The mobile gaming world made big earnings in 2024. Many games hit over a billion dollars in revenue. Honor of Kings took the lead, earning an incredible $18.66 billion. It beat games like Monster Strike to reach the top. This success points out how powerful mobile games are now. They use smart gameplay, buying extras within the game, and connect with social media to make money. top grossing mobile games new
Key Takeaways
- Honor of Kings earned $18.66 billion, making it the top-grossing mobile game of 2024.
- Games like Candy Crush Saga and PUBG Mobile continue to generate significant revenue, having accumulated $12 billion and over $11 billion, respectively.
- About 100 mobile games have crossed the $1 billion revenue mark.
- Tencent leads with 12 games in the top-grossing list, including three in the top 10.
- Successful monetization strategies include in-app purchases, gacha mechanics, and season passes to drive player spending.
The Surge of Honor of Kings
Over the past few years, Honor of Kings has become a top mobile game for earning revenue. It has grabbed the attention of many with its exciting and clever gameplay. This game is known worldwide as Arena of Valor. It mixes mythic fantasy with skillful battles in a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) format.
Gameplay and Features
Honor of Kings pulls you in with its thrilling battles featuring heroes and mythical beasts. You get to play in different game modes with a wide range of heroes. The maps challenge your tactical skills. And with events and updates, it stayed a favorite among mobile games in 2021.
Revenue and Monetization
In April, Honor of Kings showed it is a money-making giant. It earned more than PUBG Mobile, with China contributing 98% of its revenue. This amazing success comes from Tencent’s clever ways to sell items within the game. These tactics help keep Honor of Kings at the top in earning revenue.
The game’s revenue for April tells us how strong its financial power is:
Game | Revenue (April) |
---|---|
Honor of Kings | $79 million |
Royal Match | $79 million |
Honkai: Star Rail | $75 million |
LastWar | $74 million |
Genshin Impact | $65 million |
Combining great gameplay with smart ways to earn money, Honor of Kings shows it’s on top in the MOBA genre. It wins in both financial and cultural fronts in the world of mobile gaming.
Candy Crush Saga Continues to Thrill
Candy Crush Saga is still a top game because it’s really fun and hard to put down. This hit mobile game by King keeps a wide range of players hooked. It challenges them with colorful, tough challenges to solve.
Gameplay Dynamics
The game’s basic idea is simple: match three or more candies of the same color. This makes cool effects and scores points. But, it’s not too easy.
Players find it hard to stop because as they play more, they discover new strategies and challenges.
Monetization Strategies
Here’s how Candy Crush Saga makes money without charging to download. You can buy more chances to play if you want to keep going.
This way of doing things has made the game a big hit in more ways than one. It brings in a lot of money for the company without putting off players.
Seventy percent of gamers make it to the end without spending any money. This shows off the game’s great design and how welcoming it is to new players. For people who want to move faster, buying extras can cost between 99 cents and 1.99 dollars.
Game | Downloads | Revenue |
---|---|---|
Monopoly GO! | 45 million | $232 million |
FIFA Soccer | 8th most downloaded | $1 billion |
Genshin Impact | – | $3 billion |
Coin Master | 100 million | – |
Honkai: Star Rail | 62 million | $457 million |
Pokémon GO | 1 billion | – |
Royal Match | 149 million | $1.7 billion |
Roblox | 50 million games | – |
Candy Crush Saga | 138 million | $230 million/year |
The mix of freemium and addicting game features keeps Candy Crush Saga on top. It’s among the most loved and highest-earning mobile games globally.
How PUBG Mobile Stays Relevant
PUBG Mobile always ranks high among the best mobile games. It came from a popular PC game. It’s a game where players fight to be the last one standing. It keeps players hooked with fun gameplay and smart ways to make money.
Game Mechanics
PUBG Mobile is all about surviving in a huge battle area. You need to plan, shoot accurately, and work with others to win. It’s thrilling for anyone who loves to fight and beat their opponents.
Monetization and Battle Pass System
PUBG Mobile makes a lot of money through extra things players can buy. These include outfits and looks for your weapons. A special purchase, the Battle Pass, offers neat stuff and rewards to those who buy it. This setup has made over $11 billion.
Many people play mobile games to relax and have fun. A big chunk of U.S. adults play and spend money on games. Surprisingly, people over 55 are the top spenders on game extras. This shows how appealing the game stays with new features and updates.
- 65% of U.S. adults play mobile games; 45% play at least once a week.
- Among stressed individuals, 65% play mobile games weekly, 20 points higher than the general population.
- 44% of mobile gamers spend money annually.
- 17% of those aged 55+ spend on mobile games, with a higher likelihood of spending $500+ compared to younger players.
- Mobile game spenders are more inclined to switch mobile carriers within six months compared to non-spenders.
Monster Strike’s Unique Approach
Monster Strike is a hit in Japan, blending puzzles, strategy, and RPG elements. It has become one of the highest grossing mobile games worldwide, surpassing $11 billion in revenue. Its success is due in part to the gacha mechanic. This feature makes players eager to spend money in the hope of getting powerful, rare characters.
It stands out by focusing on team play and community. The game encourages players to work together. Its multiplayer mode strengthens player connections and inspires investing more time and money.
Monster Strike’s success is influenced by Japanese mobile gaming culture. The hour-long Tokyo commutes give gamers plenty of time to play every day. This daily routine boosts the game’s popularity and engagement during these times.
Its detailed character designs and manga aesthetics attract players in Japan. Mixi, the game’s developer, meets this demand by frequently introducing new characters through special Events. Such events occur nearly 1,000 times every month. They keep players excited and boost the game’s earnings.
