On average, according to Data.ai, people spend more than 5 hours per day on their mobile phones – so is it any wonder that mobile gaming is so big right now? Statista has predicted that by 2025 the market will be worth a whopping $130.8 billion.
We often consider gamers to be those who spend hours playing on PC or console – but it is actually the hyper-casual mobile gamers that have made the most impact in the mobile gaming market.
Hyper-casual gamers are likely to play for just a few minutes here and there per day and often choose games like the Starburst slot from Virgin Games, Race Master 3D from SayGames, and Tall Man Run by Supersonic Studio LTD.
Hyper-casual games have a few characteristics that make them so popular, including:
- They are straightforward to play
- Minimal interface
- High to the infinite replay value
- Wide audience
- Addictive
- Can stop mid-play
Following hyper-casual are puzzle games and simulation games.
The biggest mobile games in 2022
There have been some standout titles released in the last few years, but 2022 was particularly significant for mobile games. With access to better build environments and mobile phone technology getting better every year, mobile games are more immersive than they have ever been.
- ROBLOX
- Subway Surfers
- Wordle by GoldFinch
- Fishdom: Deep Dive
- Call of Duty: Mobile
Mobile gaming trends
The mobile market hasn’t stagnated, but it did slow for a short period in 2022. There were some significant trends that have shaped how 2023 will look:
Hyper-casual gaming ruled
Hyper-casual gaming was the stand-out trend in 2022. This gaming genre grew by 45% and took over all other game types. Not only that, but it has far surpassed the 100 billion installs from 2020.
Puzzles
Puzzle games became one of the ways that people wanted to spend time. But it was about puzzles that had multiple layers to them. The story and interesting characters that go along with the puzzle-solving genre made a big impact.
Match-3 games are hard to beat in the puzzle genre, but games like Clockmaker, Project Makeover and Homescapes combined the meta-layers for success.
Subscriptions
Subscription models and gaming have always been best friends, but a big trend was subscriptions that offered VIP access, removed ads, battle passes, and more became a big deal.
Social features
Almost all games that were released came with social features so that people could communicate. An evolution that people are calling mobile social 2.0.
The future of mobile gaming
Some solid trends in 2022 mean that 2023 and beyond will demand more from developers than ever. But the trends won’t just be about the players – we will see some changes within the gaming studios and how we are marketed to.
AAA
We have already started to see the lite version of massive titles available on mobile phones, but over time we are likely to see the whole AAA experience. Game developers will increasingly use cloud options for their builds which means a subscription may give access to a no-download full game.
Streamers
Streamers have been typically focused on PC and console games, but there is likely to be more focus put on the mobile gaming experience. Content with Roblox, Among Us, and Minecraft is some of the most popular.
But with more visually appealing mobile games on the way, we are going to see more mobile gaming streams.
Growing User Base
Younger people are now growing up with access to newer and better technology than aged 30+ people have ever had, and that means they have instant access to the mobile games many gamers dreamed about. As better mobile phones and games are available, the user base for mobile gaming will grow. Statista predicts that there will be 2.32 billion mobile gamers by 2027.
Monetization
Players are used to being shown ads in the middle of a game or advert bars at the top of the game. This is a way that small studios make revenue. We may see the gamification of advertising in the next few years.
Turning adverts into something that is enjoyable and playable. It will still be an advert, and it will need to be stated as such, but it could offer in-game benefits if you complete the advert game.
This is beneficial to the game developer and the company that is advertising the product. In some ways, it is a better experience for the player, too – their gaming isn’t interrupted by a full-page ad. Instead, they will simply be playing something different for a short while.
Mobile gaming is the future, and it has drastically changed how gamers are viewed in modern society too. We’re likely to see exciting and impactful changes, including Web3, the Metaverse and AI too.