GameRefinery

Research

30 documents

Documents

Report33 pages

Casual Gaming Trends Snapshot Report

Every top-100 casual game released in the last two years now incorporates renovation elements to drive visual progression and player satisfaction.
The integration of construction mechanics in top Match3 games has surged from 7% to 49% over the past six years.
70% of top-grossing Match3 titles currently utilize hybrid designs that blend core puzzle mechanics with complex meta-layers like RPG elements or collectibles.

Market Analysis Global Casual+1

GameRefineryMar 2022

Report33 pages

Casual Gaming Trends Snapshot Report March 2022

By early 2022, 70% of top-100 grossing Match3 games incorporated meta-elements, a massive increase from less than 10% six years prior.
Renovation and construction mechanics have become industry standard, appearing in every top-100 grossing casual game released between 2020 and 2022.
The integration of construction features in top Match3 games surged to 49% in 2022, up from just 7% in 2016.

Market Analysis Mobile Casual+2

GameRefineryMar 2022

Report31 pages

Motivations and Demographics Snapshot Report

Renovation and customization mechanics are now a fundamental requirement for casual gaming, appearing in 100% of the top-100 grossing casual titles released in the last two years.
Motivational drivers for US mobile gaming are highly demographic-specific, with younger males prioritizing mastery and competition in PvP, while players aged 45 and older favor social slots.
The 'Expression' driver, centered on customization and decoration, is a primary engagement factor particularly among female players who show a strong preference for tycoon and creative titles.

Market Analysis Player Demographics Mobile+1

GameRefineryFeb 2022

Report31 pages

Motivations and Demographics Snapshot Report: The Motivations Driving Top Mobile Games, February 2022

Gender and age are primary indicators of genre preference, with women comprising 63% of the audience for Match3 and Hidden Object games, while men make up 76% to 84% of the audience in 4X strategy and synchronous PvP titles.
Every top-grossing casual game released between 2020 and 2022 has integrated renovation and customization elements to increase player expression and broaden market appeal.
Motivational drivers are demographic-specific; younger males prefer high-sensomotoric challenges like Battle Royales, while players aged 45 and older seek similar thrills through low-sensomotoric experiences like Slots.

Market Analysis Player Demographics Player Behavior+2

GameRefineryFeb 2022

Report34 pages

Casual Gaming Apps Report 2022

Mobile gaming maintains over 60% of the total industry market share despite experiencing its first year-over-year global spending decline in Q1 2022.
Android is significantly more cost-effective for user acquisition than iOS, with an average CPI of $0.75 compared to $2.27, while both platforms deliver comparable Day 30 ROAS.
Lifestyle games are the most lucrative segment for developers, yielding the highest returns despite carrying higher-than-average acquisition costs.

Market Analysis Global Mobile+1

GameRefineryJan 2022

Report34 pages

2022 Casual Gaming Report

Mobile gaming accounts for over 60% of total industry revenue, though Q1 2022 saw a decline in user spend following a pandemic-era peak of $22.6 billion.
The average cost per install (CPI) is $1.10, with a significant disparity between iOS ($2.27) and Android ($0.75).
North America is the most expensive market for user acquisition with a CPI of $3.32, while Asia-Pacific and Latin America offer more cost-effective opportunities with CPIs below $1.

Market Analysis Player Behavior

GameRefineryJan 2022

Report24 pages

In-Game Events Snapshot: November 2021

Seasonal in-game events are a standard industry practice, utilized by 90% of the top 100 grossing mobile titles to drive player retention and monetization.
External brand collaborations are a major growth area, appearing in 42% of top US iOS games, 51% of top Chinese games, and 62% of top Japanese games.
Strategic event implementation can drive massive revenue spikes, such as Genshin Impact’s Lantern Rite event increasing daily revenue from $200,000 to over $1.25 million.

Monetization Live Ops Retention+1

GameRefineryNov 2021

Report16 pages

Strategy Genre Snapshot 2021

The 4X subgenre dominates the U.S. mobile strategy market, accounting for 20 of the top 25 grossing titles within a genre that holds a 17% total iOS revenue share.
Successful strategy titles are increasingly driven by genre-blending, integrating mechanics like merge, match-3, or RPG elements to expand their player base beyond traditional core audiences.
High-performing 4X games rely on three core pillars: long-term power progression through deep economies, complex live operations with recurring events, and social frameworks built on competition and collaboration.

Market Analysis Strategy USA

GameRefineryOct 2021

Report22 pages

Shooter Genre Snapshot: September 2021

The shooter genre on US iOS is highly concentrated, with the 'Big Three'—Garena Free Fire, Call of Duty: Mobile, and PUBG Mobile—collectively generating over 84% of total genre revenue.
Garena Free Fire experienced significant growth in 2021, doubling its iOS revenue and capturing approximately 30% of the market share to rival Call of Duty: Mobile for the top position as of Q2 2021.
The shooter genre accounts for roughly 6% of total US iOS revenue, currently ranking as the platform's 6th largest mobile genre.

Market Analysis Shooter Mobile+1

GameRefinerySept 2021

Report19 pages

RPG Genre Snapshot Report June 2021

As of mid-2021, RPGs account for approximately 14% of total revenue on the US iOS mobile gaming platform.
The RPG market is shifting from traditional turn-based titles toward high-fidelity, open-world Action RPGs that offer console-quality experiences.
Genshin Impact is the primary driver of the genre's evolution, currently commanding over 10% of the total RPG market share.

Market Analysis Global RPG+1

GameRefineryJun 2021

Report19 pages

RPG Genre Snapshot

RPG titles account for 14% of the total revenue share on the US iOS mobile gaming market.
Genshin Impact alone captures 10% of the total RPG market share, signaling a shift from turn-based titles toward high-production action RPGs.
Market leaders are increasingly defined by console-quality production values, open-world environments, and narrative-heavy gameplay.

Market Analysis RPG Mobile+1