisition.

Final Thought: Ads Aren’t Evil — When Done Right

These six titles prove a simple truth: ads don’t have to feel like punishment.
With thoughtful pacing, genre-aligned UX, and value-driven incentives, you can turn ad-supported games into high-performance monetization engines.

If you’re a developer building your next game, ask yourself:

• Is my FTUE strong enough to keep players past level 1?
• Are my ad placements aligned with my gameplay loop?
• Am I building retention before monetization?

If you’re not, you’re not just leaving money on the table — you’re driving your users away.