Gaming is a wildly popular global hobby for some, while for others it’s a way to generate income and to compete with other players.
The focus of this article will be on the mobile gaming market.
How much is the mobile gaming industry worth?
We already know the video gaming industry is massive, but how is the mobile segment doing in video gaming?
The next few paragraphs will show you just how well mobile gaming is doing and what this portion of the industry is worth on its own.
CNBC reported that global spending on mobile games was reduced by 5% in 2022 because consumers are getting more frugal with what they choose to buy.
They are making purchasing decisions based on the economy, inflation, and choosing to buy more of what they need over just what they want.
That said, has that decline in mobile game spending caused the overall mobile video gaming industry to decline? We don’t think it has.
Mobile gaming has a wide, global scope of free and paid games, plus in-game purchases.
We believe it hasn’t hurt the mobile gaming sector at all because of the rise of first-time game title installations.
That segment rose by 8% in the hyper casual games, which accounts for the record-breaking 90 billion new installs.
Now, let’s get down to the facts, statistics, figures, numbers, and data you need to know about the mobile gaming industry and its worth.
How Much is the Mobile Gaming Industry Worth in 2023?
According to data, the estimated revenue for 2022 accounted for $274.7 billion (USD) in the global mobile gaming market.
The 2023 predicted figure for mobile gaming revenue is $315.9 billion. Also, it’s expected to reach $419.7 billion by 2027.
The global mobile gaming sector makes up 60% of the whole video gaming market, according to a study by IDC and data.ai.
They have reported that this study is the fastest growing in the gaming industry and is set to see massive growth in the coming years.
As more people begin mobile gaming, which relates to downloading mobile games, more revenues are likely to be generated through buying games for an ad-free experience or buying in-game items.
No matter what, the mobile gaming industry will generate billions in revenue.
Global Mobile Game Spending by Country in 2022
Statistics show that China and the United States have been competing for the top rank in the mobile gaming sector for several years.
As we share some figures according to country and rank with you, keep in mind that this data represents the 5% decrease in mobile game sales we discussed earlier in the introduction.
We are using spending to represent revenues.
- China: $42.4 billion
- The United States: $24.02 billion
- Japan: $13.1 billion
- South Korea: $5.28 billion
- Germany: $2.47 billion
These are the top countries with the highest revenue in mobile gaming, which doesn’t include data from most downloads or players.
As you can see from the above revenue figures, even with a dip in the mobile gaming market across the globe, billions were generated for several top gaming companies that also develop mobile games.
Global Mobile Game Downloads by Country in 2022
We are going to briefly address the countries with the most downloads in 2022 as a comparison to generated revenues.
- China: 31.43 billion mobile game downloads
- India: 9.65 billion mobile game downloads
- The United States: $4.57 billion mobile game downloads
- Indonesia: $3.45 billion mobile game downloads
Also, remember that mobile game downloads saw an increase in 2022 by 8%.
Global Mobile Game Top Performers by Revenue in 2022
Now we will cover the mobile game genres that generated the highest revenues for the industry in 2022.
- RPG (Role Playing Games): $796.9 billion
- Strategy Games: $12.1 billion
- Match Games: $8.7 billion
- Casino Games: $8.3 billion
Within these genres, the top three high-performing global mobile game titles were Candy Crush, Honor of Kings, and Genshin Impact, not in a particular order.
Genshin Impact, an RPG game, generated $25.5 billion alone across the world.
The following statistics, facts, and data will cover the numbers for 2022.
However, we will be including, where possible, any forecasts or predictions we find for 2023.
Global Mobile Game Age Demographics
The age group with the most mobile players in 2022 was the 25 to 34 group (29.5%), which was followed closely by the 16 to 24 age group (28.3%)
- 25 to 34: 29.5%
- 16 to 24: 28.3%
- 35 to 44: 23.1%
- 45 to 54: 12.8%
- 55 to 64: 6.3%
These mobile gaming statistics show something different from the “conventional” idea of nerds who play games, doesn’t it? The growing 60 and over and Gen-Zers show how this industry is gaining ground among people from all demographics.
