The most "sticky" games of the month by analytics
The most "sticky" games of the month by analytics
What do you mean "sticky"
A "sticky" game is a slot in which players objectively spend more pure time and more often return to it with comparable bets and bankroll. The criterion is not "beautiful design" or hype, but measured engagement: session length, re-launch frequency, interest stability after days/weeks, and the absence of "cheating metrics" due to rare extra-long sessions for a few players.
Ranking technique (short and tight)
1) Base for comparison
Period: current calendar month.
Quality filters: ≥1 000 unique players per title, ≥5 000 starts, median bet in the range of 0. 1-2 AUD, cutting off the top 1% of the session length (anti-kit filter).
Normalization by AU market: comparison is made within a month and only between games that have passed filters.
2) Key engagement metrics
Median Session Length (MSL): The median time in the slot per session.
p90 Session Length: The upper "tail" of normal sessions without whales.
Sessions per User (SPU): Average number of starts per player per month.
Return Rate 7d/14d (RR7/RR14): Proportion returning to play after 7/14 days.
Retention Share D1/D7: the proportion of players who started the game on the 1st/7th day after the first visit.
Avg Spins per Session (APS): average number of spins per session.
Bonus Entry Frequency (BEF): 100 spin bonus entry frequency (no buy-feature).
Hit Rate (HR): The frequency of winning spins (any size).
Volatility Sweet-Spot (VSS): getting into the "comfortable" range of volatility (not too "empty," but not "rain of small payments").
Bankroll Smoothness (BS): conditional "smoothness" of the bankroll trajectory per 100 spins at a fixed rate (less sharp drawdowns - higher value).
3) Unified Engagement Score (ES)
All metrics are translated into percentiles by month and aggregated weighted:
4) Anti-distortion
Exclude sessions <10 spins (random opens).
We take into account stake-mix: comparison within close betting ranges (for example, 0. 1–0. 5 AUD separate from 0. 5–2 AUD).
We remove bursts of "bonus-buy marathons" from BEF, we consider BEF and HR to be a natural game.
We check the stability: ES should stay stable for ≥7 days, and not due to 1-2 bursts.
Signs of a "sticky" game (quick scan)
1. Median time> 8-10 minutes per session at 0. 1–0. 5 AUD.
2. SPU ≥ 3-4: the player returns to the title several times a month.
3. RR7 ≥ 22-28% and does not "pour" to the RR14 (sustained interest).
4. APS ≥ 120-160 with a comfortable bankroll consumption (BS in the "green" zone).
5. BEF is "tangible," but without spam micropayments: bonuses are found, but do not depreciate the main gameplay.
6. HR average/slightly above average, volatility - moderately high (there is potential, but not "dry desert").
7. p90 sessions are long, but without isolated extremes (there is no dependence on rare "whale" marathons).
Mechanics who more often give "sticking"
Cascading/Tambles + progress factors: a series of reactions in one spin holds attention without feeling "empty" scrolls.
Hold & Win/Lock-it-style: clear goal (collect n symbols/coins), short "micro-missions," frequent mini-climaxes.
Megaways/Cluster Pays: Grid/cluster variability, a sense of novelty in each back.
Counters, scales, collections: visible progression to bonus/super bonus increases RR7/RR14.
Pseudo-problems in bonuses (choice, risk, upgrades): micro-solutions add engagement without complex rules.
Types of "sticky" slots (archetypes)
1. Tamble arcade: intense cascades, multipliers grow in time. Strong on APS, MSL.
2. Collector-progression: save symbols/coins to the supercase; high RR7/RR14.
3. Stable "middle peasant": average volatility, frequent mini-wins; high HR, comfortable BS.
4. Peak high-roll potential: higher volatility, but with tangible intermediate events; strong p90 without "whale tails."
5. Surprise boosters: rare, but "juicy" events (super-symbols, drum extensions) - hold due to the expectation of the event.
Checklist: how to quickly check the "sticking" in the lobby
Look at the median, not the average: MSL is more important than average time.
Check RR7 and RR14: return in a week/two - indicator of true interest.
Compare SPU in its bid range: 0. 1–0. 5 AUD and 0. 5-2 AUDs behave differently.
Open the distribution along the length of the sessions: you need a "thick" middle peasant and a healthy p90 without "whales."
See BEF and HR in a pair: a frequent bonus without value is not a plus.
Check BS (bankroll smoothness): sharp "pits" shorten sessions.
Look for progression: scales/counters → + to returns.
Cut off the "cheats": inflated numbers with a small online/one-time promotion are an alarming signal.
