The global mobile gaming market experienced a period of stabilization in 2023, with total in-app purchase (IAP) revenue reaching $76.7 billion. While this figure represents a 2% year-on-year decline, it remains 22% higher than pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019. The industry outlook is positive, with revenue projected to rebound to $78 billion in 2024 and surpass $100 billion by 2028, reflecting an anticipated average annual growth rate of approximately 6.8%.

Market performance in 2023 was characterized by a shift in consumer preference away from mid-core and hardcore genres toward casual and hybrid-casual titles. Casual gaming revenue grew by 8% to $28.6 billion, now accounting for 38% of the global market. Within this segment, puzzle and board games performed exceptionally well, with both genres reaching $10 billion in revenue. Notable titles such as Royal Match and MONOPOLY GO! were primary drivers of this growth, with the latter emerging as a significant revenue contributor in the board game category. Conversely, traditional powerhouses like RPG and strategy games saw revenue declines of 10% as the pandemic-driven stay-at-home demand subsided.

Geographically, the United States remains the largest mobile gaming market, generating $22.2 billion in 2023. While the U.S. market remained stable, other key regions experienced varied results; the Chinese iOS market held steady, whereas Japan and South Korea saw revenue contractions of 13% and 7%, respectively. Despite broader genre declines, high-quality new releases—particularly in the RPG sector—continued to secure top positions in growth rankings. The analysis relies on estimated IAP data from the Apple App Store and Google Play, excluding advertising revenue and third-party Android marketplace income.