LinkedIn Adds Another Puzzle Game

Are you ready for a new game on LinkedIn?

After launching its initial slate of puzzle games back in May, LinkedIn’s now adding another to the mix, with “Tango,” a logic game based on image matching.

Or something. I played a game just then, and while I cleared the level, I didn’t really know what I was doing. Like, you tap on the box, and it changes between a sun and a moon. And if it’s wrong, you just change it.

Yeah, didn’t really grab me, but regardless, LinkedIn says that its puzzle games are doing well, with 80% of users who play a game returning to play the following day, and 76% coming back again a week later.

It hasn’t shared exactly how many people are playing overall, but then again, LinkedIn’s not fond of reporting actual user numbers in general. So that’s pretty much on brand.

The addition of puzzle games seems like a pretty blatant engagement-boosting play from the app, and an effort to get more of its billion or so “members” coming to the platform more regularly. Based on estimates, comparing LinkedIn’s EU user and member stats, it seems like around 40% of LinkedIn’s total members are actually active in the app. And while that has been increasing, that’s a lot less than the billion members it boasts, which is something that LinkedIn would love to rectify.

Of course, hooking them with puzzle games isn’t really reflective of broader engagement.  But if the numbers go up…

In addition to the new game, LinkedIn’s also adding new achievements, and comparative scores to show users how they compare to other players of each.

“To start, we’ll show you how you did vs. the global average, as well as if you’re in the top percentile vs. others in your network, company, or school. And, my favorite: we’ll also tell you if you were smarter than a CEO today (based on how your score fared vs. the average score of all CEOs who played today). It’s a fun way to track your progress, compare your achievements, celebrate your wins — and of course — earn some bragging rights.”

Sounds horrible, but okay.

LinkedIn’s also adding more detail to the posts that players can share after they play, while it’s also adding more insights into streaks.

I don’t know, it all seems very cheap to me, but if people are playing, and LinkedIn’s getting them to spend more time in the app as a result, good for them, I guess.

You can check out all of LinkedIn’s games, including “Tango”, here.