Mobile Games Take Over: 18 Most Popular games In The World

Mobile games have become a dominant force in the gaming industry, surpassing console and PC games in terms of both volume and revenue. The popularity of mobile games has skyrocketed in recent years, with thousands of new games being released on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store annually. In fact, mobile games now account for over 50 percent of game revenues. In this article, we will delve into the world of mobile gaming and explore the most popular games, their genres, and their impact on the gaming market.

The Rise of Mobile Games

By the mid-2010s, mobile games had already surpassed console and PC games in terms of both volume and revenue. This gap has continued to widen into the 2020s, with mobile games now accounting for over 50 percent of game revenues. The accessibility and convenience of mobile gaming have contributed to its immense popularity. With smartphones becoming increasingly powerful and affordable, more and more people have access to mobile gaming.

Popularity of Mobile Games

Hundreds of mobile games have achieved massive popularity, with many surpassing 500 million cumulative downloads and a few even breaching the one billion mark. Some of the most popular mobile games include Candy Crush Saga, Garena Free Fire, PUBG Mobile, and Subway Surfers. These games have captured the hearts of millions of players worldwide and continue to attract new players every day.

Expansion of Game Genres

As mobile games have matured, the number of game genres available on mobile platforms has expanded significantly. Mobile games now encompass a wide range of genres, including shooters, adventure games, racing games, and more. Additionally, mobile gaming has given rise to new sub-genres such as merge games, match-3 games, idle simulators, and hypercasual games. These diverse genres cater to the varied interests of mobile gamers and offer something for everyone.

Free-to-Play Model

Unlike console and PC games, the vast majority of mobile games are free to play. This has contributed to the widespread adoption of mobile gaming, as players can enjoy games without any upfront cost. Revenue for mobile games primarily comes from micro-transactions for cosmetics and other in-game improvements, as well as advertisements. While this free-to-play model may result in a substandard experience for competitive gameplay, it has allowed millions of people in lower-income countries to enjoy games that were previously only accessible in Western countries.

Mobile as a Bridge to a New Market

The success of mobile gaming has caught the attention of developers of popular PC and console games. They now see mobile platforms as a bridge to tap into a new market. Companies like Activision, EA Games, Riot Games, and Ubisoft have all launched mobile titles that mirror their console releases but with lower computational requirements. This strategy allows them to reach a broader audience and capitalize on the growing mobile gaming market.

Most Popular Mobile Games

Now let’s dive into the data and statistics of the most popular mobile games. We will explore the top games overall, as well as the most popular games in specific countries.

Most Popular Games Key Statistics

Here are some key statistics about the most popular mobile games:

• Subway Surfers was the most popular mobile game in 2022, with 304 million downloads.
• It was the most popular game on both iOS and Google Play.
• Stumble Guys experienced the most growth, with 200 million more downloads in 2022 compared to 2021.

Most Popular Games by Country

Different countries have unique preferences when it comes to mobile games. Here are the most popular games in some of the largest countries:

• China, India, the United States, and Japan are the three largest countries for mobile game downloads.

Most Popular Games in 2022

In 2022, the most popular game for the second year in a row was Subway Surfers. However, Stumble Guys experienced significant growth and reached second place with over 250 million downloads.

Most Popular Games in the United States 2022

In the United States, Subway Surfers was also the most popular game in 2022, with 51 million downloads. Roblox edged out Stumble Guys for second place.

Most Popular Games in the United Kingdom 2022

A clone of the popular word game from The New York Times, Wordle, was the most popular game in the United Kingdom, reaching 5.1 million downloads.

Most Popular Games in India 2022

Ludo King was the most popular game in India in 2022, with over 100 million downloads. Free Fire MAX, a new version of Garena Free Fire, came second with 82 million downloads.

Most Popular Games by Platform

Different platforms have varying levels of popularity when it comes to mobile game downloads and consumer spending. Here is a breakdown of the most popular games on different platforms:

• Google Play is responsible for more downloads than the Apple App Store, but Apple generates more consumer spending.

Most Popular Games on Apple App Store 2022

On the Apple App Store in 2022, Subway Surfers and Stumble Guys were the most popular apps, with Roblox dropping to third place.

Most Popular Games on Google Play Store 2022

On the Google Play Store in 2022, Subway Surfers was the most popular app, followed by Stumble Guys and Ludo King.

Most Popular Games by Category

Mobile games span various categories and genres. Here are some of the most popular games in different categories:

Most Popular Arcade Games 2022

The two most popular games of 2022 were in the arcade category. Hyper-casual games Bridge Race and Going Balls both reached over 100 million downloads.

Most Popular Puzzle Games 2022

Candy Crush Saga was the most popular puzzle game in 2022. Other puzzle games like Fishdom and Bubble Shooter, which have similar gameplay to Candy Crush, also achieved high download numbers.

Most Popular RPG Games 2022

Mobile Legends, developed by a subsidiary of ByteDance, was the most downloaded role-playing game in 2022.

Most Popular Simulation Games 2022

The ‘My Talking’ series dominated the simulation genre in 2022, with five of the top ten apps coming from the studio.

Most Popular Adventure Games 2022

Craft games were the most popular sub-genre of adventure games in 2022, with five of the top 10 most downloaded games having “craft” in their name.

Most Popular Shooter Games 2022

The most popular shooter games were from Garena, the publisher behind Free Fire and Free Fire MAX. The majority of downloads came from India.

Most Popular Strategy Games 2022

Merge Master: Dinosaur Monster was the most popular strategy game in 2022, with over 100 million downloads.

Most Popular Games Publishers

AZUR Games, the top publisher by annual downloads, has developed numerous hyper-casual titles such as Stack Ball, Worms Zone.io, and Tank Stars. The company has released over 600 titles.

In conclusion, mobile gaming has become a powerhouse in the gaming industry, surpassing console and PC games in both volume and revenue. The popularity of mobile games can be attributed to their accessibility, diverse genres, and the free-to-play model. The most popular mobile games span various categories and have achieved massive download numbers worldwide. As mobile platforms continue to evolve, we can expect even more innovation and growth in the mobile gaming industry.

Source: https://www.scrollreads.com/