Why some hits "stick" and others do not
Rhythm of events: long "empty" segments kill APS and MSL.
Readable goal: Comprehensible mini-goals increase SPU and retention.
Volatility balance: extremes (too "dry" or "too often and too shallow") suck BS/HR and real time.
Quality of bonuses: if the bonus is rare or empty, RR7/RR14 fall.
Fatigue resistance: the variability of setups (modes, modifiers) maintains interest after 200-300 spins.
Recommendations to players from AU
If the bankroll is small (20-50 AUD): look for a "stable middle peasant" with noticeable HR and frequent mini-events; bet 0. 1–0. 2 AUD, the goal is long sessions.
If you want "action," but without "dry" segments: take tambl arcades/cluster with moderately high volatility.
If you like hunting for big drifts: look at the "peak potential" archetype, but check BS and the presence of intermediate events so as not to burn out after 50 spins.
If the bonus is important, not the base: evaluate BEF without buy-feature - do you often enter the "natural" bonus?
Recommendations for editorial "tops"
To make the Hottest Pokies of the Month section useful, add to each slot card:
MSL: median session length (min). Better than average, because resistant to emissions.
SPU: starts per player per month. Shows the habit of returning.
RR7/RR14: the proportion of returnees after 7/14 days. Real hook indicator.
APS: spins per session. Associated with the rhythm and "price" of one minute of the game.
BEF: 100 spin bonus entries (no purchases). Gameplay "liveliness" signal.
HR: Winning backs at 100. Not equal to profitability.
VSS: getting into a comfortable volatility zone for a long game.
BS: bankroll "smoothness" for 100 spins at a fixed rate.
Conclusion
"Sticking" is measured engagement, not a big name. Look at the median, returns, rhythm of events and the smoothness of the bankroll. Games that keep MSL, SPU and RR7/RR14 above the median of the month and do not slide to extremes in volatility, naturally find themselves in the "hot" top of AU and stay there longer than usual.
What do you mean "sticky"
A "sticky" game is a slot in which players objectively spend more pure time and more often return to it with comparable bets and bankroll. The criterion is not "beautiful design" or hype, but measured engagement: session length, re-launch frequency, interest stability after days/weeks, and the absence of "cheating metrics" due to rare extra-long sessions for a few players.
Ranking technique (short and tight)
1) Base for comparison
Period: current calendar month.
Quality filters: ≥1 000 unique players per title, ≥5 000 starts, median bet in the range of 0. 1-2 AUD, cutting off the top 1% of the session length (anti-kit filter).
Normalization by AU market: comparison is made within a month and only between games that have passed filters.
2) Key engagement metrics
Median Session Length (MSL): The median time in the slot per session.
p90 Session Length: The upper "tail" of normal sessions without whales.
Sessions per User (SPU): Average number of starts per player per month.
Return Rate 7d/14d (RR7/RR14): Proportion returning to play after 7/14 days.
Retention Share D1/D7: the proportion of players who started the game on the 1st/7th day after the first visit.
Avg Spins per Session (APS): average number of spins per session.
Bonus Entry Frequency (BEF): 100 spin bonus entry frequency (no buy-feature).
Hit Rate (HR): The frequency of winning spins (any size).
Volatility Sweet-Spot (VSS): getting into the "comfortable" range of volatility (not too "empty," but not "rain of small payments").
Bankroll Smoothness (BS): conditional "smoothness" of the bankroll trajectory per 100 spins at a fixed rate (less sharp drawdowns - higher value).
3) Unified Engagement Score (ES)
All metrics are translated into percentiles by month and aggregated weighted:
- ES = 0. 25·MSL + 0. 20·SPU + 0. 15·RR7 + 0. 10·APS + 0. 10·BEF + 0. 07·p90 + 0. 05·HR + 0. 05·VSS + 0. 03·BS
- The scales are selected for the goal of "holding attention for a long time and stably without "markups"": the main emphasis is the real length of sessions and returns.
4) Anti-distortion
Exclude sessions <10 spins (random opens).
We take into account stake-mix: comparison within close betting ranges (for example, 0. 1–0. 5 AUD separate from 0. 5–2 AUD).
We remove bursts of "bonus-buy marathons" from BEF, we consider BEF and HR to be a natural game.
We check the stability: ES should stay stable for ≥7 days, and not due to 1-2 bursts.