Global Mobile Game Gender Demographics
Going by the male to female demographics in the mobile gaming industry, women play mobile games significantly more than men do.
- Women: 62.75%
- Men: 37.25%
In 2020, 29% of gamers who identified as women played mobile games, whereas 57% of gamers who identified as men played mobile games.
These new numbers, just a couple of years apart, show how the mobile gaming sector is changing.
Global Mobile Game Location Demographics
Regionally, where does mobile gaming stand among gamers?
The Southeast Asian region accounts for 55% of global mobile gamers.
Overall, the key markets for mobile gamers are in China, Japan, the United States, South Korea, and Canada.
Global Mobile Game Companies in 2023
The top five mobile game companies you need to know include the following:
- Tencent of Shenzhen, China: Worth $27.888 billion
- Netease of Hangzhou, China: Worth $10.048 billion
- Garena of Singapore: Worth $4.320 billion
- Activision Blizzard of Santa Monica, California: Worth $3.182 billion
Some of this data may surprise you a little. You may also know a lot about these companies.
Global Mobile Game Developers in 2023
Besides the top five mobile game companies, you need to know these top five mobile game developers.
- Hyperlink InfoSystems
- The NinHertz
- Cubix
- Whimsy Games
- iTechArt Group
If you play mobile games, you probably recognize these developers.
Global Mobile Game Titles Most Played in 2023
We have a list of the top five mobile games being played in 2023.
1. Garena Free Fire – Genre: Battle Royale
Garena is most played in Brazilian and Indonesian markets and has experienced more than one billion downloads and has 150 million daily active players.
2. Roblox – Genre: Multiple
Roblox is its own platform with multiple game genres that appeal to people of various age groups, and more.
It has 64 million active monthly players and about 383 billion downloads. Roblox is the most popular in the United States, with 20.21% of its global players.
3. Subway Surfers – Genre: Endless Runner
Subway Surfers is best-known as an endless runner game on mobile devices. It has over 2 million active daily players and more than 304 million downloads.
Subway Surfers is most popular in China, with 23% of its downloads.
4. Stumble Guys – Genre: Battle Royale
Stumble Guys has an estimated 1.9 thousand daily players and 270 million all-time downloads.
Stumble Guys is popular in both the United Kingdom and the United States.
Among Us is a multiplayer social deduction game with 204.3 million monthly active players (2021-2022).
This game has experienced 264 million global downloads, of which 41 million are from the United States.
You may also know about PUBG Mobile, a game with 30 million active daily players and 1.3 billion downloads.
What about Candy Crush? That mobile fame has been downloaded more than 3.4 billion times and has about 10 million daily active players.
All this information is what you need to understand the answer to, “How much is the mobile gaming industry worth?”
FAQs
What Mobile Store Is the Most Popular for Mobile Game Downloads?
Google Play is the most used platform used by mobile gamers for tablets and mobile phones. This platform is for Android device users.
Naturally, the Apple Play Store is the most popular among iOS mobile device users. Other mobile stores with games include Amazon, Samsung, and Windows.
What Game Is the Most Downloaded by Mobile Gamers?
Subway Surfers is the number one most downloaded mobile game.
It was launched in 2012 by the Danish-based companies Kiloo and SYBO games.
Why Do so Many People Play Mobile Games?
It’s only natural to ask about why people play mobile games as this segment of video gaming is growing so fast.
Mobile gamers say they like the ease of connecting to friends and family and the social aspect of playing on mobile.
They also say that mobile games are mostly affordable, convenient, and portable.
Conclusion
As the mobile gaming industry booms, more people are getting on board. Mobile games are convenient, flexible, and can be played anywhere.
They also allow people who work to take breaks and relax before they go back to the grind.
It’s no wonder that mobile gaming is becoming such a massive income-generating segment in the video gaming industry.
People like the convenience, the social aspect, and the portability of playing.
We hope you have learned something new and interesting today about mobile games and gaming.
You at least know the answer to the question, “How much is the mobile gaming industry worth?”
It accounted for an estimated $274.7 billion in 2022, with the expectation of growing to $315.9 billion by the end of 2023.
Sources
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Written by Jason Wise
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