ReportSensor Tower
The State of Card Battler Mobile Games
1 Jan 202126 pages~18 min full read
Card-battlers are a high-growth segment of mid-core strategy, accounting for 34% of total strategy revenue and experiencing a 17% revenue increase in Q1 2021.
See it on page 7The U.S. market is capturing a larger share of player spending, growing to 27% of global revenue in H1 2021, a six-percentage-point increase year-over-year.
See it on page 10Card-battlers demonstrate strong monetization potential with a U.S. Revenue Per Download (RPD) of $19, which is double the global average and represents the fastest RPD growth (175%) among strategy sub-genres in H1 2021.
See it on page 13Market leadership is held by established franchises, with Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links generating $110 million and Hearthstone over $40 million in H1 2021.
See it on page 15While Asian markets currently dominate revenue for six of the top ten titles, the category remains a viable entry point for new titles like Mighty Party and Legends of Runeterra, despite challenges with user retention.
See it on page 15Monthly spending in the card-battler sub-genre consistently surpassed $55 million during the first half of 2021, peaking at $70 million in January.
See it on page 9The report examines the mobile card‑battler sub‑genre, focusing on global market dynamics and U.S. performance during the first half of 2021. It identifies card‑battlers as a fast‑growing segment within the broader mid‑core strategy category, accounting for 34 % of strategy revenue and 6 % of overall downloads worldwide. Quarterly data show a 17 % rise in card‑battler revenue during Q1 2021, with monthly spending surpassing $55 million and peaking at $70 million in January. Key titles such as Yu‑Gi‑Oh! Duel Links, Hearthstone, and Magic: The Gathering Arena dominate revenue, with Yu‑Gi‑Oh! generating $110 million and Hearthstone over $40 million in H1 2021. Six of the top ten titles derive most revenue from Asian markets, yet U.S. share grew to 27 % of player spending—an increase of six percentage points from H1 2020.
The analysis highlights that card‑battlers attract both legacy franchises and new entrants; Mighty Party, Teamfight Tactics, and Legends of Runeterra achieved high download volumes despite lower retention. Revenue per download (RPD) in the U.S. averages $31 USD for strategy games, with card‑battlers at $19 USD—double the global average—indicating strong monetization potential. RPD growth for card‑battlers reached 175 % in H1 2021, the fastest among strategy sub‑genres.
Methodologically, the study relies on Sensor Tower’s Game Taxonomy, Store Intelligence, and Ad Intelligence data, estimating downloads per user and gross revenue (excluding platform cuts). Geographic coverage spans Japan, China, the U.S., and other markets; the time frame covers Q1 2019 to H1 2021. The report concludes that card‑battlers represent a lucrative niche for both established IPs and innovative titles, with expanding U.S. market share and robust monetization metrics.
