How Screw Master 3D Generates Over $500K Daily: A Mobile Game Monetization Case Study

Screw Master 3D, a physics-based screw-turning mobile game, has recently become a global hit, generating more than $500,000 in daily revenue from overseas advertising alone. What started as a modest WeChat mini game quickly evolved into one of the most successful casual mobile games worldwide.

From WeChat Mini Game to Global Success, Originally launched on the WeChat platform, Screw Master 3D caught players’ attention with its simple yet addictive gameplay centered on realistic physics mechanics — a fresh take compared to the typical 2D screw-turning games. This innovation helped the game stand out in a crowded market and laid the foundation for its global expansion.

Strategic Monetization and Growth, The game’s publisher leveraged data-driven marketing strategies and continuous content updates to maximize player engagement and monetization. By focusing on overseas markets, especially in regions where casual games thrive, the developers optimized ad placements and user acquisition costs, boosting daily revenue to impressive levels.

Localization and Market Adaptation, A key to Screw Master 3D’s success was its targeted localization. The game was carefully adapted to meet the cultural preferences and user behaviors of different countries. This included language support, UI adjustments, and region-specific events that kept the player base engaged and growing steadily.

Balancing User Experience and Revenue, Screw Master 3D smartly balances monetization through non-intrusive ad formats and optional in-app purchases. This approach ensures high user retention while maintaining a steady revenue stream, a crucial factor for long-term success in the free-to-play market.

Future Outlook, With its innovative gameplay and smart monetization, Screw Master 3D sets a benchmark for casual game developers aiming to tap into global audiences. Continued updates and expansions are expected to sustain its growth, keeping players hooked and advertisers interested.

Supersonic Studios, a subsidiary of Unity, leveraged its sharp market insight and efficient execution to successfully bring Screw Masters 3D—originally a WeChat Mini Game from China—to the global market in just three months. The game has achieved outstanding results, generating up to $80,000 in daily ad revenue.

Behind this seemingly sudden success lies a series of critical steps: from trend spotting and localization to data-driven optimization and balancing ad monetization. The screw-turning gameplay has been a hot trend in the past year, but unlike most previous 2D screw games, Screw Master 3D introduces physics-based mechanics. When a screw is loosened, the attached blocks fall off like peeling layers of an onion from the outside inward.

Recently, Samantha, Head of Growth & Creative at Supersonic, and Guy, Head of New Games, shared insights with foreign media about the practical experiences behind this efficient global launch, revealing the core strategies fueling its rapid scaling.

From WeChat Mini Game to Global Launch in 3 Months
Q: How did you adapt a game like Screw Masters 3D from the Chinese market for a global audience? What was the process?

A: We are constantly exploring new markets and closely monitoring WeChat Mini Games to identify which mechanics are popular. The screw-turning gameplay has been trending not only in China but also in Vietnam. We track retention rates and analyze the "juice" moments in these games with data backing.

We identify what these games are missing and areas to improve. That’s why we partnered with EO Games in China. The retention was strong from the start, and we saw attractive gameplay elements. We believed that with some tweaks, we could rapidly scale this globally — which is what happened.

Q: How fast was this process, from spotting a high-retention, engaging game on WeChat to releasing it in Western markets?

A: It was very fast — under three months. This speed is impressive given the crowded market. A key factor was working with the right partners who could quickly and efficiently follow our guidelines and execute changes.

Q: Did your external team focus specifically on WeChat Mini Games?

A: Yes, our Asia-Pacific team, based in Beijing, is exceptional at scouting trending games. We don't try to invent new gameplay but rather find what users love and scale it fast.

Q: Would this have been impossible without a local team in Asia?

A: Much more complicated. Cultural understanding and communication are critical. We visited China and Vietnam many times and found local teams indispensable. Attending events like ChinaJoy was invaluable for direct interaction with developers.

Balancing Engagement and Monetization: Over 85% Rewarded Video Participation

Q: What’s a good daily play frequency for this genre?

A: About three sessions a day is ideal. Engagement is measured more by how deeply players participate in each session and how many rewarded videos they watch, rather than just raw session counts.

Q: Many companies rely heavily on interstitial and rewarded ads. What are your thoughts based on your testing?

A: We haven't tested interstitials much in this game, as they can feel intrusive and negatively impact retention. We focus on optimizing rewarded video frequency and placement to maintain a smooth user experience and minimize churn.

Q: How do you balance the conflict between retention and ad monetization?

A: It's challenging but manageable. We never want to punish players. The game allows frequent retries and offers incentives like revives and unlockable boxes, which boosts a roughly 60% ad engagement rate. This design provides mastery and fun rather than frustration.

Q: Why offer different ad lengths, like 30s videos with 5-10s end cards?

A: Ad networks provide various video lengths, but we don't impose strict limits. On Android, we’re stricter to ensure better user experience. Longer videos often yield higher eCPMs but must be balanced with engagement.

Daily Ad Revenue Surpasses $80K: Guiding Players Toward IAP Instead of Excess Ads

Q: With 40,000 daily Installs, you estimate 80% of revenue from ads.

A: Yes, this is primarily an ad-driven game but also generates some IAP. Retention is strong for a hybrid casual game, with 90-day retention between 5-7%.

Q: How do you balance interstitial ads that affect retention?

A: We use a hybrid ad format combining interstitial and rewarded videos. We carefully A/B test ad timing and placement to minimize impact while maximizing revenue. Good balance also encourages some players to convert via IAP to remove ads.

Q: How do you manage ad cooldown and user segmentation?

A: We began without interstitials to focus on retention, then gradually introduced gentle placements. We track all KPIs and optimize frequency based on player behavior to maximize long-term value.

Ad Creative Testing & Marketing Strategy

Q: How do you test ad creatives across channels?

A: Facebook is our primary testing platform for new creatives with small budgets. We quickly identify top performers. For hybrid casual games, Facebook is not always the best scaling platform, so we open additional channels as ROAS improves.

Q: How do playable ads perform compared to video ads?

A: Playable ads generate higher quality users with better retention, though video ads yield the highest install per mille (IPM). We experiment with both long and short playable ads, balancing engagement and conversion.

Q: How does your creative team leverage AI?

A: We explore AI-assisted creative production to increase output efficiency, testing many new concepts rapidly.

Conclusion
The global success of Screw Masters 3D is no accident. It outlines an efficient path for WeChat Mini Games to scale worldwide: data-driven trend spotting, agile localization, close collaboration with skilled partners, precise ad monetization balance, and continuous product iteration powered by creative user acquisition.

In today's fast-moving market, Supersonic Studios demonstrated that success comes not from reinventing the wheel, but from finding the best wheels and pushing them to the world as efficiently as possible.

The images in this article are official screenshots released by Supersonic Studios.