J. Clement
Research lead covering internet and gaming
Mobile gaming market worldwide - Statistics & Facts
Mobile gaming has taken the world by storm. Less than three decades after the first mobile game was introduced to the market, this portable form of entertainment has transformed the global gaming landscape and become a popular pastime for millions of players worldwide. In 2022, the mobile gaming content market was worth an estimated 140.5 billion U.S. dollars, and according to the latest projections, this figure will surpass 173.4 billion by 2026 as mobile adoption and smartphone usage continue to hit new peaks. Today, mobile gaming accounts for approximately 51 percent of total video game revenue worldwide, thanks to digital frontrunners such as the United States and the Asia-Pacific region.
Unlocking access to the mobile gaming universe
While traditional gaming formats require consoles, monitors, and other hardware, the mobile revolution has granted gaming access to millions of potential players. Smartphone or tablet users can choose from several hundred thousand gaming apps available on Google Play, Apple’s App Store, and other app stores alike. In 2021, the number of gaming apps downloaded worldwide stood at an impressive 55.5 billion.Top mobile game publishers
Mobile games have become the driving force behind the rapid growth of the global video gaming market, but which companies are behind the wheel? As of 2021, Tencent is the leading iPhone gaming app publisher worldwide in terms of revenue and the third-largest publisher based on downloads. The Chinese tech conglomerate has been expanding its gaming empire for several years, fueled by the ever-growing demand for mobile gaming content in the Asia-Pacific region. As for the leading gaming app publishers in the Google Play Store, Artifex Mundi and King current lead the field as casual game companies usually head the top of the mobile gaming publisher revenue rankings.Popular mobile gaming apps
A snapshot: Dessert DIY was the leading gaming app in the Google Play Store in June 2022. The ranking of the top mobile games rarely changes much although there are the occasional movers and shakers which often disappear after a few months or even weeks. In 2021, PUBG Mobile and Honor of Kings, both distributed by Tencent, were the highest-grossing mobile games worldwide, with global player spending of 2.01 and 1.65 billion U.S. dollars, respectively. While Coin Master was by far the most profitable gaming app on Android, the ranking of top-grossing iPhone gaming apps was led by Pokémon Go, Honor of Kings, and Monster Strike. These, like many other successful mobile games, can be downloaded and played for free, though users can make in-app purchases to unlock additional content and enhance their gaming experience.
