Rewarded Gaming App Development: A Dev’s Insight

Rewarded gaming app development isn’t just about creating fun experiences—it’s about solving complex technical challenges. From seamless reward distribution to real-time tracking, every feature must work flawlessly at scale.

In this post, I’ll share my experiences as a developer at justDice, where I’ve spent the last two years building Android apps using React Native. If you’re a developer, engineer, or tech professional curious about how rewarded apps work (or even considering joining justDice), this is for you!

Tech Stack & Tools 

At justDice, we use a robust and scalable tech stack to build and maintain our apps efficiently:

• React Native for cross-platform mobile development.
• Kotlin for native Android modules where needed.
• iOS for iOS devices as well (new thang).
• Golang for backend services, ensuring performance and reliability.
• AWS for cloud infrastructure, providing scalability.

One of the most valuable tools we use is a bundle service, which allows us to deploy changes instantly without requiring users to update their apps. This speeds up our iteration cycles and ensures quick bug fixes, feature rollouts, and A/B testing as well.

Core Development Processes

1. Ideation & Planning

We analyze user data and brainstorm new features based on player behavior, industry trends, and feedback. This ensures that each new addition aligns with user expectations and business goals.

2. Development & Integration

Our engineering teams work on both frontend and backend development to create seamless interactions. Key considerations include:

• Ensuring smooth integration between React Native and native modules.
• Implementing scalable backend services with Golang.
• Maintaining a consistent experience across multiple devices.

3. Testing & Deployment

Reliability is crucial for a high-traffic app, so we use a mix of automated and manual testing:

• Automated Testing – Ensures stability across different versions.
• Manual QA Checks – Detects UI/UX issues before release.
• Deployment via Bundle Service – Allows us to roll out updates instantly without requiring app store approvals.

4. Monitoring & Optimization

After deployment, we track real-time performance using in-app events and analytics:

• Monitoring crash reports and fixing bugs proactively.
• Analyzing user engagement to refine features.
• Running A/B tests to make data-driven decisions.

5. Addressing Tech Debt & Long-Term Maintenance

As features evolve, tech debt accumulates. To maintain long-term stability, we:

• Allocate dedicated time in sprints for refactoring code.
• Optimize performance for a smoother user experience.
• Prioritize security and fraud prevention for reward distribution.

Key Challenges in Rewarded Gaming App Development

1. Seamless User Experience Across Devices

With a large user base on different devices, designing for various screen sizes is a challenge. We use a mix of flexible layouts and responsive design principles to ensure consistency.

2. Third-Party Payout Integration

Handling payouts through different providers adds complexity. Ensuring fast and reliable transactions requires integrating multiple APIs while maintaining fraud prevention mechanisms.

3. Monetization & User Engagement

One of our biggest challenges was improving ARPMU (Average Revenue Per Monetized User) while keeping the gaming experience engaging. A key feature we introduced was Loyalty Levels.

Case Study: Implementing Loyalty Levels

To enhance user experience and engagement, we introduced Loyalty Levels, rewarding users based on their activity and dedication.

Challenges & Solutions:

• User Motivation & Retention: Users needed clear incentives to stay engaged without feeling forced into gameplay. We ran A/B tests to balance rewards, ensuring they felt fair and achievable.
• Seamless Integration: A new system shouldn’t interrupt users. We integrated Loyalty Levels smoothly within the existing reward structure, maintaining an intuitive experience.
• Scalability: With millions of users, we needed a backend solution that ensured rewards were processed quickly and efficiently, keeping gameplay fluid and frustration-free.

Impact:

• Enhanced user experience by making rewards more personalized and goal-driven.
• Increased engagement as players felt recognized and incentivized for their time.
• A more rewarding and fun gaming experience, encouraging long-term play and satisfaction.

This feature not only helped users feel more valued but also strengthened their connection to our apps, making gameplay more immersive and fulfilling.

Why Develop Rewarded Gaming Apps at justDice?

If you’re a developer looking to work with a cutting-edge tech stack in a fast-paced environment, justDice is a great place to be. We value:

• Innovation – Engineers have the freedom to experiment with new ideas.
• Collaboration – Teams work closely across Backend, Apps, and BI.
• Growth – Opportunities for mentorship, career advancement, and learning.

Developing rewarded gaming apps is both challenging and rewarding. The mix of user engagement, real-time tracking, and monetization makes it a unique space for developers. If you’re interested in joining a team that’s constantly pushing the boundaries of mobile gaming, check out our open roles at justDice!