You can use your smartphone video gameplay for money, but you can’t make much. Therefore, their promise is far from their delivery. However, that’s not to say like a slot machine, it’s without its rewards.
These companies do pay out as verifiable sources of money, well, gift cards. So, if pay-for-play apps aren’t scams, should you play video games on your smartphone for money? Let’s look at that possibility below.
Can this gig be part of the intergenerational wealth system? Another great question.
Here are some ideas about smartphone play for money you should consider.
Pros for Smartphone Video Gameplay for Money
Truthfully, there are quite a few pro-arguments that support smartphone video gameplay.
Watch out for the pennies!
- Future games
- Pay-for-play better than alternative
- Waiting room entertainment
- Stress escapism
- Varied rewards
Smartphone Game Improvement for Cash
The claim is simple: you play the games to give the developers data so that they can build a better game. But the problem is that’s not what happens. Then, as a result, what happens is you’re put in a space where you’re a potential client for a per-click ad.
So, your pay is not for game improvement, it’s for game entrapment. You must endure the ads to play the games. But the ads test to see what ad version, A or B gets the most clicks.
Want to game test? Try Playtestcloudgames.
The Better Alternative
Pay-for-play is better than play without pay.
Am I right?
Of all things, the problem lies in your opportunity cost. Your time is valuable, and you’ve sunk it into a game that pays you pennies in return for hours .You can use the same time to better yourself. Again, you’ve given marketers your help, not game designers.
Hurray. The Waiting Room
To be clear, this app fits your lifestyle while you wait in doctor offices, car repair shops, or at the kids’ soccer practice. Pennies an hour is better than nothing per hour. You’re limited to devote little time for self-help in these areas full of distractions.
Consequently, the least app payout is a $5 gift card.
So, you must play for a while before you get any triple cherry combos.
Lower Stress as Smartphone Gameplay Makes Money
Above all, smartphone video gameplay is a convenient way to lower stress levels. I used to wind down with video games as my bedfellow. Still, even with the blue light filter, I found it harder to sleep.
My wife enjoys smartphone video gameplay as I weave through traffic. After all, this gameplay is her preferred form of escape.
Another example, Yahtzee helped me calm down while I was in recovery mode for a vitamin that went down the wrong pipe. So true, it was concentration on the game that kept me from overreaction, but also embarrassment.
When you can’t find the restroom, there’s no time for relief. Time to play a game and keep your mind off of it.
Without a doubt, these smartphone video games have an unparalleled power of distraction, even for pennies.
Reward Variety
Of all of them, a variety of rewards is the key advantage to smartphone video gameplay for profit. To put it another way, reward flexibility is their gospel. Many types of businesses offer gift cards on these platforms. But to get rid of your doubt, peruse their on-screen gift card carousel.
However before you drink the sunshine punch, five-dollar credits don’t go that far in many of these retailers’ shops and websites. Never bought anything for $5 in a Nike shop.
You?
Cons of Smartphone Video Gameplay for Money
There are more reasons you should rethink smartphone video gameplay for money.
- Cost of time
- Consistency costs
- Price of entertainment
- Other options pay more
- Slow reimbursement
- Loss of phone memory
- Hassle of Email, Sales, Market Research
- Lack of Accountability
Inconsistent Rewards for Smartphone Gameplay
Video games are set up on gambler-like reward schedules. At first, pay-offs are often and in ridiculous quantity. Yet as the game progresses, power-ups and incentives get harder and harder to earn.
Money for Gems
Many apps reward you for consistency.
If you miss a day, the platform asks for your coins in exchange for not breaking your attendance streak. Often, we see these pay-for-play benefits as a trend within all these apps.
Still, it makes no sense to me why anyone would pay for continuous streaks.
Time and Energy Costs
There’s a price for entertainment of any kind. Smartphone video gaming is no exception. Thus, prizes for your time and energy spent on games come in exchange for consistent and high-level play.
It’s true, to surpass levels fast, zaps the joy that comes from video gameplay, and it soon feels like work.
Psychological Reimbursement Games
When the app starts to pay, the psychology behind your effort unveils. The app shows progress toward a $25 goal compared to a $10 gift card you’ve earned.
The inner voice says to you, “You’re over halfway to your next reward. You can cash out at the next level,” but the next level is many hours and pennies away from reimbursement.
This is how they get you to continue play without pay. Dangle the double your money carrot in front of you, and you work.
Better Choices than Smartphone Gameplay for Money
I have to say it. If you want to earn money with your smartphone, there are better options out there.
For instance, apps pay you to shop, and this nets better potential for perks. But gaming apps seldom pay cash. Rather, they trade information for gems and gift cards.
