Mobile Games Statistics That Will Blow Your Mind in 2024

I don’t know if you do, but do you remember a time when PC gamers used to belittle mobile games? It used to be a scene where mobile games were not seen as good enough or impactful enough. And, boy, have those days passed! Today, the mobile gaming industry is so big and diverse that it keeps growing.

In this article, you will find some mind-blowing stats about mobile games.

General Mobile Games Statistics

We will share some mind-boggling numbers about the mobile games industry.

• Despite a decline in the mobile gaming industry during the lockdown, the gaming market stabilized by the start of 2024.
• In 2023, the mobile gaming market generated over $184 billion in revenue. This number marked a 0.6% increase compared to the previous year.
• Industry analysts expect significant growth in the mobile gaming industry by 2026. Some numbers are genuinely mind-blowing. For instance, there is an expected increase of 6.3% in-game players by the end of next year. Similarly, the year-on-year growth is expected to be around 2.6%.
• Like other industries, mobile games are also expected to utilize generative AI for multiple aspects.
• In particular, AI will assist in game design and creating better trends and analytics, enhancing overall user experiences and development efficiencies.
• According to 2023 data, the Asia-Pacific remains the largest market for games and mobile games. This dominance is expected to continue, with growth projected to support and expand the Asia-Pacific markets in the coming years.
• It is reported that there are more than 3.26 billion active gamers worldwide. While paid games have their place in the market, free-to-play mobile games generate the most revenue via app stores. These games achieve this by promoting in-app purchases and subscriptions.
• About 38% of the global gaming user base falls within the 18 to 34 age range, highlighting a significant demographic for the industry.
• Action, Puzzle, and Casual are the top genres in the mobile gaming category.
• In-app purchases remain one of the highest sources of income for mobile game developers. In 2022, these purchases amounted to $70 billion, significantly contributing to the industry’s overall market share.
• Although free-to-play mobile games are the most popular, they generate less revenue from advertisements, with annual revenue from ads reaching only $30 billion.
• Despite their slow start, AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality) based games, such as Pokémon Go, are expected to dominate the market by the end of 2025.
• These games are projected to have an estimated market size of $20 billion, signaling a shift towards more immersive gaming experiences.

• Compared to other applications, mobile games have a high customer retention rate. It is reported that 30% of mobile gamers play these games daily.
• Additionally, 46% of the US population is actively playing games, meaning one in two Americans you meet is likely spending a lot of time on mobile games.

Mobile Games Market Share Statistics

Now, we shall dig a little deeper into the market share of mobile games.

• Thanks to the number of mobile devices, the mobile gaming industry is responsible for more than 50% of the global gaming market.
• This means that the number of people who play mobile games surpasses those who play on consoles and PCs.
• In terms of platform distribution, Android dominates with close to 70% of the market share, while iOS lags with 30%.
• These numbers can vary depending on the region. For instance, Asia is the most dominant gaming market, contributing 50% of the global market share.
• On the other hand, North America accounts for 20% of the contribution, and Europe stands at 15%.

• The genre market share analysis indicates the domination of games from categories such as Casual, Puzzle, Action, and RPG.
• Of these, 60% of downloads are for Casual games, while Puzzle games have around 15% of the market share.
• Action games account for 10% of the market share, and RPG games also take up 15%.

• Despite their age, titles like Clash of Clans, Candy Crush Saga, Roblox, and Subway Surfers continue to contribute significantly to the overall gaming marketplace on mobile devices.
• India and Brazil are two emerging markets for mobile gaming, leading many developers to focus their efforts on these regions.
• The market penetration rate of mobile games is a whopping 90%, meaning that 9 out of 10 Android devices are likely to have at least one game installed.
• Additionally, the social engagement of mobile games, which accounts for 70% of total app engagement time, further boosts their popularity.
• Subscription models are becoming an essential revenue generation strategy for mobile games, working alongside in-app purchases, which serve as currency for in-game transactions.
• It’s reported that, on average, users spend 25 to 30 minutes daily playing mobile games.
• The market also exhibits increasing growth and sustenance of the freemium model, where the core game is free to play but can be enhanced through in-app purchases.

Popular Companies in Mobile Games

Do you want to know which companies dominate the mobile games industry?

