“Wow another fake game from YouTube ad”: Unpacking Fake Games Through a Mixed-Methods Investigation
summary
Study maps fake mobile games with a practical method: a walkthrough + thematic analysis workflow that downloads and plays titles, compares ads to gameplay, and codes thousands of reviews from Google Play and the App Store. Results produce a usable typology—five misalignments (e.g., gameplay disguise, incentive illusion, privacy risks) and 15 games analyzed—plus evidence that some games can redeem themselves and policy gaps around free‑to‑play enforcement.
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