Key money-making events are cleverly set, mainly happening at the month’s start. Gacha events, where players can win new characters, launch around lunchtime. Quest events, another opportunity for players to earn rewards, come out during dinner. These timings aim to capture the most player interest and spend.
Mixi also uses unique marketing strategies. They partner with well-known brands like Baskin Robbins to create special in-game experiences. These efforts don’t just increase engagement. They also introduce the game to new audiences, benefiting both the brand and the game.
Key Features | Impact on Revenue |
---|---|
Gacha Mechanic | Increases in-game spending by encouraging character collection. |
Cooperative Multiplayer | Fosters community, promoting sustained player engagement and spending. |
Localized Characters | Appeals to Japanese market preferences, driving higher participation and revenue. |
Strategic Event Scheduling | Maximizes player interaction periods, optimizing monetization timing. |
Brand Collaborations | Enhances engagement and expands reach through cross-promotion. |
Clash of Clans’ Longevity
Clash of Clans shows us that mobile strategy games can be popular for a long time. It has won the hearts of millions since it was first released. People love creating their villages and fighting in it.
Game Play
In Clash of Clans, you build and upgrade your own village. You also train troops and attack others to get resources. This mix of strategy and combat has kept it as one of the best games to play online.
Monetization Approach
One main reason for Clash of Clans’ success is how it makes money—with gems. These gem-driven in-app purchases help speed up the game. They let players improve their gaming experience too. This way, the game keeps its place in the competitive mobile gaming scene.
Top Grossing Mobile Games New Entrants to Watch
The mobile gaming world is always changing. Every year, new games surprise us. Supermarket Manager Simulator and Happy Fishing Master are two such games. They have jumped into the spotlight with many downloads and high revenue. What sets them apart is not just their fun gameplay, but also their chance to change who the top earners are.
Supermarket Manager Simulator
Supermarket Manager Simulator by Digital Melody Games is a hit in the daily life simulation genre. It has grabbed over 17.6 million downloads. Players love the chance to run a virtual supermarket. They get to stock shelves and help customers, blending fun with strategy. This game’s mix has pulled in a wide group of fans.
Happy Fishing Master
Happy Fishing Master is making big waves as well. It uses top-notch graphics for a stunning look. The game is big, especially in China. It’s all about fishing in realistic settings. Plus, it has clever play features. This mix has really shot it to fame. Happy Fishing Master’s strong start shows the potential of new mobile games.
If you want to see the top earning mobile games, with income details, check out this full list.
The Return of Genshin Impact
Genshin Impact is gaining a lot of ground in mobile gaming. It’s climbing up the revenue charts fast. Thanks to regular game updates and introducing three new locations, the game stays popular. This shows the makers really know how to keep us interested.
Last year, Genshin Impact made $1.3 billion from players around the world. By the end of 2022, it had already hit $4 billion. Putting out new content often and holding exciting events keeps the game in high demand. This approach has helped Genshin Impact stand out among the latest top-grossing games.
In the mobile gaming world, Genshin Impact’s success is like a shining star. For example, Honor of Kings / Arena of Valor made an even bigger splash with $2.48 billion. On the flip side, Monster Strike brought in $520 million in 2023. Examining these examples shows the power of smart updates in boosting a game’s income.
Check out this chart comparing the earnings of big mobile games:
Game | Revenue 2023 (in billions USD) |
---|---|
Honor of Kings / Arena of Valor | 2.48 |
Genshin Impact | 1.3 |
Monster Strike | 0.52 |
Knives Out | 1.00 |
Uma Musume Pretty Derby | 0.49 |
This table shows Genshin Impact’s strong earning ability. Its approach to creating fresh and engaging content is clearly working. It’s a great example of how to succeed in mobile gaming.
Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle’s Resurgence
Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle has made a big comeback, both in the eyes of fans and experts. This success is thanks to its anniversary events and a strong Live Ops approach. Both have helped it become one of the highest earners in 2024.
Revenue Surge Details
In February, Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle made $51.2 million. This shows how much people still love the game. It’s all because of smart Live Ops, like cool events and constant updates. These make up over half of the game’s earnings.
The game uses these strategies to keep players coming back happily. They make sure the game always offers something exciting, without making players feel tired of playing.
Game Longevity and Popularity
Even since it started in 2015, fans in Japan and beyond love Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle. The big rewards during the game’s anniversary, like over 600 Dragon Stones, keep players interested. This is proven to make the game earn even more money. Such celebrations are key to the game’s success.
This proves how important it is for the game to keep adding new things and staying in touch with its fans.
To show, check out how Dragon Stones are given during different events:
Event | Estimated Dragon Stones |
---|---|
Saved Stones | 550 |
Upcoming Event Rewards | 127 |
Anniversary Rewards | 600 |
Top Grossing Bonuses | 600 |
The game’s mix of being well-known and smart money-making plans keeps it at the top. It has set a great example for other mobile games.
Conclusion
The top grossing mobile games of 2024 show a smart mix of new gameplay and good ways to make money. This shows how alive and growing the mobile gaming industry is. Big old games are no longer the only stars. New stars are joining too.
Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile had fewer new players recently, dropping from 20.4 million to 6.3 million installs. But Supermarket Manager Simulator was a big hit. This Polish game by Digital Melody got 17.6 million new players in April. It shows that fun, smart play and good things to buy inside the games help new titles succeed.
Some games, like Genshin Impact and Brawl Stars, stayed on top by adding new stuff to play. But Legend of Mushroom didn’t do as well. It went from making $60 million to $54 million in sales. This shows that even popular games need to keep up the good work.
So this year, it’s clear that new game ideas, often adding new content, and finding good ways to earn money are keys to doing well. Big games like Honor of Kings and fun, daily life games like Supermarket Manager Simulator show us how to grab and keep players’ interest. They also show how to make money in a way that players feel good about.