2020: The Year of Hypercasual Hegemony
Picture the mobile gaming market as a giant buffet, and hypercasual titles as the snack bar that everyone queues for. In 2020, these bite‑size games snatched up 31 % of every download—that’s nearly one‑third of all adventures played on phones. The top 1,000 hypercasual hits racked up a whopping 6.3 billion downloads in just one calendar year.
Source Check: Safe Betting Sites & Deconstructor of Fun
- Safe Betting Sites pulled the numbers straight from download logs.
- Deconstructor of Fun did the heavy lifting on publisher stats.
Spotlight on the Big Name: Voodoo
When you think of hypercasual royalty, Voodoo is the monarch that rules the realm. Their flagship titles went from a modest just over 1 billion downloads in 2019 to a staggering 1.6 billion installs in 2020.
That’s a win‑rate of 52 % higher year‑over‑year—a growth that would make even the most seasoned investor gasp with delight.
Why It’s a Game‑Changer
Hypercasual games are built on the principle of “easy‑to‑play, hard‑to‑beat.” That sweet spot of instant gratification keeps players coming back, driving those colossal download numbers. Voodoo’s savvy mix of catchy titles, playful mechanics, and relentless marketing α‑gives them a competitive edge.
Takeaway: The Future is Playful
These stats aren’t just numbers—they’re a clear sign that hypercasual titles continue to dominate, shape monetization tactics, and influence how studios craft mobile experiences. If you’re looking to tap into the most popular genre on the planet, 2020’s data tells us: hypercasual is where the action is.
Top genre by revenue, RPG racked up $18.7bn, 29% share of total
Voodoo Takes the Throne: iOS Dominates the Download Game
January 2021 – Voodoo’s Bold Win
Statista’s latest gossip sheet reveals that Voodoo smashed the competition on the App Store, raking in a whopping 24.65 million downloads in a single month. By contrast, Lion Studios was left trailing at only 13.06 million, while Tencent Studios came in third with 10.09 million.
- Voodoo – 24.65 million downloads
- Lion Studios – 13.06 million downloads
- Tencent Studios – 10.09 million downloads
February 2021 – The App Store & Play Store Go Big
Voodoo didn’t just stop at the App Store; they moved onto the Play Store as well, pulling in 28 million downloads on Apple’s side and a staggering 78 million on Google’s platform.
Other Genres Shaking Things Up in 2020
-
Arcade Games
They grew by 33 % year‑over‑year, hitting a cool 4 billion downloads and grabbing 15 % of all downloads.
-
Puzzle Games
These brain‑teasers exploded, growing by a jaw‑dropping 78 %, bringing in 3.7 billion downloads and accounting for 13 % of the total.
RPGs Rule the Sugar‑Spree
The real money‑grabbers are the RPGs. They claimed the top spot with a massive 29 % share of revenue from the top 1,000 titles, amassing a record $18.7 billion. That’s a 26 % bump from 2019.
Below them:
- Strategy – 21 % share, $14 billion
- Puzzle – 13 % share, $8.3 billion
Genshin Impact – The RPG King
When it comes to game‑glorious earnings, Genshin Impact reigns supreme. Sensor Tower reports it raked in an eye‑watering $874 million within the first five months after launch, making it the highest‑grossing RPG worldwide and the third‑most lucrative mobile game overall.
