Market (Mobile)·Updated Apr 8, 2026 by GameRefinery
Report · January 1, 2022
Published by GameRefinery
The 2022 Casual Gaming Report demonstrates that mobile gaming dominates the global market, accounting for more than sixty percent of total industry revenue. Despite this dominance, overall user spend declined in the first quarter of 2022 after reaching a pandemic‑era peak of $22.6 billion, indicating a shift in consumer behavior and heightened competition for monetization. Key performance metrics reveal that the average cost per install (CPI) rose to $1.10, with iOS users costing $2.27 and Android users $0.75. Return on ad spend (ROAS) remained stable, with 7‑day and 30‑day figures at 7.31 % and 17.81 %, respectively; lifestyle titles delivered the highest 30‑day ROAS at 22.56 %. Regional analysis shows that Asia-Pacific and Latin America offer the most cost‑effective acquisition opportunities, each maintaining CPIs below $1 while delivering ROAS comparable to other markets. Conversely, North America remains the most expensive segment with a CPI of $3.32. The report underscores that creative content is the pivotal factor in successful user acquisition, as it effectively communicates value and propels users through the funnel. Liftoff’s GameRefinery platform, backed by a dataset of 76.1 billion impressions, 3.4 billion clicks, and 58.5 million installs from May 2021 to May 2022, provides developers and publishers with granular insights into pre‑production and LiveOps performance drivers. These findings collectively inform strategic decisions across acquisition, creative development, and regional targeting for casual game stakeholders worldwide.
GameRefinery 2022 A Liftoff Company Casual Gaming GameRefinery, a Liftoff company, is the leading provider of feature-level data in the Apps Report mobile games market, with an ever-growing database covering hundreds of thousands of games. GameRefinery's customers include leading mobile games companies such as Zynga, Wargaming, King, and FunPlus Unlocking the Secrets of the Most developers, investors, and publishers delve into the very building blocks of mobile Popular Genre and how to achieve the same from pre-production to LiveOps. inDf gamerefinery.com
Where do your Ad shown Game installed installs come Casino AR/Location Based Casino Arcade AR/Location Based Arcade Hyper Casual from? Hyper Casual Lifestyle Our newest tool helps you find out by Lifestyie Puzzle providing an aggregate view of the sources of installs across different casual Puzzle gaming categories and genres. Simulation Simulation Card Games RPG Card Games Check out our RPG Shooter Shooter Strategy new tool Driving Strategy Driving Sports Sports 2022 CASUAL GAMING APPS REPORT
Contents Contents | Introduction | 4 Market Trends by | | --- | --- | | GameRefinery | 17 | UA, ROAS and Ad Android vs iOS | 23 Completion Benchmarks | 7 | Monthly CPI and ROAS Regional Trends | 27 | | --- | --- | | Trends | 13 | 3 2022 CASUAL GAMING APPS REPORT
Introduction In recent years, pandemic-driven demand led to record-breaking levels of spending in mobile games. Consumers worldwide coped with lockdowns by playing their favorite casual games. However, as policies shifted, user spending on mobile games dropped year-over-year for the first time in Q1 2022—down from the pandemic-driven spend peak of $22.6 billion in Q1 2021. Despite a market correction in the industry, mobile gaming increased its market share to over 60% of the gaming industry. Mobile is now 3.3x larger than its closest competitor, home console gaming. The casual gaming sector is also projected to grow steadily, retaining its place as the mobile gaming genre made for everyone. As the mobile gaming industry continues to scale, marketers need new models, metrics, and methods to keep their game portfolios thriving today and tomorrow. We’ve compiled insights from data based on more than 58 million installs to help marketers capitalize on new opportunities. The 2022 Liftoff Casual Gaming Apps Report includes an analysis of CPI, ROAS, and ad completion rates across the genre. The report also includes insights from Mobile Heroes at Jam City, Socialpoint, and Wooga who are at the top of their game in the casual gaming sector. 4 2022 CASUAL GAMING APPS REPORT
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS Report highlights Report Highlights User Acquisition Platform Trends In the past year, the average cost per ↑ ↓ Post ATT, CPI on iOS (2.27) was 2x that of install (CPI) for casual games was 1.10. Android ($0.75). Android and iOS users Simulation players cost the least to had similar D7 and D30 ROAS. acquire, at $0.91 each. Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) D7 and D30 ROAS stayed steady $ month-over-month between 2021 and 2022. Over 12 months, D7 and D30 ROAS averaged 7.31% and 17.81%, respectively. Regional Trends APAC and LATAM provide great value with CPIs of less than $1. ROAS is about the same across all regions except LATAM. 5 2022 CASUAL GAMING APPS REPORT
HOW WE DEFINE CASUAL GAME GENRES Report highlights How we define casual game genres The report is split into three of the biggest casual gaming genres: Lifestyle Puzzle Simulation Lifestyle games include Puzzles are a wide-ranging From adventures abroad to interactive stories (such as genre. A mainstay, match-3, creating new cities, simulation Lovelink), home customization remains one of the most popular. includes anything that puts the and dress-up titles (with famous Also included are Solitaire and player in charge of building an examples including Design Home Hidden Object (think June’s empire. Popular titles of the and Covet Fashion), as well as Journey). Other notable game genre include Rollercoaster rhythm and music games. types, such as Word games (like Tycoon, Cooking Diary, and—for Words With Friends), Coloring animal lovers—a range of virtual games, and trivia titles, make up pet sims. the rest of the category. 6 2022 CASUAL GAMING APPS REPORT
