We asked Michael Khripin, Product Owner at Balancy, to take a closer look at the shop design in Link Legends by Obscure Games.
The game is a hybrid-casual puzzle title with a relatively compact monetization setup:
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coin packs
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a rotating Daily Deals carousel
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a progression-gated free reward (Lucky Pack)
There are no interstitials, no banners, no battle pass, and no subscriptions. Monetization relies primarily on IAP bundles and currency, supported by a lightweight rewarded ad loop.
This makes Link Legends an interesting case: a clean, focused shop system with minimal surface area — where every design decision has a visible impact.
Shop Structure: Simple, Focused, Effective
The shop uses a single vertical feed with three sections:
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Daily Deals (top)
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Coin Packs (middle)
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Lucky Pack (bottom)
For a game with a limited assortment, this is a strong structural choice.
What works well:
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High-conversion content first → Daily Deals are immediately visible
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Utility in the middle → Coin packs sit in their expected position
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Free reward at the end → encourages full scroll-through
💡 A note from Michael:
“A compact shop is often more effective than a large one. When every section has a clear role, players don’t get lost — they move through the funnel naturally.”
Another important signal: Daily Deals are visually dominant, indicating that bundles — not currency — are the primary conversion driver.
What’s Missing: First-Purchase Trigger
The shop lacks a dedicated Starter Pack.
Daily Deals partially fill this role, but they don’t create urgency. There is no clear “best first purchase” moment for new players.
In many games, a simple “One Time Only” starter offer acts as a strong early conversion trigger.
Coin Packs: Where Structure Breaks Down
While the shop layout is clean, the currency pricing ladder has several inconsistencies.
Key Observations
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Some mid-tier packs offer worse value than cheaper alternatives
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Higher-tier packs don’t consistently improve value per currency unit
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Two packs deliver almost identical value despite large price differences
💡 A note from Michael:
“The value ladder is one of the most important systems in a shop. If players can find better deals by going backwards, trust breaks immediately.”
Why It Matters
A well-designed shop should follow a monotonically increasing value curve:
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each step up feels more rewarding
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higher spend = better efficiency
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no “dead zones” between tiers
When this structure breaks:
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players optimize around cheaper packs
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higher tiers lose relevance
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monetization becomes less predictable
Daily Deals: Strong Design Pattern
The Daily Deals carousel is one of the strongest parts of the shop.
Key strengths:
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bundles contain varied content (characters, perks, resources)
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offers are not simple “scaled versions” of each other
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players choose based on needs, not just value
This aligns with a good LiveOps pattern: variety over linear scaling.
💡 A note from Michael:
“A good carousel doesn’t force a ‘best deal’ — it offers different solutions to different player needs.”
About the “100% MORE!” Messaging
The value claim is not directly verifiable (no reference price shown), but it remains within a reasonable range, avoiding overly aggressive multipliers that can feel misleading.
Lucky Pack: A Well-Designed Retention Loop
The Lucky Pack is a standout feature in the shop.
It’s a free loot box with:
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randomized rewards (boosters, perks, coins, abilities)
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a ~3-hour cooldown
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optional rewarded ad for bonus rewards
What Works Well
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Randomization adds excitement → each claim feels different
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Short cooldown (~3 hours) → drives multiple daily visits
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Ad is optional and post-reward → never blocks progression
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Notification dot signals availability → strong pull mechanic
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Bottom placement → players scroll past paid content first
💡 A note from Michael:
“This is a great example of a ‘free visit → monetization exposure’ loop. The player comes for the reward, but sees the offers every time.”
Opportunity
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the feature unlocks relatively late (125 XP), delaying habit formation
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reward probabilities are not visible, which may affect transparency
UX and Visual Design
The shop UI follows a clear and scalable structure:
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single scrollable feed (no tabs needed)
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clear section headers
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strong visual hierarchy for packs (small → medium → large cards)
This creates a natural progression:
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smaller packs = less visual weight
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larger packs = more prominence
Social Proof and Guidance
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“Top Seller” and “Best Value” badges are correctly placed
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however, mid-tier packs lack visible progression indicators
Adding simple labels like:
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+10%
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+20%
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+40%
would make value differences easier to understand at a glance.
Final Thoughts
Link Legends gets the shop structure right.
It’s compact, easy to navigate, and every section has a clear role:
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Daily Deals drive conversion
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Coin Packs provide utility
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Lucky Pack creates repeat visits
The Lucky Pack system, in particular, is a strong example of how free rewards can support both retention and monetization exposure.
However, the currency pricing structure weakens the overall system.
Several packs:
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break the value progression
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create overlap between tiers
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reduce the incentive to move up the ladder
These are not structural issues — they are calibration problems, and they can be fixed relatively quickly.
LiveOps Takeaway
A well-designed shop is not just about structure — it’s about consistency and iteration.
Even small inconsistencies in pricing or value signals can:
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redirect player behavior
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reduce trust
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impact conversion across the entire system
💡 A note from Michael:
“In LiveOps, the difference between a good shop and a great one is often a few percentage points in the value ladder.”
Platforms like Balancy help teams continuously refine these systems by enabling:
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fast iteration on pricing and bundles
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testing different shop structures and layouts
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running A/B tests on offers and value perception
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adjusting LiveOps content without engineering delays
For live games, the ability to test, learn, and adjust quickly is what turns a stable monetization system into a scalable one.