Mobile gaming has evolved rapidly in recent years, with the majority of the population relying on their smartphones as a primary source of entertainment. Today, the mobile gaming industry has amassed a worldwide revenue of $77. 2 billion, showcasing the potential for mobile games to become a lucrative venture for developers. However, with so many games to choose from, it can be challenging to determine which mobile games are the most profitable. In this article, we will dissect the most profitable mobile games by revenue, downloads, average revenue per user (arpu), and genre-specific games.
The State Of Mobile Gaming Today
Mobile gaming has become a significant contributor to the gaming industry, with mobile games expected to earn $152 billion in revenue by 2022. The appetite for mobile games has only increased, with the average mobile gamer spending 2. 4 hours a day playing games on their smartphone. In response, developers continue to create new games catering to the diverse preferences of gamers worldwide, whether they want to enjoy casual games, puzzle games, or hardcore strategy games.
Most Profitable Mobile Games By Revenue
Games that generate the highest revenue are usually the most popular among mobile games. The top grossing mobile games in 2021 include:
1. Honor of kings – a multiplayer online battle arena (moba) game developed and published by tencent. The game generated approximately $10. 7 billion in revenue in 2020.
2. Pubg mobile – a battle royale game developed by tencent that has amassed over 1 billion downloads and grossed $2. 6 billion in revenue in 2020.
3. Garena free fire – a battle royale game developed by garena that generated $2. 2 billion in 2020.
These top-grossing games demonstrate that multiplayer games are among the most lucrative in the mobile gaming market.
Most Profitable Mobile Games By Downloads
Games that garner the highest number of downloads can also earn significant revenue, as they have the potential to attract a larger audience. The most downloaded mobile games in 2021 include:
1. Subway surfers – an endless runner game developed by sybo games and kiloo. The game has been downloaded over 2. 8 billion times worldwide.
2. Candy crush saga – a puzzle game developed by king. The game has over 3. 1 billion downloads worldwide.
3. Mario kart tour – a racing game published by nintendo. The game has already been downloaded over 200 million times since its launch in 2019.
These mobile games’ success reveals that casual games such as endless runners or puzzle games can be just as profitable as more complex multiplayer games.
Most Profitable Mobile Games By Arpu
The average revenue per user is another crucial metric in determining which mobile games are the most profitable. The most profitable mobile games by arpu include:
1. Fortnite – a battle royale game developed by epic games. The game’s arpu reached $9. 30 in 2019.
2. Pokemon go – an augmented reality game developed by niantic. The game’s arpu hit $8. 50 in 2019.
3. Clash of clans – a mobile strategy game developed and published by supercell. The game’s arpu reached $6. 70 in 2019.
These games reveal that the arpu is highly reliant on in-app purchases and strong engagement from the game’s players.
Most Profitable Mobile Games By Genre
Players’ tastes and preferences vary widely, which can determine which mobile game genre generates the most revenue. The most profitable mobile genres include:
Most Profitable Strategy Games
Strategy games are a popular genre among mobile gamers, and some mobile games can generate significant revenue, such as:
1. Clash of clans – a mobile strategy game developed and published by supercell. The game generated $1. 4 billion in revenue in 2020.
2. Rise of kingdoms – a strategy game developed and published by lilith games. The game grossed over $1 billion in revenue in 2020.
3. Lords mobile – a mobile strategy game published and developed by igg. The game generated approximately $652 million in revenue in 2020.
These strategy games’ success reveals that games with in-app purchases and immersive gameplay continue to be attractive to mobile gamers worldwide.
Most Profitable Puzzle Games
Puzzle games have proven equally as successful on mobile devices, as they present fun and straightforward gameplay. The most profitable mobile puzzle games include:
1. Candy crush saga – a puzzle game developed by king. The game has grossed over $212 million in revenue in 2021 alone.
2. Homescapes – a puzzle game published by playrix. The game grossed over $246 million in revenue in 2020.
3. Gardenscapes – a puzzle game published by playrix. The game generated $200 million in revenue in 2020.
These puzzle games’ success reveals that casual games can still be incredibly profitable with in-app purchases.
Most Profitable Simulation Games
Simulation games take on a wide range of scenarios, such as city-building or farming. The most profitable mobile simulation games include:
1. Dragon city – a simulation game developed by socialpoint. The game generated $436 million in revenue in 2020.
2. Idle heroes – a simulation game published by dhgames. The game grossed over $380 million in revenue in 2020.
3. Big farm – a farming simulation game published by goodgame studios. The game generated $92. 9 million in revenue in 2020.
These simulation games’ success reveals that players are interested in immersive games that allow them to experience a different kind of life on their mobile devices.
Mobile gaming is now a critical component of the gaming industry, with numerous mobile games offering players a chance to immerse themselves in unique experiences. The most profitable mobile games range from casual puzzle games to immersive multiplayer games, requiring in-app purchases to achieve financial success. Developers need to keep players entertained while thinking of ways to integrate monetisation features into games without affecting gameplay. Ultimately, mobile gaming presents an exciting market with substantial growth potential for those who can create engaging, fun games.