ReportNiko Partners
Five Key Mobile Game Genres in Asia and MENA
1 Jan 202315 pages~17 min full read
RPG titles are the dominant market force, generating 50% more revenue than the other four top genres combined and achieving the highest monetization score of 7.7.
See it on page 8Puzzle games command the largest download volume and highest engagement score of 6.0, though they suffer from low monetization and minimal esports relevance.
See it on page 11Battle Royale games lead the market in esports influence with a score of 9.5, despite generating the lowest total revenue among the five genres.
See it on page 7MOBAs maintain the second-highest revenue per download at 5.4 and lead all genres in average weekly playtime.
See it on page 10Strategy games rank second in total revenue but exhibit the lowest engagement score of 5.2, driven by shorter play sessions and lower player longevity.
See it on page 9The analysis, based on a 9,000-respondent survey and AppMagic data, covers 13 countries across Asia and MENA to determine regional spending and demographic trends for 2022.
See it on page 4The bulletin delivers a data‑driven assessment of the five most influential mobile game genres in Asia and MENA for 2022, combining a 9,000‑respondent survey from Niko Partners with AppMagic’s analytics of Apple and Google Play stores. The analysis covers China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, UAE, Vietnam and Egypt, providing a comprehensive view of regional spending patterns, download volumes, and player demographics.
RPGs dominate the market, generating 50 % more revenue than the other four genres combined and achieving the highest monetization score (7.7) thanks to strong spend in East Asia. Strategy games rank second in revenue and third in downloads, yet exhibit the lowest engagement score (5.2) due to shorter play sessions and lower player longevity. MOBAs deliver the second‑highest revenue per download (5.4) and lead in average weekly playtime, but their esports engagement is modest. Puzzle titles enjoy the largest download base (highest engagement score of 6.0) but suffer from low monetization and esports relevance. Battle Royale games, while generating the lowest total revenue, excel in esports metrics (score 9.5) and maintain high engagement levels.
The methodology blends survey‑derived player profiles with AppMagic’s download, revenue, and esports viewership data across 21 metrics, weighted into four categories—monetization, engagement, esports appeal, and overall genre score. The resulting scores (1–10) rank RPG as the top genre overall, with Battle Royale leading in esports influence and Puzzle offering the broadest download reach. The bulletin concludes that developers targeting these markets should tailor monetization strategies to RPG’s high spend, leverage MOBAs’ loyal user base, and capitalize on Battle Royale’s esports traction.
