Top Grossing Mobile Games Worldwide: March 2021

The mobile gaming industry experienced significant revenue generation in March 2021, led by Tencent’s Honor of Kings, which secured the top position with $257.5 million in gross player spending. This figure represents a 63 percent year-over-year increase, with the vast majority of revenue originating from the Chinese market. PUBG Mobile followed closely as the second highest-earning title, generating $240.5 million, with its performance bolstered by the localized Game for Peace version in China. Other notable top-performing titles included Genshin Impact, Uma Musume Pretty Derby, and Coin Master.

The analysis highlights the rapid market impact of new releases, specifically noting that Uma Musume Pretty Derby generated $136.6 million in its first month of release in Japan. This performance underscores the continued high monetization potential of the Japanese mobile gaming sector. Additionally, the report identifies the successful implementation of battle pass systems as a key driver for revenue growth, citing Lords Mobile as a primary example. By introducing the Kingdom Labors battle pass, the title saw a 250 percent year-over-year revenue increase on Google Play, reaching over $59 million for the month.

These findings are derived from the Store Intelligence platform, which tracks gross user spending across the Apple App Store and Google Play worldwide throughout March 2021. The scope of the data excludes revenue from third-party Android marketplaces. By examining these trends, the analysis provides a snapshot of global mobile gaming performance, emphasizing the dominance of established titles alongside the rapid ascent of new, highly localized gaming experiences.