The mobile freemium model is exactly why I am so averse to spending money on mobile games. If I could spend $5 for a game and know that it is both worthwhile an

The mobile freemium model is exactly why I am so averse to spending money on mobile games. If I could spend $5 for a game and know that it is both worthwhile and fully available, I would do so. Instead, I've become cynical enough that I rarely bother unless the game is well-reviewed by sources I trust. There are examples of games that got the freemium model right and are fairly successful as a result, and the pattern is always the same: start with a game with a fun core gameplay loop, do not gate gameplay content or progression behind paywalls, let players spend money on cosmetic/status symbols, or to more quickly progress in areas that could also be progressed more slowly without spending. Warframe and Path of Exile do this and are seeing a good amount of success as a result.