What Genres Were Booming in 2020

This analysis examines the mobile gaming market landscape in 2020, focusing on revenue and download trends across Tier-1 Western and Eastern markets. Utilizing proprietary data from over 250,000 top-performing titles, the research identifies key genre shifts, the impact of major title launches, and the evolving competitive dynamics within specific niches.

In Tier-1 Western markets, the Action RPG (MMORPG) segment experienced significant growth, largely driven by the successful launch of Genshin Impact, which generated $520 million in its first four months. The Merge genre also saw consistent expansion as new entrants challenged the previous monopoly held by a few established titles. Conversely, the Real-Time Strategy (RTS) segment faced a decline, struggling to compete for audience attention, though the emergence of hybrid subgenres—blending 4X strategy with RTS mechanics—suggests a potential path for future revitalization.

Performance in Tier-1 Eastern markets was characterized by sharp revenue spikes in the Battler subgenre, fueled by localized hits in China. Third-Person Shooters remained a dominant force, anchored by the sustained success of PUBG Mobile, which reached $3 billion in lifetime revenue. Download trends highlighted the massive, viral growth of Among Us, which saw a 735% surge in monthly downloads by September 2020. Additionally, the launch of League of Legends: Wild Rift triggered a notable escalation in the MOBA segment.

The research concludes that while established genres continue to evolve through new metagame layers and hybrid mechanics, the market remains highly sensitive to individual blockbuster releases. Despite the perceived ease of development, certain niches like Idle Clickers failed to gain significant traction, indicating that market success increasingly depends on high-quality production and innovative gameplay loops that can effectively compete for user traffic.