SmartSoft Is Creating New Game Categories

In online gaming, innovation often stays on the surface. An existing game can be repackaged with new graphics, a different theme or a refreshed interface. The harder task is to develop a mechanic that asks the player a new decision, changes the way they interact with the game, or gives them a reason to prefer it over other options.

SmartSoft has built its product strategy around exactly this distinction. Luka Kobalia, the company's product lead, says that before starting the design of any new game, the team asks one question: what can the player do here that they cannot do in any other game?

The question sounds simple, but it places a heavy burden on product development. It shifts the responsibility for innovation from visual design to the core gameplay. If a proposed game does not offer a meaningful functional difference, it does not move into production.

The company's three products show that originality can take different forms. JetX creates a new category as the first flying crash game, and it depends on the player deciding when to cash out. Balloon stands out for its balloon inflation mechanic: as the multiplier and the risk of bursting rise together, the player chooses when to take their winnings. PlinkoX develops the classic Plinko. Each ball is assigned a random multiplier, and that multiplier is applied to the value of the slot where the ball lands.

In short, SmartSoft treats innovation not as a change of appearance but as a design principle that directly shapes the player's experience.