ReportSensor Tower
Mobile Game Taxonomy Report 2021
1 Jan 202142 pages~23 min full read
Hypercasual games became the dominant volume leader in 2020 with 6.3 billion downloads, a 123% year-over-year increase that surpassed the Arcade genre.
See it on page 7RPG and Strategy titles maintained their financial stronghold, collectively generating 50% of the total global revenue among top-performing mobile games.
See it on page 14Simulation games experienced the highest spending growth in 2020, recording a 56% increase in consumer expenditure.
See it on page 13The industry is shifting toward hybrid-casual models that blend accessible gameplay with the thematic complexity and high production values of mid-core titles.
See it on page 35Thematic demand shifted significantly in 2020, with Fashion themes growing by 109% and Crime themes by 69%.
See it on page 32Visual aesthetics are maturing, with 3D Realistic styles dominating mid-core segments and Isometric perspectives gaining traction within the Hypercasual category.
See it on page 19The mobile gaming landscape underwent a transformative shift in 2020, catalyzed by global lockdowns that accelerated adoption across all major categories. Hypercasual games emerged as the dominant force in volume, experiencing a 123% year-over-year increase to reach 6.3 billion downloads and surpassing the Arcade genre. While Simulation games led the market in spending growth with a 56% increase, the RPG and Strategy genres maintained their financial stronghold, generating half of the total global revenue among top-performing titles. This period of growth was further bolstered by the migration of players from physical venues to mobile Casino platforms and the massive commercial success of high-fidelity releases like Genshin Impact.
Visual and thematic trends shifted toward more sophisticated presentations as the market matured. Although 2D Cartoon remained the most prevalent art style, 3D Realistic aesthetics dominated mid-core segments, and Isometric perspectives gained significant traction within the Hypercasual space. Thematic preferences evolved rapidly, with Fashion and Crime themes growing by 109% and 69% respectively. Notably, the viral success of Among Us spurred a resurgence in Space-themed content and influenced the Puzzle genre to adopt more mid-core characteristics.
Innovation in 2020 was defined by cross-genre experimentation and a move toward higher production values in traditionally casual categories. The Fashion genre serves as a primary example of this evolution, transitioning from 2D Side POV styles toward 3D Cartoon aesthetics and First Person perspectives. Developers are increasingly finding success by blending disparate elements, such as integrating Military and Combat Arena themes into Puzzle mechanics. This trend suggests a broader industry movement toward hybrid-casual models that combine accessible gameplay with the deeper engagement and thematic complexity typically found in mid-core titles.
