There is no magic formula to making a successful game

Sometimes developers find success by following the trending game designs and mechanics. Sometimes they find it by bucking the trend and inventing something new. 

Every success story is different – don't merely rely on guides that purport to help you replicate success. Pocket God’s success is closely tied to the game’s near-weekly updates – but not every iPhone dev has found that strategy to be effective for their games. 

Some people find value in doing a ‘lite’ or demo app; some people find value in pricing their app higher and using price drops to kick up popularity. 

If you simply follow someone else's plan, you are not really paying attention to what's going on with your app and your customers. Pay attention to your own situation and think about ways to incrementally improve your game and approach. 

Look to other companies for inspiration and ideas, but do what makes sense for you and your project.