• The top mobile game publishers include major players such as Tencent, Supercell, Activision Blizzard, and Electronic Arts.
• In addition, publishers like Zynga hold a significant market share, particularly due to their popular social games.
• According to reports from 2022, Tencent generates the most revenue in the gaming industry.
• This success comes from games such as Honor of Kings, League of Legends, and PUBG Mobile, among others.
• Tencent’s substantial contributions to the global mobile gaming market include developing its games and investing in multiple publishing ventures such as Epic Games, Ubisoft, and Activision Blizzard.
• Additionally,  Sony Interactive Entertainment division is a major player in the mobile games market, with a reported revenue of $25 billion in 2022 alone. 
• Apple also garners significant revenue from gaming applications in the App Store, amounting to $15 billion in 2022. Among publication houses, Activision Blizzard with an approximate revenue of $8.5 billion in 2022.
• Popular games such as Candy Crush Saga, World of Warcraft, and Call of Duty have contributed significantly to the company’s success.
• Spread across these games, Activision Blizzard boasts a large user base of close to 400 million monthly active users. Epic Games is another core player in the mobile gaming industry, known for influential titles like Fortnite and Rocket League.
• Additionally, the Unreal Engine from Epic Games has been foundational for many other popular games on Android and iOS. 
• Fortnite, one of the most popular games available on Android and iOS, reportedly has more than 350 million registered users.
• In 2023, some top mobile games included Marvel Snap, Vampire Survivors, Rocket League Sideswipe, Pokémon Go, and Call of Duty: Mobile.
• Unsurprisingly, none of these apps are paid but generate revenue through in-app and one-time purchases.
• Supercell is another company that scored $2 billion in revenue in 2022.
• This success is made possible through games such as Clash of Clans, Brawl Stars, Boom Beach, and Clash Royale.
• All these games are free to play but offer monetization options through in-app purchases and subscriptions.
• Garena is another developer who experienced a noticeable revenue growth in 2022, with $10 billion. The company has become famous through games such as Call of Duty Mobile (in South Asia) and Free Fire.
• Other notable studios in the mobile gaming market include EA Mobile, Activision Blizzard King, Glu Mobile, and Rovio Entertainment.
• Also in June 2022, Tencent reported app revenue of $77.8 million.

• On the other hand, Supersonic Studios is one of the leading publishers making the most out of revenue from the Google Play Store.

Mobile Games Usage Patterns

Mobile games have become an inseparable part of billions of lives. Here are some interesting usage patterns.

• The daily active user base of mobile games is 2.7 billion, meaning that these many people play at least one of the many mobile games installed on their devices.
• The usage of these games results in an average session length of 25-30 minutes every day.
• The daily use of mobile games is so widespread that 62% of active gamers admit to playing at least once a day.
• The demographics of usage patterns for mobile games show some unsurprising facts. 20% of the user base is 18-24 years old, whereas 26% falls within the age range of 25-34.
• Notably, 22% of the overall user base is contributed by people over 55.

• Unlike many other sectors in the technological world, mobile gaming exhibits gender parity, with 45-50% of the player base being women.
• Regarding device usage, smartphones are the most popular option for playing games, with 80% of the gamer base using a smartphone.
• On the other hand, tablets contribute to only 20% of the devices used for gaming. However, it is notable that people who use tablets for gaming tend to spend more time on each session.
• Additionally, due to the widespread availability and affordability of Android devices, 70% of the mobile gaming market comes from Android, while iOS dominates the remaining 30%.
• The Google Play Store facilitates more than 50 billion game downloads every year. On the other hand, the Apple App Store manages only 30 million downloads. However, considering the difference in user base, the performance of the App Store is pretty impressive.

Mobile Games’ Social Impact

Mobile gaming has a definite impact on social lives. Here are some interesting numbers and facts.

• Contrary to common narratives, 70% of mobile gamers say they turn to these games for relaxation and stress relief.
• Some studies have noted the role of mobile games in enhancing cognitive, memory, and attention skills.
• Even though mobile games are often considered a distraction, their impact on introverts connecting with friends, family, and peer groups is impressive.
• Online communities based on mobile games on platforms such as Discord and Reddit are reported to contribute to the social well-being of gamers.
• Multiplayer games are particularly popular, with 40% of gamers reporting using multiplayer games and utilizing features like live chat and team-based gameplay.
• Educational games have also gained prominence in the mobile gaming market in recent years, with Duolingo being one of the popular options.
• Additionally, kids from disadvantaged backgrounds have a better chance of improving their skills through skill development-focused mobile games.
• Some studies have also indicated that many games assist players in improving positive habits, such as regular exercise. An example is Pokémon Go, which encourages gamers to get outside and engage in physical activity as part of the gameplay.
• Mobile game usage patterns are not without drawbacks. Increased screen time is a growing concern for many parents.
• Many mobile gamers use social media to share their achievements with mobile games. This is an indicator of how invested players are in the gameplay.

Mobile Games Market Evolution

Here’s a quick overview of the evolution of the mobile games market.

Over the past 30 years, the mobile gaming space has seen several key milestones:

• 1997: Nokia launched the iconic Snake game on the Nokia 6110 device.
• 2002: Space Invaders gained popularity as a mobile game.
• 2008: Apple launched the App Store with 500 apps, including various mobile games.
• 2009: Angry Birds was released.
• 2012: Candy Crush Saga hit the market.
• 2013: Flappy Bird became a viral sensation.
• 2016: Pokémon Go encouraged players to explore the outdoors.
• 2019: Call of Duty: Mobile and PUBG Mobile were launched.

The Apple App Store and Google Play Store feature thousands of mobile games today.

Conclusion

We hope these statistics helped you understand the sheer growth of mobile games in the past decade. Here is something you might forget.

These numbers are more than themselves. For instance, one cannot write the history of the 21^st century without mentioning the impact of these games and the cultural notions associated with them.

I believe I have also provided some insight into the sector.