Research Summary
The report provides an in-depth analysis of the mobile gaming industry in 2023, highlighting the performance of various genres in terms of downloads and revenue. It also offers insights into the potential trends and growth areas for 2024.
Key Takeaways
Performance of Mobile Game Genres
- Location/AR Games Surge: The Location/AR category saw the biggest increase in downloads, growing by 23.1% year-over-year, largely due to Niantic’s launch of Monster Hunter Now.
- Decline in Card Games and Shooters: The Card Games genre declined by 15.5% year-over-year, while Shooter games saw an 8.1% decrease in downloads. The decline in Card Games was attributed to the dwindling downloads of Yu Gi Oh! Master Duel, while the decrease in Shooter games was due to several factors including the banning of Battlegrounds Mobile India and the cancellation of Apex Legends Mobile.
- Hypercasual Games Revenue Growth: Despite a 7.0% decrease in downloads, Hypercasual games saw a significant 43.6% increase in revenue, indicating the rise of hybridcasual games. Notable performers in this genre include Pocket Champs, Mob Control, and Alien Invasion.
- Arcade and Puzzle Games Thrive: The Arcade genre grew by 21.3%, largely due to the success of Eggy Party. Puzzle games also managed to increase both downloads and revenue, defying market trends.
- RPG Genre Struggles: Despite a 6% increase in downloads, the RPG genre saw a 6.7% decline in revenue. The underperformance of previously strong titles like Genshin Impact and Fantasy Westward Journey contributed to this decline.
Actionable Insights
- Explore the Potential of Hybridcasual Games: The significant revenue growth of Hypercasual games despite a decrease in downloads indicates the potential of hybridcasual games. Publishers may want to explore this genre and consider developing hybridcasual games.
- Monitor the Performance of Location/AR Games: The surge in downloads for Location/AR games suggests a growing interest in this genre. Stakeholders should monitor the performance of these games and consider investing in the development of Location/AR games.
- Consider the Impact of External Factors: The decline in Shooter games downloads was partly due to external factors such as game bans. Stakeholders should consider the potential impact of such factors when planning their strategies.
- Investigate the Success of Puzzle Games: The success of Puzzle games in increasing both downloads and revenue, despite market trends, suggests effective strategies by the publishers. Stakeholders should investigate these strategies and consider implementing similar ones in their games.
- Assess the Performance of RPG Games: The decline in RPG games revenue despite an increase in downloads indicates potential issues with monetization strategies. Stakeholders should assess the performance of these games and consider revising their monetization strategies.
