Top 30 Chinese Mobile Games Overseas: March 2018

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
Tencent’s 'PUBG Mobile' topped the March 2018 overseas download chart for Chinese mobile games after only two weeks of availability, with the U.S. accounting for over 18% of its downloads.
02
NetEase’s 'Knives Out' reached the number two spot in overseas revenue for March 2018, with Japanese players contributing over 95% of the game's total revenue.
03
IGG’s 'Lords Mobile' maintained its position as the top-grossing Chinese mobile game in overseas markets during March 2018.
04
FunPlus’s 'Guns of Glory' held the third position in overseas revenue, with the U.S. market accounting for more than 43% of its total earnings.
05
NetEase’s 'Rules of Survival' dropped to second place in downloads following the launch of 'PUBG Mobile' but remained a top performer in the overseas market.
06
Efun’s 'Three Kingdoms M,' launched on March 10, 2018, was the only new entry in the top 30 revenue list, securing the 25th position based on its performance in the South Korean market.

Summary

This analysis examines the performance of Chinese mobile games in international markets during March 2018, focusing on revenue generation and download volume across the Apple App Store and Google Play. The data highlights the dominance of the battle royale genre and the significant impact of major publisher releases on global rankings.

In terms of revenue, the international version of NetEase’s Knives Out secured the second position, marking its first entry into the top three. This growth was driven primarily by the Japanese market, which accounted for over 95% of the game’s overseas revenue. Lords Mobile maintained its top position, while FunPlus’s Guns of Glory held the third spot, with the United States serving as its primary revenue driver. The rankings demonstrate strong stability among top-tier titles, as 12 of the top 15 games either maintained or improved their positions compared to the previous month.

The download rankings were heavily influenced by the mid-month launch of Tencent’s PUBG Mobile. Despite being available for less than two weeks in March, the title claimed the top spot globally, with the United States contributing the highest share of downloads at over 18%, followed by markets including Indonesia, Brazil, Russia, and Thailand. This rapid ascent displaced the previous month’s leader, Rules of Survival, which fell to second place. The findings underscore the effectiveness of established intellectual property and the battle royale format in driving rapid user acquisition on a global scale.