iOS Gaming Leaders: February 2016

The February 2016 iOS gaming landscape was characterized by a seasonal contraction in download volume, alongside the emergence of high-performing indie titles and celebrity-branded games. Global App Store game downloads fell 7.5 percent from January to February, totaling 636 million. In the United States, downloads declined 15 percent to 158 million, though this figure represented a 9.7 percent increase compared to the same period in the previous year.

The indie title Color Switch dominated the download charts, maintaining the top position in the U.S. and securing the number one spot globally. Other notable download performers included Ketchapp’s Stack and Glu Mobile’s celebrity-focused title, Kendall & Kylie. The latter demonstrated significant market traction, achieving 112 percent more downloads in its first five days than the publisher’s previous success, Kim Kardashian: Hollywood. Meanwhile, established titles like King’s Candy Crush Jelly Saga remained in the top ten but faced increased competition from rising indie games such as Rolling Sky and Merged!.

Revenue trends in the U.S. market showed greater stability than download rankings. Machine Zone’s Mobile Strike emerged as a key performer, continuing a consistent upward trajectory in revenue rankings and providing the publisher with two titles in the top tier alongside Game of War. These insights are derived from proprietary store intelligence data, with revenue figures representing net amounts after Apple’s 30 percent commission. The analysis highlights a dynamic environment where rapid-development indie hits and established strategy franchises continue to command significant market share.