LinkedIn has recently launched three new thinking-oriented games on its platform, following the success of game integration at The New York Times. These games are meant to provide users with a quick break while also encouraging connections and competition among professionals. The goal is to increase user engagement on the platform and spark conversations among users. The decision to introduce games on LinkedIn comes as a way to offer users a new way to interact and spend time on the website.
One of the games, Pinpoint, is a word-association game where players have to guess a common category that five words belong to. The words are revealed one at a time, and players have to guess the category before all five reveals are up. Another game, Crossclimb, involves filling out words in a ladder and rearranging them so that each word differs from the one above it by just one letter. Players need to get the order right to unlock two final clues and win the game. The third game, Queens, requires players to fill a grid with queens so that there is one queen in each row, column, and region, without any of the queens touching each other.
LinkedIn hopes that these games will not only provide users with a fun way to take a break but also offer additional benefits after playing. Users can see who else has played, engage in community conversations, and participate in leaderboards to reignite college rivalries or compete with colleagues. The platform aims to facilitate connections among users through the games and provide a space for discussions, tips, and tricks related to the games. The games are part of LinkedIn’s efforts to enhance user engagement on the platform and encourage interactions among professionals worldwide.
The success of games as a growth tool for The New York Times has inspired LinkedIn to incorporate games into its platform. The New York Times reported that its games, such as Wordle, were played more than 8 billion times, leading to an increase in subscription revenue. The newspaper now offers a games-only subscription, and subscription revenue has seen a significant boost. Following this trend, LinkedIn aims to leverage the popularity of games to attract users, increase time spent on the platform, and drive conversations and interactions among professionals.
The new games on LinkedIn offer users a break from their regular professional activities while also providing a mental workout and an opportunity to connect with others. These games are designed to engage users and foster a sense of community among professionals. By introducing games on its platform, LinkedIn is tapping into the growing trend of gamification and offering users a new way to interact and engage on the platform. Overall, the addition of games on LinkedIn represents a strategic move to enhance user experience and drive user engagement on the platform.
