Japan’s mobile gaming market generated approximately ¥2.5 trillion in total in-app purchase (IAP) revenue during the first seven months of 2024.
Established intellectual properties remain the primary revenue drivers, with titles like Fate/Grand Order, eFootball, Pokémon GO, and the One Piece franchise collectively accounting for over ¥1 trillion in earnings.
Advertising-derived income grew by 35% year-on-year, now representing 8% of total mobile gaming revenue, fueled by user acquisition campaigns on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
The market is highly concentrated among top-tier publishers, including Mixi, Bandai Namco, CyberAgent, miHoYo, Square Enix, and GungHo.
3D titles have become the dominant visual format, now accounting for roughly 50% of the top-performing mobile applications.
The platform market share for mobile gaming in Japan has stabilized at 55% for the Apple App Store and 45% for Google Play.
The analysis provides a comprehensive overview of Japan’s mobile‑gaming ecosystem in 2024, measuring the market’s size, growth dynamics, and competitive landscape. Total in‑app purchase (IAP) revenue reached roughly ¥2.5 trillion, marking a modest increase over 2023, while the combined share of the Apple App Store and Google Play stabilized at about 55 % and 45 % respectively. Advertising‑derived income expanded by 35 % year‑on‑year, now accounting for roughly 8 % of overall mobile‑gaming revenue, driven largely by user acquisition through YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.
Top‑grossing publishers dominate the market, with Mixi, Bandai Namco, CyberAgent, miHoYo, Square Enix and GungHo each securing multiple titles in the upper echelon of revenue. Flagship games such as *Fate/Grand Order*, *eFootball*, *Pokémon GO*, and the *One Piece* franchise collectively generated more than ¥1 trillion, underscoring the continued strength of established IPs. Genre analysis shows 3D titles now represent roughly half of the top‑performing apps, reflecting a shift toward richer visual experiences, while 2D and casual games retain a sizable user base.
The study covers the period January through July
