

Updated · Jun 28, 2022
Updated · Jun 21, 2022
Nowadays most people walk around with their mobile phones almost glued to their hands. It seems we really are addicted to our devices. We spend most of our time chatting with friends, scrolling through social media, surfing the Web and playing games, all in the name of keeping our brains entertained. Our eyes are always focused on the small screens and there’s that constant clicking sound that can be heard everywhere.
Here’s an interesting question for you:
What type of apps do you think are most popular?
You’re probably thinking about social media apps or photo editing ones. Or even dating apps, like Tinder, Badoo, etc.
Well, guess what.
You are wrong. At least according to mobile gaming statistics.
Games rule the app world.
Fascinating, right? In a century, widely dominated by Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, where influencers are thought to be the new voice of brands and everyone and their aunt is taking selfies, games are still the number one favorite type of apps for mobile device users.
Now let’s talk numbers.
So let’s break this down, shall we?
Starting with the most recent mobile gaming stats for 2022.
We spend an awful lot of time on our phones.
But what do we do?
Play games, mostly.
Game apps are top-rated among mobile phone users. The COVID-19 lockdown only adds fuel to the fire - a significant number of people resort to mobile gaming to ease boredom.
Wanna know more?
Here are some of the most outstanding mobile gaming statistics.
(Source: Iron Source)
At the end of 2019, mobile games revenue grew to $68.5 billion. However, mobile gaming stats for 2020 show that this figure is estimated to experience a 12% increase by the end of 2020.
(Source: Sensor Tower)
With 35.6 million installs in the month of March alone, the Lion Studios game, “Slap Kings”, earned the title for the most-downloaded game. Gaming industry statistics for 2020 revealed that 13.6% of these installs were from the United States, with India accounting for 9.4%.
(Source: Udonis)
Casual games are generally simpler, shorter, and require less learned skills to play. Mobile game genres statistics for 2020 showed that about 58.86% of people who play mobile games are casual gamers. Puzzle and Arcade mobile games follow closely at 56.5% and 55.08% respectively.
(Source: Statista)
According to mobile gaming statistics for 2022, Asia makes up almost half of the mobile gaming market with approximately $34.114 billion revenue from over 905 million users. China alone generates $21.02 billion which is about 61% of the Asian revenue.
(Source: Sensor Tower)
As of April 2020, PUBG, owned by the Chinese game publisher, Tencent, has generated over $225.2 million in revenue. China, which happens to be the host country, accounts for 58% of its revenue, with 9.6% coming from the United States, and 4.9% from Saudi Arabia.
(Source: Mopub)
Mobile gaming gender statistics show that 4.5% of women who play mobile games pay for the in-app game content, compared to 3.3% of men who do.
(Source: Mopub)
According to mobile game statistics for 2020, 12% of gamers within this age range play board/card games, 11% play puzzle games, and 11% play shooter games.
Although Asian countries are known to top the gaming industry, the United States is not so far behind. According to US mobile game market statistics, the United States is home to over 203 million gamers.
Get ready, we have more US mobile game market statistics prepared for you.
(Source: 42 Matters)
The total number of worldwide Android gaming publishers is set at 164,700. However, US mobile game market statistics show that there are more than 10,144 American Android game publishers.
(Source: 42 Matters)
American game publishers put in extra effort to ensure the availability of their games for both Android and iOS. Only a meager 18% of publishers worldwide can boast of such a feat.
(Source: 42 Matters)
The American company which is best known for its gaming app, “Temple Run” owns 4 mobile games that have been downloaded more than 1.2 billion times worldwide.
The mobile gaming industry seems to be on top of the game. To prove that, we have some interesting facts prepared for you:
Here are random tidbits that you need to know about mobile gaming.
(Source: App Annie)
It’s only logical. Mobile games are easily accessible, provide quick entrainment and rarely ask for any special skills. You can play while waiting for your coffee or in the queue of your local supermarket. Or when using the bathroom. Hey, we’ve all been there! No judgment.
It helps there is such a huge variety of gaming apps. Most of them are easy and don’t require special skills or knowledge, which makes them perfect for basically anyone.
(Source: Hubspot)
Mobile gaming growth is already a force to be reckoned with. With future development like AR coming to the mass customer, this trend shows no sign of slowing down.
(Source: GO-Globe)
And to think it all began in 1997 when Nokia released the groundbreaking Snake. In 2002 games were available for download via WiFi and with App Store launching in 2008 they become a staple in every users’ app collection. True addiction-level gaming arrived in 2012, with the release of Candy Crush.
