Despite mobile games are ranked second (after social media) in terms of time spent by U.S. adults on devices, they are expected to generate around $100 billion or 37% of the total market revenue this year. What is the most popular game genre and which mobile games resonate better with mobile players? Let’s weigh in together.
Top 10 mobile game genres*
It is no secret that doing a proper market research and knowing the target audience before having your vendor plunge into mobile app development can be a real game changer. According to Admob, 61% of new smartphone owners download a mobile game within the first week of ownership, which is higher than any other type of apps. That makes choosing the right niche even more crucial. Arcade Arcade games have taken the lead in mobile gaming competition and account for 63.1 million downloads in 2016. This genre normally focuses more on the gameplay rather than on a story or content by offering players short levels that become challenging and difficult to complete as a game progresses. Short play times, instant challenges and a simple gameplay – that’s what characterizes arcade games best of all. For example, such arcade games as Minecraft, Geometry Dash, Space Frontier, Rider, Subway Surfers, Fruit Ninja and Angry Birds Friends have won over millions of players and won’t climb anywhere down. Action Action mobile games have been snapping at arcade’s heels with 61.5 million downloads. This genre of games emphasizes physical challenges, reflexes, reaction time and hand-eye coordination. Action games primarily focus on keeping main characters safe and alive, while they are placed in a shooting or any other challenging environment. For example, Gangstar city, The Musketeers, Infected Wars, Flippy Knife, World of Tanks Blitz, and Legacy of Discord are currently among the top free and grossing action mobile games. Puzzle Puzzle mobile games account for almost a half of the number of arcade game downloads, which is 35.5 million. They are focused on users’ problem-solving skills, word competition and, for instance, sequence solving. Players are normally given an unlimited amount of time and attempts to complete a puzzle. Among the most popular examples (with the number of downloads not less than 10,000) that are currently in demand can be named Linelight, Wood Block Puzzle, Pirate Treasures, Jellipop match and Fishdom.
Simulation
Simulation games have generated 34.1 million downloads. Simulation of real-world activities is generally taken as a basis when creating simulation mobile games. Sometimes, there is no strictly defined goals in such games and players are empowered to freely control a chosen game character. Dragon Mania Legends, Pocket Tower, Stickman Destruction 3 Heroes and Mouse Simulator are randomly picked examples of simulation games that have gone viral so far and have more than 1 million downloads. Adventure 31.8 million mobile game players have taken their pick in favor of this mobile game genre as many mobile gamers enjoy being taken on an adventure. The focus in such games is placed on a story and is normally designed for a single player as the emphasis is made on the character here. Top examples include Leo and Tig, Roblox, Hidden City: Mystery of Shadows, Seekers Notes, and Alice in the Mirrors. Casual This mobile game genre is popular with 23.9 casual players, i.e. gamers that do not have certain game preferences and choose products with simple rules and a low learning curve. For example, Homescapes, My Talking Tom, Township, Hay Day and Gardenscapes. Sports Sports games have generated 21.5 million downloads. This genre emphasizes either users’ doing sports or creating strategies for in-game team players while applying their management skills. The high level of competitiveness underlies sports games. FIFA Mobile Soccer, Gold Clash, 8 Ball Pool, and True Skate are currently on demand on the app stores (iOS, Android). Strategy 20.2 million mobile users have chosen to download a strategy game. As the name implies, this genre focuses on planning skills of mobile game players with an emphasis either strategy or tactics within the gameplay. For example, Clash Royale, Clash of Clans, The Escapists, Iron Marines, War, and Magic have been harvesting fruits of success for a while already. Role Playing 15.4 million users have chosen this mobile game genre, where they get a chance to become a part of fictional settings and play there the chosen roles. Players are offered to take the full responsibility for their actions.RPG (role playing games) are often derided in several sub-genres, such as action RPG, tactical RPG, tactical massive RPG, for instance. Neo Monsters, Day R Survival, Magic Rush: Heroes and Goddess: Primal Chaos are some of the examples that currently enjoy popularity. Card Card games have generated 13.8 million downloads. Despite card games has been on mobile devices long since before smartphones, users are still choosing them as a means of entertainment. With time card games surely evolve, however they are normally designed to take as low phone space as possible in order to settle down for good (or at least for a long while) in users; mobile devices. There are card games that have been chosen and played by users for decades, for example, Solitaire, Poker Games: World Poker Club, Regins, and Hearthstone. Conclusion While there is no common truth concerning what mobile genre to choose to be a success, knowing mobile game genre popularity can help you swim like a fish in the pool of mobile games. R-Style Lab recommends studying the market properly to make an informed decision before passing the idea to the development company. *These data are based on the research results generated by Statista [1].
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