How Aviamasters™ Took Off: Interview with Vasili Pauliuchenko, Game Producer at BGaming

BGaming could hardly have predicted just how big Aviamasters™ would become. What started as an experiment in the crash genre has turned into a true iGaming phenomenon. Over a billion players have tuned in since release, and the game shows no signs of coming back down.

Industry recognition soon followed. Aviamasters™ cleared competition to win SiGMA’s Best Casino Game 2025 and sparked some of the most genuine reaction videos of the year.

Here to tell us more about it is Vasili Pauliuchenko, Game Producer at BGaming.

Q: What makes Aviamasters™ such a unique aviation game?

What makes Aviamasters™ different is that it’s not just about crashing or climbing. The challenge is actually landing the plane. Every move you make matters because the physics model responds realistically, so you can’t just spam buttons and hope for the best. At the same time, it’s easy to jump in and understand right away.

There’s a real satisfaction in nailing a landing at the end of a round. It gives a sense of completion you don’t usually get in casual aviation games. That’s why it doesn’t feel like “just another flying game,” but something with its own little sub-genre in casual gaming.

Q: Was the explosive growth of Aviamasters™ something you expected, or did it take you at all by surprise?

We always believed in the Aviamasters™ core mechanic, but the speed and scale of its growth exceeded our expectations. The first few months were quiet. The game was “finding its wings” slowly. The big surge came about a year later, when streamers and affiliates discovered it, and then the players took it further.

What made it interesting was that the growth was completely organic. It wasn’t fueled by ads or hype, but by the content that players created and shared, and by word of mouth. That experience confirmed something for us: the market was ready for this kind of gameplay, it just needed time and the right spark to catch fire.

Q: Congratulations on winning the Game of the Year at SiGMA World Central Europe Awards. What does this recognition mean to you and the team behind Aviamasters™?

This award means a great deal because it celebrates the game itself, not just the marketing around it. For the team, it’s a recognition of all the work behind the scenes, from the first sketches of the idea and the game design to the analytics, testing, and partner support that made it all happen.

It’s also a validation of our approach: taking a risk on a mechanic that was a bit unusual and putting players first. Winning this doesn’t feel like the finish line; it’s more like a spark. It gives the entire team the energy to keep experimenting, improving, and pushing the game forward.

Q: Just how big is Aviamasters™ right now? Can you share some numbers that highlight its success?

Aviamasters™ has grown tremendously over the past year. It reached over 1 billion people, had more than 450,000 social mentions, and saw over 1,200% growth in new players and a 2,400% increase in bet count.

The game has also become an entry point for other BGaming products. More than 36% of players move on to explore the rest of our portfolio. Beyond the numbers, Aviamasters™ has become a flagship for BGaming: it’s consistently featured front and center at industry events and draws a lot of attention from visitors wherever we showcase it.

Q: You recently rolled out the X-mas edition of the game. What can players expect in this new version?

Aviamasters™ X-mas is more than just a visual new version, it’s a whole seasonal experience. It brings holiday spirit to every round, with themed visuals and subtle details that make it feel like a special event.

The core mechanic stays the same, so the game still feels familiar, but the update is designed to boost excitement and engagement during a period when players are especially active. Seasonal updates like this help keep the game feeling fresh and relevant.

Q: Is there anything you can tease about future updates for Aviamasters™?

BGaming is already moving forward with the next chapter of Aviamasters™, set for early spring. The update will introduce new features and gameplay options, expanding the game beyond what players are familiar with today, along with some exciting collaborations.

One thing we’re particularly excited about is a custom version we’re developing with BGaming LatAm ambassador, John Vlogs. It’s a chance to experiment with the game in a completely new context and give players a unique experience.