ReportSensor Tower
Store Intelligence Data Digest: Q1 2021
1 Jan 202173 pages~60 min full read
Global mobile app downloads reached 36.6 billion in Q1 2021, an 8.7% year-over-year increase driven by a 15.3% surge in Google Play installs.
See it on page 4Hypercasual games dominated the mobile gaming sector, accounting for over half of the top 20 titles on Google Play with publishers like Voodoo, AppLovin, and Crazy Labs maintaining market leadership.
See it on page 27Crash Bandicoot: On the Run achieved a strong market entry with 23.6 million downloads and nearly $700,000 in consumer spending during its first week.
See it on page 63Consumer behavior shifted toward finance and stock trading applications, alongside increased adoption of secure messaging platforms like Telegram and Signal.
See it on page 64The Indian market experienced a rise in domestic publishers following the ban of various Chinese apps, while the Philippines and India emerged as key regions for growth.
See it on page 48App Store downloads saw a slight decline in Q1 2021, attributed to shifting market trends within China.
See it on page 49Global mobile application activity in the first quarter of 2021 reached 36.6 billion downloads, representing an 8.7% year-over-year increase fueled primarily by a 15.3% surge in Google Play installs. This period was characterized by a significant shift in consumer behavior, marked by a massive spike in finance and stock trading applications alongside a notable rise in secure messaging platforms like Telegram and Signal. While the market adjusted from the initial pandemic-driven surge of the previous year, emerging regions such as India and the Philippines demonstrated robust growth, contrasting with a slight decline in App Store downloads due to shifting trends in China.
The mobile gaming sector remained heavily influenced by the hypercasual genre, which accounted for over half of the top 20 titles on Google Play. *Join Clash 3D* secured its position as the most downloaded game globally, while *Project Makeover* achieved significant success across Western markets. Furthermore, the debut of *Crash Bandicoot: On the Run* proved highly successful, garnering 23.6 million downloads and nearly $700,000 in consumer spending during its first week. These titles underscore the continued dominance of established publishers like Voodoo, AppLovin, and Crazy Labs, who maintained their competitive edge alongside tech giants Google and Facebook.
Regional dynamics played a critical role in shaping the quarter, as the Indian market saw a rise in domestic publishers following the ban of various Chinese apps. Short-form video platforms continued to command significant attention in Asia, maintaining their status as a primary driver of user engagement. Ultimately, the quarter reflected a maturing mobile ecosystem where hypercasual gaming and finance-oriented utilities define the current trajectory of global digital consumption, balancing the influence of major international publishers with the rapid emergence of localized market leaders.
