The Top Mobile Game Genres of 2018: Top Grossing Charts

The analysis evaluates the mobile gaming landscape of 2018 by examining the top-grossing genres and their respective monetization effectiveness. The primary objective is to provide developers with actionable insights into which sub-genres offer the most sustainable revenue potential, moving beyond generic store categories to a more granular taxonomy of 40 distinct sub-genres. By analyzing the top 500 grossing applications across each quarter of 2018, the study identifies key performance metrics, including chart rankings, distribution, and revenue skew, to categorize genres into groups such as Reliable Giants, Rising Stars, and Smash Hits.

Key findings highlight that Slots, Match3, Turn-based RPGs, and 4X Strategy remain the most reliable revenue drivers, consistently supporting a large volume of titles within the top 500. Conversely, Augmented Reality (AR) and Battle Royale emerged as significant rising stars, demonstrating strong monetization potential despite having fewer total titles in the charts. The research utilizes a comparative methodology, assessing the mean and median chart positions of these genres to determine which categories exhibit positive performance skews, indicating a higher concentration of successful, high-ranking titles.

The analysis concludes that while established genres continue to dominate, the market is increasingly receptive to new gameplay mechanics and monetization strategies, such as subscriptions and vanity-based in-app purchases. For developers, the findings suggest that the most prudent strategy involves targeting genres with a lower number of competing titles that maintain high average rankings. While the top-grossing giants remain stable, the increasing pressure from niche studios suggests that future growth for developers lies in identifying emerging sub-genres or introducing innovative twists to existing, proven mechanics.