Gaming has become the dominant entertainment medium for younger generations, with 80 % of under‑18s actively gaming and Gen Z allocating up to 22 % of free time to play. The study, combining first‑party data from SuperAwesome and Anzu with social listening, qualitative research, quantitative surveys, syndicated data, brand lift studies and parent‑tracking panels, covers the UK, France, Germany, the United States and global markets from 2023‑24. A sample of 30 000 children, teens and young adults (ages 4‑24) plus parent responses informs the analysis. Key findings show that gaming captures more attention than social media for Gen Z, with 55 % of under‑18s reporting a strong affinity for branded in‑game experiences. Younger gamers are highly receptive to ads, with 75 % of Gen Z players in the UK and US saying in‑game ads improve their experience, compared to 34 % of older adults. In‑game advertising drives higher brand recall (+7 pts) and purchase intent (+9 pts) for audiences under 34, and generates a “halo effect” that boosts brand affinity by up to 86 % among under‑18s. Parents report that children influence household spending, with 86 % saying their child’s opinions matter in purchases and 82 % prioritising items for children. The report recommends a multi‑platform, contextual approach that respects emerging data‑protection regulations and Age Appropriate Design Codes. It emphasizes early engagement before brand loyalties lock at age 16, contextual targeting over behavioural profiling, and rigorous creative vetting to avoid manipulative design. The analysis underscores gaming’s strategic importance for reaching Gen Alpha and Gen Z, offering measurable lift across awareness, consideration and purchase stages.
1. Market trajectory What direction is the PC and console market heading in 2026? 8 What direction is the PC and console market heading in 2026? 2. Attention & value allocation Where do players spend time and money on PC and console? 17 3. Market concentration What happens if you are not a top-20 game? 45 4.
Vietnam’s gaming and esports landscape has evolved into a high‑growth, culturally resonant channel for brands targeting the country’s youthful, tech‑savvy population. With one‑third of the populace engaged in esports and an adult gamer rate of 85 %—the highest globally—the market is driven by widespread smartphone penetration, robust 4G coverage, and a demographic where roughly 70 % are under 25. Mobile titles dominate, particularly MOBAs and FPS games, while PC gaming remains significant; casual players account for nearly half of the audience. Consumer behavior shows intense engagement: gamers spend 1–3 hours per session, seek entertainment (85.9 %), stress relief (74.7 %), and social interaction (46.5 %). Streaming platforms such as YouTube Gaming and Facebook Gaming lead, with Twitch lagging behind. Brands that sponsor mobile esports events or partner with key opinion leaders (KOLs) can tap into this high‑interaction environment, especially as 51 % of gamers trust KOL recommendations and 42 % purchase endorsed products. Investment trends confirm the sector’s appeal. Global esports spend reached $844 million in 2021, with 9.9 % allocated to Vietnam. In‑game advertising that offers prizes (49 %) and video content (40 %) yields the strongest purchase intent, particularly for electronics, tech, and gaming accessories. Best practices emphasize customized creative assets, reward‑based incentives, and authentic collaborations—examples include Adidas “Time In” with Ninja, Dashing’s team sponsorship, and Mastercard’s League of Legends partnership—demonstrating higher recall than traditional sports ads. Practical engagement strategies recommend experiential pop‑ups, in‑game placements, and co‑creation with publishers (e.g., Louis Vuitton’s LVxLOL) to deliver authentic touchpoints. Cause‑based campaigns resonate with Gen Z’s social consciousness, while treating esports as a “co‑business” encourages integrated, audience‑centric messaging. Overall, Vietnam’s rapidly expanding mobile and PC gaming ecosystem offers brands a fertile arena for digital fluidity, agile research, influencer partnerships, and localized media strategies to capture high‑growth engagement.
The Southeast Asia Gaming Consumer Economy report, produced jointly by Telekom Malaysia and twimbit in Q2 2022, examines the region’s rapidly expanding gaming market. Six key economies—Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam—account for 85 % of SEA’s gamer population, which is projected to reach 367.8 million by 2025, representing more than half of the region’s total population. Mobile gaming dominates, with 70 % of in‑game revenue and a 13.7 % CAGR in consumer spend from 2018 to 2021, totaling US$5.57 billion. Urbanisation and a youthful demographic drive high willingness to spend, with 64 % of gamers willing to pay; average annual spend varies from US$9 in Indonesia to US$189 in Singapore. Genre preferences skew toward action, strategy and casual titles; 86 % of players engage in the top five genres. Gender parity is notable, especially on mobile where female gamers constitute 47 % of the market and are highly spend‑active. eSports viewership is nascent but growing, with SEA tournaments ranking among the world’s most‑watched events; mobile eSports is expected to lead future growth as 5G and cloud gaming mature. Monetisation remains dominated by free‑to‑play with in‑app purchases (86 % of revenue), supplemented by hybrid and subscription models. Methodologically, the study synthesises industry interviews, published data, annual reports, and platform analytics. The report recommends that developers adopt edge computing for low‑latency play, deliver cross‑device flexibility, and build scalable cloud architectures to meet the region’s dynamic demand.