2020 Results of Russian Mobile Games Market Development

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, people began spending more time with their mobile phones. This affected both the increase in the total number of mobile app users and, in particular, the number of mobile game players.

The year of 2020 was a very lucky year for mobile developers in Russia. According to Statista, it was mobile games that became a main growth driver for game industry income—the mobile game income equaled to $1.5 billion at year-end. The income generated by Russian users grew, too: APRU in mobile games equaled to $42.10 in 2020 (in comparison, APRU was equal to $40.15 in 2019).

During the lockdown, a quite new audience came to games. This proved that games, as a mass online entertainment, have an enormous potential. People began playing more often and longer. So, according to Statista, the number of mobile gamers in Russia increased by 18%, making 35.83 million. At that, according to Superdata and Wargaming, the mobile game audience hit 66 million people as far back as in the first half of 2020.

Top Mobile Games by Monthly Active Users

The leader by active users in Russia is Brawl Stars, a MOBA mobile video game developed and released by Supercell. The second place is taken by Minecraft: Pocket Edition, a joint development by Mojang Studios and Xbox Game Studios. Roblox, a virtual universe for games by Roblox Corporation, came in a good third.

Source: App Annie Intelligence, The State of Mobile 2021

Top Mobile Games by Revenue

The 2020 revenue leader among mobile games in Russia became Hero Wars – Hero Fantasy Multiplayer Battles by Nexters. Brawl Stars did not only become a leader by playing users’ activity, but also took the second place by revenue. Gardenscapes: New Acres, a mobile free-to-play game by Playrix, took the third place.

Source: App Annie Intelligence, The State of Mobile 2021

Statista provided their own top mobile games by revenue (with a breakdown into monthly revenue). In November 2020, according to their data, having earned more than $1.3 million, the leader by revenue in Russia was a multiplayer game World of Tanks Blitz for iOS and Android by Wargaming.net. Homescapes, a free-to-play game by Playrix, gave way to the leader a little bit (the revenue was $1.288 million) and took the second place. The third place in November by revenue was taken by Hero Wars.

Leading mobile gaming applications in Russia in November 2020, by revenue(in 1,000 U.S. dollars)

Source: Statista, 2021

Top Mobile Games by Downloads

The leader by downloads in Russia became My Talking Tom Friends, a free-to-play game by Outfit 7. Brawl Stars took one the leading positions here as well, being the second one by downloads. The third place by downloads in Russia was taken by PUBG Mobile, the official mobile version of PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS by Tencent Games.

Source: App Annie Intelligence, The State of Mobile 2021

Most Popular Mobile Game Genres in Russia

RPG gained most revenue in Russia in the first half of 2020. Strategies, even though staying in Top 3 most popular genres among Russian mobile gamers, lost almost 10% revenue in the first half of the year.

Source: Superdata, Wargaming, 1st half of 2020

Do you want to learn more about the Russian game market? Guide to Online Games Promotion in the Russian Market contain results of all latest market research.

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