Updated Mar 17, 2026 by Newzoo
Gaming apps dominate the mobile market, generating 74% of total app store revenue despite rising user acquisition costs that average $35.42 per paying user.
Android provides a more cost-effective reach for user acquisition compared to iOS, with the third quarter identified as the optimal period for high conversion rates and lower acquisition costs.
North America, Japan, and South Korea remain the most expensive regions for acquisition but offer the highest long-term retention and in-app purchase revenue.
Emerging markets including Russia, Brazil, and the EMEA region offer lower registration costs and strong initial conversion, though they often lag behind established markets in deep-funnel monetization.
Social Casino apps lead the industry with a 14.3% install-to-purchase conversion rate, despite the high costs associated with acquiring their users.
Hyper Casual games leverage ad-supported models and high Day 1 retention to capture non-traditional gamers, particularly in markets like Colombia and Turkey.
Midcore and Strategy titles provide the best long-term revenue potential, with EMEA-based titles currently outperforming North American benchmarks in conversion efficiency.
Gaming apps dominate the mobile market, generating 74% of total app store revenue despite rising user acquisition costs that average $35.42 per paying user.
Android provides a more cost-effective reach for user acquisition compared to iOS, with the third quarter identified as the optimal period for high conversion rates and lower acquisition costs.
North America, Japan, and South Korea remain the most expensive regions for acquisition but offer the highest long-term retention and in-app purchase revenue.
Emerging markets including Russia, Brazil, and the EMEA region offer lower registration costs and strong initial conversion, though they often lag behind established markets in deep-funnel monetization.
Social Casino apps lead the industry with a 14.3% install-to-purchase conversion rate, despite the high costs associated with acquiring their users.
Hyper Casual games leverage ad-supported models and high Day 1 retention to capture non-traditional gamers, particularly in markets like Colombia and Turkey.
Midcore and Strategy titles provide the best long-term revenue potential, with EMEA-based titles currently outperforming North American benchmarks in conversion efficiency.