Kaching! Kaching!
What a deal for marketers who often pay top dollar for this research!
Something to keep in mind, when people talk about this revenue choice. Games have a fun factor that shopping apps don’t.
Video Gameplay is Slow to Get Your Money
App gift cards rely on sponsors. Sponsors’ cards are slow on payment arrival.
It’s true, they take weeks or months since compensation is dependent on outside retailers. So, the likelihood of a sizable paycheck in an Amazon gift card form is rare. Your reimbursement is on their timetable.
Memory Hogs
Another consideration is smartphone memory. Gaming platforms take up 150 MB – +250 MB of data by themselves. Surprisingly, this figure doesn’t include the actual game apps!
Games vary from 350 MB – +2.0 GB. That’s a huge chunk of memory! In contrast, Yahtzee is a rival to Facebook’s 1.08 GB, even when its manager apps tack on another 500 MB. Rewards within these platforms come when you download more games.
But as you can see, where do you put them?
Bargain Information
Next, your email address is the spoil of these game platforms. As well as the survey information you share. Your information exchange goes for gems.
Is your personal information worth more than electronic gems you can trade for gift cards?
No Accountability
Last, the sites have no payout grid.
This brings attention to the company’s lack of full user disclosure. Although apps doc how much money you get for each action, they don’t add these totals to your grand total. Not in real-time. Likewise, the task amount paid gets smaller as you progress.
Don’t ever assume it will stay consistent.
Two Case Studies
From July to December, I pulled the lever and spent my roll of quarters’ worth of attention. The slots, Mistplay, and Rewarded Play platforms.
So, kick some tires with me to start this review. Further, as soon as you get into this paragraph, the app limitations glare at you. You’ll then see why users should get paid by game developers for their insider insights.
What is Mistplay?
Mistplay is a game platform app that lets you earn points for each minute you play their sponsored games.
Some unpopular games pay higher than others.
Also, reach new levels and the platform pays you.
Plan to play a game until you reach a set threshold, and then you’ll get 25 or 25+ gems for the level up. Mistplay rewards in gift cards from major retailers that include Amazon and Walmart.
(Disclaimer: Android smartphone space numbers included in this post below.)
Mistplay Smartphone Video Gameplay for Money
Required Space: 253 MB
This app has some enjoyable and exciting games. I love Best Fiends. I wouldn’t know this game existed were it not for Mistplay’s bonus attached to a download of this game.
Mistplay also has traditional board games, more match games, and lots of role-playing games. All of these promise that your smartphone gameplay will make you money. Yet they are quick to point out, that you have to enter all games through the Mistplay app portal or risk your payout.
Scrabble
Required space: 871 MB
In Scrabble, level up fast when you play against computer players. The computer sets specific rules for each game. It picks letter tiles for you, decides tile play locations, number of turns, etc.
To get points and beat the level, you must play within these guidelines.
Yahtzee
Required space: 1.74 GB
This memory storage abyss offers lots of graphics that make it feel real and fictional all at once. It also levels up best when you play versus the computer.
The free play ends when you break a winning streak. So, no win means you can’t play the Computer Player for hours. Or you must pay to play it again.
Also, Yahtzee has themed events that end fast and make players start over again. Other paid-for-perks include the chance to roll again or pick more attractive or trendy dice.
Note: Mistplay shows the games that pay best with an extended line of filled-in aqua circles.
Word Delicious
Required space: 470 MB
This seemed like a great place to get smartphone gameplay to make you money. But it’s a finger crossword tracing game that has too many ads. Each time you finish a game, welcome home a new commercial. Plus, your reward for each new level is a computer-generated recipe. Often these menu items stem from all over the world.
With all certainty, the games that follow aren’t recommended. I played each once and only to be uninstalled after the trial.
LeBron James Looney Tunes Mayhem
Looney Tunes is another game that falls into the pay-for-perks category. As you move through Paper Mario-type fights, you get stuck in an endless loop of more bouts.
Hello, frustration! Above all, you can do nothing but watch your opponent beat the tar out of you.
Only hope?
You can outlast your challenger’s energy level.
Dragon City
In this game, you bred dragons and built a city. No surprises. Dragon City was user-friendly at first. Still, you were soon lost if you didn’t pay close attention during the tutorials.
Golf Impact
At first, Golf Impact was fun, but then it grew competitive. I grew frustrated as I lost to players who had better equipment than me.
These clubs and balls were awarded through player payment or high-level wins. But I could get neither.