This little game with a simple premise broke the glass ceiling of the profits everyone thought a mobile game can deliver. Unsurprisingly, other big hits followed suit, as these next few mobile gaming stats will show.
Lo and behold, Candy Crush no longer occupies the gaming throne. It has been overtaken by Fortnite and Pokemon Go.
(Source: Pocket Gamer)
In January 2020, COD Mobile and PUBG top the charts and Pokemon Go is at 9th place.
At this stage, you’re probably wondering:
Who plays mobile games?
Usually when people hear the word “gamer”, they imagine a teenage boy, relentlessly playing World of Warcraft. We are all aware of that stereotype. Especially the older generations tend to think games are only for kids and young adults, if that. It’s easy to see where the confusion comes from – for years, young men have led most gaming fanbases. They are the most vocal, easily recognized group of them all.
If you’re one of those people who think that the same rules apply to the mobile gaming industry, then prepare to be even more amazed:
Most mobile gamers are women. Middle-aged women.
(Source: Highsnobiety)
Female gamers also play more often and are more willing to pay for games. That makes them more valuable than male players. What was thought to be a male kingdom turns out to be dominated by women.
(Source: Highsnobiety)
Yeah, you heard that right. The mobile gaming demographics show that this gaming universe is mainly inhabited by women.
But that’s not all, folks.
(Source: Imarc)
That’s hardly the end of the surprises we have prepared for you.
(Source: Technology and Adolescent Mental Health)
And society here blames teenagers for always being on their phones and never reading books. Hypocritical much?
Here comes the catch though:
(Source: Applovin)
People around the age of 55 don’t really consider themselves gamers, although they still spend a lot of time playing. We are going to blame the stereotype for their unwillingness to show their true colors. Actually, the percentage of older people who have never played a mobile game is under 20%. That comes to show that living in such a fast-paced environment has made us all constantly entertainment-hungry.
Now let’s take a look at mobile game revenue by genre. We figured out a lot of people play, but what exactly do they enjoy?
Here’s your answer:
Puzzle games.
More than half of smartphone users prefer puzzle games. The honorary second place goes to arcade games. Action and racing games are also quite popular, along with strategy and adventure ones. Simulation and word games finish at the bottom of most mobile gaming statistics.
(Source: GameSpace)
Hyper-casual games are also huge among customers.
But wait:
What exactly is a hyper-casual game?
To put it simply, it’s a minimalist game with a simple user-friendly design. They’re engaging and don’t really require above-average skills. Good examples would be Helix Jump, Love balls, SpinUp Jump, DunkShot. You get the idea.
Mobile gaming stats suggest their simplicity is what makes them immensely popular among users. Their popularity is only expected to grow in 2022.
We should pay special attention to the aforementioned PUBG and newcomers, such as Dauntless and even Plants vs. Zombies 3. AR technology is becoming more and more popular and is soon to turn into the new craze, once more games are released. It is interesting to see what kind of game revenue they will generate.
We saw the truth about females being more passionate players than males. Next, we found that middle-aged people tend to play mobile games more than teenagers. Finally, we pointed out the latest trends among genres and shined some light on the newcomers.
But there’s one more important question we have yet to answer:
Who plays more - the Android or the iOS camp?
Let’s find out.
(Source: GO-Globe)
They are seen as eight times more valuable than iOS players.
(Source: WePC)
The latest trends in gaming suggest this percentage is set to increase in the upcoming years.
(Source: WePC)
Unsurprisingly, most of the casual and hyper-casual games that users seem to love are available to us because of Ketchapp.
So how much is the gaming industry worth in 2018?
(Source: GO-Globe)
Mobile games managed to grab 46% of the global gaming revenue in 2017. In 2018 the number went up by 5% and it grew by 3% more in 2019. In 2020, that number was expected to reach 59%.
Many claim smartphones are losing their popularity. Their predictions fall short once we see how mobile gaming is taking over the world. Numbers do speak louder than words.
The modern mobile device user mostly uses their phone to play games. The casual and hyper-casual games rule the gaming world, with AR technologies coming to claim the throne. Interestingly, most players are middle-aged and not teenagers and most of them are women.
Hope you found these mobile gaming statistics as fascinating as I did! Until next time!
Teodora Dobrilova
Teodora devoted her whole life to words – reading, writing and trying to be original on social media. She got certified in digital marketing but still feels she’s not cool enough to be an influencer. (We all disagree – she influences the team pretty well.) She finished a master’s degree focused in Literature, Publishing, Mass Media. Her hobbies include traveling, and reading. Teddy hopes that yoga will be the thing to finally teach her some patience and show her the path toward world domination. Maybe modern tech can also help her with that.
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