Market

My target audience is players between the ages of 12-25, and rated PEGI 12+. My game exists within the adventure genre, a genre with a wide appeal among gaming audiences. Recent research has shown that the adventure genre is one of the most popular in the UK, with 34% of respondents in one 2024 study naming it amongst their preferred genres (Bashir, 2024). My target audience also includes the age range with the greatest demographic reach in the UK, with 83% of 16-24 year olds playing video games (Clement, 2024).

My game will appeal to audiences who particularly enjoy the point-and-click adventure genre, such as the Ace Attorney Chronicles and Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, both games which have particularly inspired Stellars Circus. I think that the narrative and world building of my game will appeal to the older portion of my target audience, as well as those within the audience who are fans of the fantasy story-genre. The younger portion of my target audience may find the vibrant circus aesthetics particularly appealing, as well as the simple game play mechanics. Stellars Circus’ simple gameplay mechanics also appeal to audiences who enjoy casual gaming (e.g. people who may be busy with work/studying but play games to unwind), while also making my game accessible and enjoyable for players with lower skill level.

As part of my research into my target market, I spoke to a friend within my target demographic and made an empathy map, which showed their appreciation for games with simpler mechanics, but compelling storytelling:

References:

Bashir, U. (2024) Preferred Video Game Genre in the United Kingdom. Available at: https://www.statista.com/forecasts/997858/preferred-video-game-genre-in-the-uk.

Clement, J. (2024) UK gaming reach 2013-2023, by age group and gender. Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/300513/gaming-by-demographic-group-uk/.