Monetization · mobile games
Piggy bank
A savings jar that slowly fills as a player earns or spends, then offers to unlock the saved currency for a one-time purchase.
Also called: piggy bank offer, savings jar, money box
A piggy bank is a pot of currency that fills in the background as the player plays. The player cannot spend it directly. When it is full, or after some time, the game offers to open it for a real-money price, usually a low one.
It is a monetization offer that rewards patience. The player watches the pot grow, so the price feels like buying something they have already earned. The designer chooses the fill rate and the cap, and those two numbers decide how generous the price looks.
It also gives players something to check on and to finish, which can bring them back to the game.
In mobile games
On mobile, a piggy bank usually sits as a small icon on the home screen or in the shop, shows the amount saved as a number or a meter, and opens into a purchase sheet. The examples below show how different games present the saved amount next to the price.
What to watch for
- A nearly empty pot with a high price looks like a trick. Show what the player gets before asking for money.
- Hiding the rules. Players should be able to see what fills the pot and when it stops filling.