Signs of a "sticky" game (quick scan)
1. Median time> 8-10 minutes per session at 0. 1–0. 5 AUD.
2. SPU ≥ 3-4: the player returns to the title several times a month.
3. RR7 ≥ 22-28% and does not "pour" to the RR14 (sustained interest).
4. APS ≥ 120-160 with a comfortable bankroll consumption (BS in the "green" zone).
5. BEF is "tangible," but without spam micropayments: bonuses are found, but do not depreciate the main gameplay.
6. HR average/slightly above average, volatility - moderately high (there is potential, but not "dry desert").
7. p90 sessions are long, but without isolated extremes (there is no dependence on rare "whale" marathons).
Mechanics who more often give "sticking"
Cascading/Tambles + progress factors: a series of reactions in one spin holds attention without feeling "empty" scrolls.
Hold & Win/Lock-it-style: clear goal (collect n symbols/coins), short "micro-missions," frequent mini-climaxes.
Megaways/Cluster Pays: Grid/cluster variability, a sense of novelty in each back.
Counters, scales, collections: visible progression to bonus/super bonus increases RR7/RR14.
Pseudo-problems in bonuses (choice, risk, upgrades): micro-solutions add engagement without complex rules.
Types of "sticky" slots (archetypes)
1. Tamble arcade: intense cascades, multipliers grow in time. Strong on APS, MSL.
2. Collector-progression: save symbols/coins to the supercase; high RR7/RR14.
3. Stable "middle peasant": average volatility, frequent mini-wins; high HR, comfortable BS.
4. Peak high-roll potential: higher volatility, but with tangible intermediate events; strong p90 without "whale tails."
5. Surprise boosters: rare, but "juicy" events (super-symbols, drum extensions) - hold due to the expectation of the event.
Checklist: how to quickly check the "sticking" in the lobby
Look at the median, not the average: MSL is more important than average time.
Check RR7 and RR14: return in a week/two - indicator of true interest.
Compare SPU in its bid range: 0. 1–0. 5 AUD and 0. 5-2 AUDs behave differently.
Open the distribution along the length of the sessions: you need a "thick" middle peasant and a healthy p90 without "whales."
See BEF and HR in a pair: a frequent bonus without value is not a plus.
Check BS (bankroll smoothness): sharp "pits" shorten sessions.
Look for progression: scales/counters → + to returns.
Cut off the "cheats": inflated numbers with a small online/one-time promotion are an alarming signal.
Why some hits "stick" and others do not
Rhythm of events: long "empty" segments kill APS and MSL.
Readable goal: Comprehensible mini-goals increase SPU and retention.
Volatility balance: extremes (too "dry" or "too often and too shallow") suck BS/HR and real time.
Quality of bonuses: if the bonus is rare or empty, RR7/RR14 fall.
Fatigue resistance: the variability of setups (modes, modifiers) maintains interest after 200-300 spins.
Recommendations to players from AU
If the bankroll is small (20-50 AUD): look for a "stable middle peasant" with noticeable HR and frequent mini-events; bet 0. 1–0. 2 AUD, the goal is long sessions.
If you want "action," but without "dry" segments: take tambl arcades/cluster with moderately high volatility.
If you like hunting for big drifts: look at the "peak potential" archetype, but check BS and the presence of intermediate events so as not to burn out after 50 spins.
If the bonus is important, not the base: evaluate BEF without buy-feature - do you often enter the "natural" bonus?
Recommendations for editorial "tops"
To make the Hottest Pokies of the Month section useful, add to each slot card:
- ES-badge (percentile by month).
- MSL and SPU (icons/numbers): you can immediately see how long and how often they return.
- RR7/RR14: markers of sustained interest.
- Volatility and HR: quick risk/rhythm profile.
- Sign of progression (yes/no): scales, collections, upgrades.
MSL: median session length (min). Better than average, because resistant to emissions.
SPU: starts per player per month. Shows the habit of returning.
RR7/RR14: the proportion of returnees after 7/14 days. Real hook indicator.
APS: spins per session. Associated with the rhythm and "price" of one minute of the game.
BEF: 100 spin bonus entries (no purchases). Gameplay "liveliness" signal.
HR: Winning backs at 100. Not equal to profitability.
VSS: getting into a comfortable volatility zone for a long game.
BS: bankroll "smoothness" for 100 spins at a fixed rate.
Conclusion
"Sticking" is measured engagement, not a big name. Look at the median, returns, rhythm of events and the smoothness of the bankroll. Games that keep MSL, SPU and RR7/RR14 above the median of the month and do not slide to extremes in volatility, naturally find themselves in the "hot" top of AU and stay there longer than usual.
