In 2025, Kingshot, Delta Force, and SD Gundam G Generation Eternal emerged as the most profitable mobile game launches. Four of the top five titles originated from Asian developers, representing one fewer than in 2024.
This year, several new mobile games became significant successes, with some sequels to popular titles and others surprising the market. Among the standout games were Kingshot, Archero 2, and Delta Force, though the year lacked major revenue drivers like Dungeon & Fighter: Mobile in China or Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket.
Unlike the previous year, no new release reached the billion-dollar mark in 2025. The competition within the top 10 newcomers was closer, resulting in a combined revenue of $2.2 billion, a 27% decrease compared to 2024’s $3 billion total for the top 10 games. Player spending on mobile games increased overall, with estimates suggesting $72.6 billion was spent in major app stores from January to November, a 1% rise from 2024.
Despite a decrease in total revenue, this year’s spending among top new titles was more evenly distributed, with each of the top ten games grossing at least $100 million. All top newcomers were launched in the first half of 2025, unlike last year when some games made a splash late in the year.
Asia continued to be a major player in mobile gaming, having dominated the top 10 in 2024. In 2025, Beijing-based Century Games topped the charts with Kingshot, a successful 4X strategy game that generated over $500 million.
The disparity between Asian and Western game releases persists, as four of the five leading titles were from Asia, specifically Kingshot, Delta Force, SD Gundam G Generation Eternal, and Archero 2. The exception was Color Block Jam from Turkey’s Rollic.
In terms of diversity, the only other game outside of Asia in the top 10 was Disney Solitaire, developed by Playtika’s SuperPlay in Israel. While Asian developers once again led the revenue charts, many of the top games found their largest audiences in the U.S.
Moreover, several Chinese games performed well despite lacking Android data due to the prevalence of alternative stores instead of Google Play. Titles like Valorant Mobile and Mabinogi Mobile, while exclusive to China, ranked highly based on iOS estimates alone.
Asia’s prominence comes from a mix of established franchises and new titles, with many top games available cross-platform. Where Winds Meets, for instance, is available on PC, PS5, iOS, and Android, marking a significant entry into 2025.
Looking deeper into the top games, each of the top five titles came from different developers and publishers, showcasing a shift toward diversified revenue streams. This year’s leading games adopted hybrid models combining in-app purchases and ads.
Highlights include:
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Kingshot: Gross player spending reached $586.5 million since its February 2025 release. This 4X strategy game blends medieval settings with tower defense gameplay and has shown consistent revenue growth.
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Delta Force: With gross spending of $431.8 million since its global launch on April 21, 2025, this tactical shooter has thrived, primarily in the Chinese market.
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SD Gundam G Generation Eternal: Released on April 16, 2025, this title earned $300 million in gross player spending, benefiting from its timing with the new Mobile Suit Gundam anime.
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Archero 2: The sequel brought in $175.9 million since its January 2025 launch, offering new gameplay features and engaging monetization strategies.
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Color Block Jam: Although released in 2024, it gained traction in 2025 with gross spending of $148.2 million, showcasing the success of its hybridcasual model.
Honorable mentions include Where Winds Meet, which generated $132.4 million, and Disney Solitaire, a leading new title in the solitaire genre. Other notable entries were Cygames’ Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond and Umamusume: Pretty Derby, which saw success beyond Japan.
As 2026 approaches, the trend of hybrid monetization methods is likely to continue, with the ongoing competition between Asian and Western developers shaping the future landscape of mobile gaming.
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