In 2024, mobile gaming saw huge growth. About 100 games made over a billion dollars. Companies like Tencent led the way with 12 big earners, three in the top 10. Honor of Kings stood out, making $1.65 billion and leading the chart. This game ruled in China, showing a big change in what gamers like. top grossing mobile games 2024
Key Takeaways
- Honor of Kings leads with $1.65 billion revenue.
- Approximately 100 mobile games exceeded $1 billion in revenue.
- Tencent has 12 high-earning games, with three in the top 10.
- Significant shift in the gaming landscape, toppling past leaders.
- China remains a predominant market driver.
Introduction to 2024’s Mobile Gaming Landscape
In 2024, the mobile gaming world is shaped by new ways to play and make money. Developers are finding creative strategies to keep players coming back and spending more.
Games like Genshin Impact are leading the way, making $35 million in January 2024. NIKKE and Fate/Grand Order also did well, bringing in $27 million each. This shows big earners keeping a strong position in the market.
Not every game, though, had a good year. Black Clover M’s income fell by 70.46%, dropping to $5.14 million. Outerplane and Neural Cloud also lost earnings, with just $280,000 and $115,000 in revenue.
However, Arknights broke through, boosting its revenue by 169.70% to $8.9 million. These shifts underline how the mobile gaming field is always changing. It shows that developers are quick to use new technologies to improve games.
Blockchain gaming in 2024 is also on the rise. This new area offers more secure and quicker ways to play games and make money. With things like account abstraction, games are not only safer but also more fun and profitable.
Honor of Kings (Arena of Valor): King of Grossing Anticipating mobile games
Honor of Kings, or Arena of Valor in the West, stands out as a top mobile game. It’s especially popular in the MOBA genre. Tencent, its developer, used its big platform user base well. This helped the game grow. Players love its exciting battles in a fantasy world full of mythic beings.
Game Overview and Features
Honor of Kings lets you pick from 106 heroes, each with unique skills and ways to play. This keeps the game interesting. You get to try new strategies and find ways to win. It has great graphics, fun gameplay, and a big esports scene. These things make the game loved by many.
Revenue Insights
Tencent has made a lot of money from games, thanks in part to Honor of Kings. This game has made nearly $10 billion since it started. One time, a special skin for the hero Zhao Yun sold $22 million in a day. Tencent’s game earnings have grown from $5 billion in 2015 to $25 billion in 2021, showing a growth of 23.7% each year.
Player Demographics and Engagement
In China, lots of people play Honor of Kings. It had 100 million daily players in November 2020. Tencent’s large user bases on WeChat and QQ helped it reach more players. In the game’s biggest moment, a Chinese team won the esports gold at the Asian Games. They beat Malaysia 2-0.
Candy Crush Saga: Evergreen Puzzle Phenomenon
Candy Crush Saga is loved by many for its simple and fun matching game. It’s one of the best mobile game apps around. People really like it for how fun and catchy it is, and for how it’s designed to keep you wanting more.
Game Mechanics and Popularity
The game is easy to understand but hard to put down. You match candies to win, using cool special candies to help. It hooks all kinds of players, from those who play a little now and then to super fans. And it keeps everyone coming back with its smooth design and fun challenges.
Monetization Model
Candy Crush Saga is free to start, but you can buy things to help you play better. This way of making money has made the game super successful, earning over $12 billion! People love how buying stuff makes the game even more fun. With its smart looks, fun prizes, and clever money-making ways, Candy Crush Saga leads the way in puzzle games.
PUBG Mobile: Battle Royale Continues
PUBG Mobile is a top mobile game known for its battle royale style. It has become a big name in the market. The game draws players into a fight for survival with elements borrowed from its PC version. It lets you customize your character with many options you can buy in the app.
Gameplay Experience
Players battle on maps that get smaller and smaller. The main goal is to stay alive by beating your rivals. There are different ways to play, whether you go it alone or team up with friends. Its amazing graphics and simple controls make it a favorite among gamers.
Revenue and Monetization Strategy
Since it began, PUBG Mobile has made over $11 billion. Its success is thanks to ways it lets players buy cosmetic items, weapon skins, and a Battle Pass. It was the third highest earning game in 2022, making $1.1 billion, even though it made less money than the $2 billion in 2021.
| Year | Revenue (in billions) | Downloads (in millions) | Daily Active Players (in millions) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $2 | 150 | 45 |
| 2022 | $1.1 | 100 | 20 |
Even with some setbacks, like being banned in India, PUBG Mobile keeps its strong following. It changes and grows to stay interesting for its fans. This shows how PUBG Mobile can face challenges and still do well in the ever-changing game market.
