App Annie analyzed the revenue and other metrics of mobile games for 2019. And also named the most popular genres and games of the past year. 

The firm published its analytics in the form of a report.

General figures

  • Last year, 72% of all mobile app users spent on games. That’s $86 billion.
  • Since 2017, the number of games with an annual revenue of $100 million has increased by 59%. There are 140 such titles. App Annie calls this growth “impressive”.
  • Since 2017, the number of games that have earned over $ 5 million has increased by 17%.

Distribution of mobile games by income level in 2019 (for iOS and Android)In addition, in 2019, it was on mobile titles that users spent a quarter more money than on PC, console and other types of games.

  • In 2020, spending on mobile games may exceed $100 billion. Although in one of the previous reports, App Annie predicted an amount of $75 billion.

Comparison of global user spending on mobile games and other types of games in 2019Popular genres and games

  • Casual games are more popular than other mobile genres. They account for 47% of downloads.
  • The most downloaded genres are arcade games and puzzles. Casual gamers spend the most time in the latter. The leader among puzzles is Anipop.
  • Installations of midcore and hardcore games accounted for 18% of all game downloads in mobile. The most installations among the non—criminal titles are those of the Chinese battle royal Garena Free Fire.
  • However, it is in the top midcore and hardcore titles that players spend 55% of their time (when compared with casual games). Most of all — in PUBG Mobile. It has become the number one game in the action genre on Android by the amount of time spent in it.

The most downloaded game genres from the top 100 by downloads on iOS and AndroidOnly 1% of the time players spent in casino genre games.

  • But they account for 6% of all user expenses. The highest earnings are from Coin Master.

Distribution of hours spent on the 100 most downloaded Google Play gamesIn 2019, players spent the largest amount on the Fate/Grand Order mobile RPG (among core titles).

We also add that the trend of the year was the transition of traditional console and PC franchises to mobile. For example, one of the leaders of the shooter segment — Call of Duty — appeared in the form of Call of Duty: Mobile.

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