Anyone with a smartphone or tablet will be familiar with mobile gaming and will more than likely have a mobile game on their device. With entertainment being so easily accessible now, players have the chance to access a wide variety of immersive, entertaining games, no matter where they are or when they wish to play them.
Mobile gaming is not only a great way to pass the time and have some fun, but the global market for mobile gaming is booming and is now worth billions of dollars. That market shows no signs of slowing down any time soon, with its size expected to reach approximately USD 775billion by 2032. That’s an estimated compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.5% between 2023 and 2032.
Market Drivers
- Smartphone penetration: A key reason for this significant growth is the ever-increasing use of smartphones across the world. This has opened up the gaming market to an eager global audience.
- Improved technology: The constant improvements in smartphone and tablet technology has allowed game designers to create ever more impressive and immersive games for players to enjoy.
- Esports: The rise of Esports is a global phenomenon that has created world famous players and changed cultural attitudes towards gaming. Its popularity gas driven uptake in gaming among younger players.
- Internet and 5G: Improved internet connection and the onset of 5G, has seen more people able to access games on their smartphones, especially in emerging nations. Mobile gaming is currently one of the fastest-growing markets in India.
Popular Gaming Niches
With mobile gaming booming, game design has never been more competitive. Studios and designers are constantly seeking out new ways to make their game stand out from the rest and increase its appeal.
To achieve success, designers are increasingly focusing on popular game niches when launching new games, which ensures their offering will have a ready-made market eager to download and play. Some of the most popular mobile game genres on the market currently are:
The top mobile game genres
- Casino games
- MOBA: Multiplayer Battle Arenas
- MMORPG: Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games
- Battle Royale
- Card strategy games, also called trading card games (TCGs)
- Sports Games
- Casual Games
Casino Games
The advent of mobile games has seen a huge increase in the popularity of casino games. This includes classic casino games such as slots, blackjack, roulette, and poker online.
Poker alone offers a wide range of games for players to choose from, including Texas Hold’ em, Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, and many more. There’s a variety of game types too, such as cash game sand multi-table tournaments.
The availability of multiple games, plus the convenience of playing anytime and anywhere you choose, has made online poker a more attractive option than traditional casinos which are hampered by limited game offerings and restrictive opening hours.
Many online operators offer players larger prize pools too, plus multiple incentives and bonuses to attract and keep customers.
Casual Games
These generally include everything from games such as Candy Crush and Tetris, as well as numerous puzzle offerings. Universally liked and easy to understand and start playing, these casual games appeal to a broad demographic.
MOBA: Multiplayer Battle Arenas
MOBA has been hugely popular gaming genre for many years, especially on tech hungry consoles and powerful desktop PC’s. However, improved technology has seen these games transfer seamlessly to mobile and create a whole new fan base.
Classic games such as Call of Duty, Halo, and Battlefield have all brought competitive multiplayer modes and immersivegameplayto the small screen, attracting a global fan base. With new advances in technology continuing to come online, this genre looks set to grow and grow.
Sports Games
Sports games are a universally popular niche for game developers, allowing them to tap into the huge sports market with their ready-made fan bases. Games such as FIFA soccer, NBA 2K, and Madden NFL offer hyper realistic graphics and immersive gameplay that gets fans closer to the action than ever before.
With annual updates and a loyal fan base, these popular sports titles provide huge income streams for developers and publishers alike.
MMORPG
Role-playing games are known for their impressive detailed worlds, intricate storylines, and complex, but customizable, characters. These games offer players a unique and engaging gameplay experience that can be enjoyed with groups of friends, making it a fun social experience.
Some of the most successful titles in this niche include Skyrim, The Witcher, The Elder Scrolls, Final Fantasy, and World of Warcraft.
Battle Royale
The Battle Royale genre has boomed in popularity recently, thanks to games like Fortnite. Combining survival, exploration, and combat, players fight to be the last one standing. This genre has led to new innovations in online gaming and faces increased competition as developers look to get in on the lucrative action.
The Future
As technology continues to improve, driven by competition in the smartphone sector, so too will mobile game offerings. Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and 3D technologies are all expected to dominate the market in the coming years.
Many popular mobile games are not reliant on the latest technology and often appeal to gamers because they offer simple, low-tech gameplay. However, the march of technology will open up ever more exciting opportunities for developers and mobile gamers alike, ensuring the continued success of this billion-dollar market.