I was stuck in a loop set up to lose to a slew of competitors. Yet, like Looney Toons, it takes practice to advance. Your losses all come from your inability to putt. Still, you can’t practice on multiple greens without paid access to the practice putting grounds.
Buy Gems to get Gems?
Mistplay games are set up with a medal system. Players have gold, silver, and bronze ranks. Improve your rank with more bought perks. At times, referrals to the platform add to your totals.
Rewarded Play
What is Rewarded Play?
Rewarded Play is a game app like Mistplay. The two apps share many titles. But it has more name-brand board games and fewer role-play ones. For instance, Wheel of Fortune is available on this platform.
Rewarded Play pays you like Mistplay by the minute, for referrals, and for the download of more games.
Platform differences are in the number of points needed for rewards. For instance, Rewarded Play has its $25 gift card set at 225,000 points. It has only two options, a $5 and $25 gift card.
The incentive to start Rewarded Play is better than Mistplay’s. For instance, app installation alone gives you $5 worth of points.
Add to that, you can select any gift card retailer that sponsors them.
Harry Potter and Wheel of Fortune are downloadable and enjoyable, interactive games under their brand.
Reward Play App
Space Required: 150 MB
Download the games and the app as described in Mistplay. But unlike Mistplay games, you don’t have to enter the platform to get credit for gameplay.
The Rewarded Play app gets you points based on personal survey question answers.
Rewarded Play Smarphone Gameplay for Money
Harry Potter Puzzles and Spells
Required Space: 605 MB
Above all of Rewarded Play’s game catalog, Harry Potter: Puzzles and Spells is their triple seven. Puzzles and Spells, the matching game with stunning graphics and powerups, knocks the cotton Nike brand ankle socks off its predecessor, Frozen Freefall.
This game has team incentives that cash in the Frozen Freefall app’s features for petty change.
Pranks are an example of this HP top-tier experience. These are hazards you set loose on opponent gameboards. As a critic of this feature, I avoid teams like a Canadian nickel in my piggy bank.
Wheel of Fortune
628 MB
It’s another Galleon in the sunken ship of Rewarded Play. Wheel’s graphics are superb.
But these game makers push you toward tournament play. If you’re not confident to solve puzzles in unfamiliar situations, you’ll shy away from the app’s GE Soft White bulb. Still, earned rewards help you level-up without tournament play. Face-offs with computer players push you closer to payday too.
Wheel of Fortune rewards gameplay in streaks. It feels like the first games designed for a smartphone that didn’t save player progress. Wheel shares characteristics of classic games like Minions, Run, or even Monsters University. The longer the streak, the more incentives unlock.
Extended gameplay is one such perk. Other prizes include free spins, complementary vowels, no bankruptcy powers, etc.
Puzzlescapes
Required Space: 348 MB
This program looks and works like Word Delicious without the recipes. Yet, there are more letters to use to form words. After a few unsuccessful attempts, you realize programmers give you letters that create a few words on purpose.
Plus, the words-to-find shown in a crossword form help little. It’s maddening. Three-letter words seldom count. Game fatigue takes over when you type in words absent from their puzzle. App designers prefer this because you’ll spend money on missing letters when you’re stuck.
Opportunities to gamble winnings when you choose to see a commercial fail all the time. It’s so often, I avoid commercials and feel content with my 25 coins. Forget the chance for 50.
Smartphone Gameplay: Horrible system for Passive Wealth
I was skeptical when I downloaded Mist and Rewarded Play games. It turns out my gut was right.
Video gameplay does earn money, but it’s not worth it. The time spent in the game could be better used outside the platform.
From July 1st to December 31st, my time paid the high price tag of smartphone videogame play. This cost is too high. Instead, do something that advances what you already do well. That’s the first triple cherry foundation toward intergenerational wealth integration.
Tally the Tape: Does smartphone gameplay make you any money?
Pros:
If you play video games, see if the games you play are on any of these game platform apps.
Or find a game platform above that sponsors a game you’re interested in downloading. If you have one in mind, then you have a bargain. Whether you’ve played a sponsored game in the past isn’t a disqualification for payment. You still might be eligible to earn gift cards as you continue to play if you forfeit your progress. Check to see if this is the case in the app’s terms.
Cons:
Smartphone Video Gameplay
- Cost of time is too high
- Slow reimbursement
- Loss of phone memory
- Bargain sale of your consumer information
In short, the use of these apps doesn’t pay you enough per hour for your efforts. So, slow reimbursement patterns and gameplay interruptions topple any momentum these platforms could enjoy in the form of positive reviews.
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List them all in the comments.
And so, the search for personal and worthwhile systems of intergenerational wealth continues.
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