Hyper-Casual Grew Share of Top New Game Downloads to 78% in 2019

The hyper-casual mobile game genre experienced significant growth in 2019, solidifying its dominance among the most downloaded new releases. Data indicates that hyper-casual titles accounted for 77.6 percent of the 2.1 billion total installs generated by the top 20 new games released throughout the year. This represents a notable increase from 2018, when the genre comprised approximately 68 percent of installs for the top 20 new games.

The shift in market share is further evidenced by the number of hyper-casual titles appearing in the top 20 rankings. In 2019, 16 of the top 20 new mobile games belonged to the hyper-casual category, up from 13 the previous year. This trend highlights a broader evolution in consumer preferences toward games characterized by simplified graphics and accessible, undemanding gameplay. Furthermore, increased investment in user acquisition by publishers has been a primary driver of this growth.

Good Job Games emerged as a standout developer, with four of its titles appearing in the top 20 list. Collectively, these four games accounted for 23.8 percent of all installs among the top 20 new releases, with the title Fun Race 3D alone contributing 219 million downloads. While high-profile releases like Call of Duty: Mobile achieved significant success, the aggregate volume of the hyper-casual category consistently outperformed other genres. These findings suggest that developers prioritizing download metrics must account for the competitive influence of hyper-casual mechanics to remain relevant in the current mobile landscape.