Mobile Games IP Report 2021: The Top Five IP-Based Titles in the U.S.

Key insights

7 takeaways

01
IP-based titles generated 23% of all U.S. mobile game player spending in 2020, despite accounting for only 9% of all games.
02
The top five IP-based mobile games—Pokémon GO, PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty: Mobile, Marvel Strike Force, and Dragon Ball Z: Dokkan Battle—accumulated $1.4 billion in U.S. player spending during 2020.
03
Video game franchises were the leading source of IP revenue, accounting for one-third of all licensed mobile game spending, led by Pokémon GO at 12% of the total IP market share.
04
Manga-based IP was the fastest-growing category in 2020, experiencing a 54% year-over-year increase in revenue.
05
While the top 10 grossing IP and non-IP games both saw 33.8% year-over-year revenue growth, top 10 IP games grew their install base by 31%, whereas top 10 non-IP games saw a 3.9% decline in downloads.
06
IP penetration is highest in core genres like Shooter, RPG, and Action, whereas the massive Puzzle genre derives only 5% of its revenue from licensed titles.
07
IP-based games accounted for 17% of all mobile game installs in the U.S. during 2020.

Summary

The 2021 Mobile Games IP Report examines the financial impact and market penetration of intellectual property-based titles within the United States mobile gaming sector during 2020. The analysis highlights that while only 9 percent of mobile games utilized licensed intellectual property, these titles accounted for 23 percent of total player spending. This disproportionate revenue share underscores the effectiveness of established franchises as marketing tools, particularly as the industry navigates evolving privacy landscapes that limit traditional user acquisition targeting.

Data indicates that the top five IP-based titles—led by Pokémon GO, PUBG Mobile, and Call of Duty: Mobile—generated a combined $1.4 billion in U.S. consumer spending. Licensed games demonstrated strong growth, with the top 10 grossing IP titles seeing a 31 percent year-over-year increase in downloads, contrasting with a 3.9 percent decline for the top 10 non-IP titles. Video game-based intellectual property remains the dominant category, representing one-third of all licensed mobile game revenue, followed by manga and television-based properties.

The report utilizes proprietary data from the Sensor Tower Game Intelligence platform to categorize and track performance across various genres. Findings reveal that core genres such as shooters, RPGs, and action games exhibit the highest concentration of IP usage and the fastest revenue growth. Conversely, genres like puzzle games show minimal reliance on licensed content. These insights suggest that licensing remains a critical strategy for developers seeking to capture market share and sustain growth in a competitive, high-revenue environment.