Monster Strike: Japan’s Mobile Gaming Giant
Monster Strike is a top mobile game in Japan, mixing puzzles and strategy in an amazing way. It has changed as gaming has changed, building a large following and making a lot of money.
Combining Puzzle and Strategy
Monster Strike is special because it blends puzzles with strategy in a fun way. Players work together in the game, making it more fun and social. This unique mix keeps players coming back and brings in new ones.
Effective Monetization Techniques
The way Monster Strike makes money is smart. With its ‘gacha mechanics,’ players can buy rare characters and items to make the game better. Because of this, the game has earned over $11 billion since it started.
| Year | Revenue |
|---|---|
| 2016 | $1.61 billion |
| 2017–2018 | $4.91 billion |
| 2019 | $1.5 billion |
| 2020 | $958 million |
Though Honor of Kings has made more money, Monster Strike is a key part of the mobile gaming world. It keeps evolving and keeping players interested, which secures its place in the market.
Clash of Clans: Strategy at Its Best
Clash of Clans is a top-notch strategy mobile game. It mixes building villages with smart fighting. This combo has hooked millions all over the world. The game’s payment model is based on buying gems. These gems speed up building and let players get special stuff. This helps keep players involved and makes money for the game.
Just in 2022, Clash of Clans earned $471 million. This was 24% of the company Supercell’s earnings, showing its importance. Even though it made a bit less than the year before, in 2021, it still raked in $489 million. Since its start in 2012, the game has brought in over $6.4 billion.
Clash of Clans is a big hit with about 75 million people playing each month. In 2021, the top players came from the United States, Turkey, and China. With over 500 million downloads, it’s among the top games played on mobiles.
This game is one of the best in revenues too. It’s a favorite on iOS for mobile spending around the world. Along with games like Genshin Impact and Candy Crush, it’s ranked high for money made in 2024.
In summary, Clash of Clans shines in the strategy mobile game field. It keeps people playing by being welcoming and having a strong way to make money with in-app purchases.
Last War: Survival Game’s Rapid Ascent
Last War: Survival Game quickly became a favorite with gamers for its unique play style and fast money making. It mixes easy shooting with smart survival, making it fun for new and old players. Its success shows how well it appeals to a broad range of people.
Innovative Gameplay
In Last War, players dive into a fight for life in a hostile world. They must find stuff they need, all while fighting their enemies. This game is smart and every choice you make can help you survive or make things worse.
Revenue Growth
Last War: Survival Game made $59.08 million in just one month, showing it’s very popular. This high income also means that people keep playing and buying stuff in the game. Its good design pulls in money from both purchases and ads.
| Game Title | Revenue | Copies Sold |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Match | $3B | N/A |
| Last War: Survival Game | $59.08M | N/A |
| Contraband Police | $10M | 800K |
| It Takes Two | N/A | 16M |
| Unicorn Overlord | N/A | 500K+ |
Global Reach
Last War has a huge impact across the globe, attracting players from America and Asia. Its success comes from smart ads that pull in all kinds of players. This makes its fan base grow more and more.
Around the world, game sales jumped by 26% in March 2024. This shows that digital games are getting more popular. The PC and console market grew by 2.6% in 2023, making $93.5 billion. In this growing industry, Last War stands out as a big success.
Monopoly Go: Capitalizing on a Classic
Monopoly Go brings the classic board game to life on your phone. It has quickly become a favorite, rising in the rankings. This is partly because it keeps the old Monopoly feel and adds fun mobile features.
Modern Twist on a Timeless Game
It mixes Monopoly’s well-known play with new mobile tech. Now, players can buy things in the game and join virtual events. This makes people who enjoy board games and those who love apps happy. It’s a hit because it stays fun and fresh.
Revenue Performance
Monopoly Go is making a lot of money in the app world. From November 2023 to April 2024, its sales stayed strong. It’s in the top three earners, even as other types of games drop in sales. A big part of its success is how it makes money:
- Hybrid Monetization Model: It makes cash from in-app buys, ads, and subscriptions.
- Meta Layers: The game keeps people coming back with its deep play experiences.
- In-app Bidding: This helps ads make more money, increasing overall profits.
Monopoly Go moved up 26 spots in profit, showing its growing success. This growth is part of a trend, with casual games making more money and hybrid games booming. Even with a slight drop in income for games in Asia, Monopoly Go is doing well. It’s seeing earnings go up in the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America. All this proves Monopoly Go is a top choice for gamers.
