Revenue from smartphone and tablet games has been rising steadily since 2020, and reports suggest the mobile gaming market will reach a value of $272 billion by 2030. As the year comes to a close, we decided to look back at some of this year’s biggest markets in smartphone gaming.
Dominating Markets in Smartphone Gaming
Role-Playing Games (RPGs)
For years, role-playing games (RPG) dominated the PC and console game sectors; this popularity has since extended to mobile gaming. Over the last two years, countless RPG mobile games have been released, such as Raid: Shadow Legends. Released in January 2020, Raid: Shadow Legends is a fantasy-themed mobile role-playing game by Plarium Games. Critics and gamers have praised the game for its graphic quality and for bringing a realistic approach to fantasy combat.
Several other RPG smartphone games have hit the market over the last few years, including Genshin Impact. This action RPG is available on iOS and Android; it is played in an anime-themed open-world environment.
Casino Games
Casino games have become more popular as a mobile gaming genre in countries like the United States and Japan. For example, in 2021, casino games accounted for 18.9% of iOS revenue share in the US. Likewise, in Japan, according to information reviewed by industry expert Megumi Ito, there are over 100 types of online casinos compatible with iPhone and Android phones in the country. Smartphone casino games include everything from blackjack and roulette to baccarat and video slots.
Sports Games
Sports are progressively becoming more of an active experience for fans rather than a passive one. You don’t just sit there and watch games on TV anymore, but you can also bet on live odds through sportsbooks or tweet your opinions and thoughts on social media platforms like Twitter. You can also play a range of mobile sports games, such as NBA Live Mobile, Grand Mountain Adventure, and FIFA Mobile.
World Building Games
Numerous game genres allow people to escape everyday life and carry out different fantasies. That is why many gamers enjoy superhero games, but perhaps nothing accomplishes this more than world-building games like Megapolis, Anno 2070, and SimCity BuildIt. Even though SimCity BuildIt was released in 2014, the game is still one of the most popular world-building mobile games, having seen more than 100 million downloads on the Google Play Store as of October 2021. On Android, SimCity BuildIt is also one of the most downloaded simulation games ever recorded.
Future Growth Trends
Mobile gaming already accounts for a large percentage of worldwide gaming revenue, but there are many market trends that could help this growth become even bigger. For example, mobile eSports games are a worthy investment since there were nearly half a billion eSports viewers in 2020. In particular, countries such as South Korea, China, Denmark, and the United States are dominating the eSports phenomenon.
Technology is always advancing, and it’s introducing new trends and lifestyles. One of these new trends is the growth in mobile gaming. Certain genres are dominating this area more than others, such as RPGs, casino games, sports games, and world-building games.
Caroline is doing her graduation in IT from the University of South California but keens to work as a freelance blogger. She loves to write on the latest information about IoT, technology, and business. She has innovative ideas and shares her experience with her readers.