Royal Match: Puzzle Game with Staying Power
Royal Match is now a big name in mobile gaming. By July 2024, it got 14.6 million downloads, more than Candy Crush. This made July 2024 its best-earning month, making $112 million.
It owes a lot to its plan to buy users, with 61.5% of downloads from ads. Though it’s not ahead in daily players, it’s gaining on Candy Crush, with 15 million to their 18 million. It’s working hard to draw in more daily players.
Engaging Events and Rewards
Royal Match keeps players excited by adding 100+ new levels each month since September 2022. The “Summer Pass” and “Hidden Temple” game help too. They make the game not just fun but hard to stop playing.
Monetization and Revenue
Its money-making strategies are working well. With 200 levels a month since February 2021, it has made over $1.1 billion. Adding special game parts like the King’s Nightmare has helped. So have getting famous people to talk about the game and ads that show new players what it’s about.
Even when it’s not in the top 20, its deals and fun events keep players coming back. Also, its big ads help it stay strong in mobile gaming.
Top Grossing Mobile Games 2024 Overview
The gaming industry’s 2024 analysis shows great success by top games. These games focus on users, use new ways to make money, and always update to keep interest. Tencent leads with 12 of the highest-grossing games, and three are in the top 10. Notably, Honor of Kings (Arena of Valor) has made a record $18.66 billion in sales, making it the highest-earning mobile game ever. Candy Crush Saga follows, gathering over $12 billion since 2012.
PUBG Mobile and Monster Strike have also earned over $11 billion. Clash of Clans is not far behind with more than $10 billion since it launched.
In April, Honor of Kings led the Apple App Store, earning $125.79 million. Meanwhile, Last War: Survival Game topped Google Play, with $59.08 million. Monopoly Go also did well, showing big growth in earnings.
| Game | Revenue (Lifetime) | April 2024 Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| Honor of Kings (Arena of Valor) | $18.66B | $174.6M |
| Candy Crush Saga | $12B | – |
| PUBG Mobile | $11B | $147.7M |
| Monster Strike | $11B | – |
| Clash of Clans | $10B | – |
| Monopoly Go | – | $146.5M |
| Last War: Survival Game | – | $59.08M |
In 2024, the mobile gaming industry made nearly $6.2 billion. Though April’s income dropped a bit, it’s still a very profitable field. This shows mobile gaming remains very popular and continues to be a major entertainment choice.
Trends in Mobile Game Monetization
The mobile gaming industry is growing fast, ushering in new ways to make money. Developers are smartly mixing different methods. This makes the games more fun for users and helps them earn more money.
Freemium and In-App Purchases
The freemium model is key in making mobile games profitable. In 2023, people worldwide spent a lot, $380 million, on in-app purchases. The model’s success comes from giving a base game for free. Then, players can buy more features. This draws in many users and brings in big money.
Adding ads to in-app purchases is a winning move. Facebook Audience Network found that 86% of developers saw more people buying things when they used ads too. This not only makes more money but also keeps players interested.
Gacha Mechanics
Using the Gacha game strategy has also made a lot of money. It is where players buy chances to get rare in-game items. This strategy is hugely popular in places like Japan. Players there like the thrill of not knowing what they’ll get.
Adding a meta layer to this money-making strategy lets players buy special items or virtual money. This keeps fans engaged and brings in more cash. Casual games often use this method.
Looking at how mobile games make money shows a changing industry. The freemium model and Gacha strategies are standing out. They show that the industry can change and keep growing.
Conclusion
In 2024, we saw some mobile games earn a lot of money. Games like Honor of Kings (Arena of Valor) made a huge impact by making $18.66 billion. They showed how important it is to think smart. These games didn’t just make money. They also created strong communities by keeping players happy and coming back.
Games like Candy Crush Saga and PUBG Mobile also did very well financially. With a free to play system, Candy Crush Saga made over $12 billion. Since its launch in 2018, PUBG Mobile made more than $11 billion, using different money-making strategies. Monster Strike’s gacha system earned over $11 billion. Clash of Clans, reliant on strategic play, made over $10 billion. This variety of success shows many ways to grow in the gaming market.
Linking player spending to the gaming industry’s findings shows how game success is tied to market trends. Games that keep players happy and adapt to new needs succeed. They secure big money and stay in players’ minds. This shows how crucial it is to follow mobile gaming trends to create games that players love returning to.
FAQ
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