6 Gaming Genres You Need on Your Smartphone

Despite suffering a slight dip in 2022, the global gaming market still generated a whopping $184 billion in revenue during the calendar year.

The global recession and previously inflated revenue figures due to lockdowns were among the primary reasons for a 4.3 percent year-on-year reduction.

However, with analysts predicting revenues will grow to £211bn by 2025, the gaming sector undoubtedly remains in excellent shape.

One of the most noteworthy takeaways from the latest figures is the surge in mobile game downloads, which reached almost 90bn last year.

This was six billion more than the previous year – continuing the trend of mobile games edging towards becoming the most dominant sector.

The global gaming market share for mobile is now 50% and has been forecast to be responsible for the greater portion of revenue by the end of this year.

With that in mind, we look at the most popular mobile gaming genres and identify some of the titles you should play on your smartphone.

Role-Playin

The role-playing game (RPG) genre accounted for $20.2bn in revenue worldwide last year – almost $4bn more than strategy games generated.

One of the most popular titles was The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – a stunningly immersive game that has won countless awards since it was first released.

With numerous visual and technical improvement on its predecessors, this latest edition has the power to keep players occupied for hours on end.

Described by IGN as one of the greatest games of all-time, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a game everyone should play on mobile.

Strategy

Annual global revenues of $16.3bn highlight that gamers love to play strategy games and there are undoubtedly plenty of titles to choose from in this genre.

Having garnered more than 100 million downloads on the Google Play Store since it was first launched in 2012, it would be fair to stay that Plague Inc. has truly stood the test of time.

The game’s mix of intensive strategy and frighteningly realistic simulation make it an intoxicating prospect for anyone who loves lengthy gaming sessions.

The beauty of Plague Inc. is you can play through the game more than once, as there is no guarantee the same tactics will work during a new save.

Puzzle

Puzzle games generated $9.1bn in global revenue last year to demonstrate that people like to challenge themselves when playing games online.

Euclidean Skies combines eye-catching architecture and turn-based movements to create an immersive world with tricky puzzles.

The game is designed for people of all ages, making it an ideal learning tool for youngsters or a mind-training game for older people.

Featuring more than 50 different levels and a beautiful augmented reality mode, Euclidean Skies is unquestionably one of the best puzzle games in the business.

Casino

Once seen as a niche activity for wealthy people, casino games have crossed firmly into the mainstream over the past couple of decades.

Playing real money games such as blackjack and roulette on betting apps has become the primary entertainment pastime for millions of people around the world.

The United States and Europe are among the biggest markets for iGaming sites, but several other jurisdictions are emerging as major players in the sector.

Social casino apps are also hugely popular with gamers, with superb titles such as Poker Heat boasting a massive global community.

Shooter

Shooters have been a staple part of the online gaming industry from the outset and they remain one of the most popular genres in the modern era.

Global revenues of $4.6bn in 2022 highlight that point to perfection, putting shooters just ahead of simulation games in terms of annual spend.

Modern Strike Online: PvP FPS is one of the most successful in the shooter genre, racking up more than 100m downloads on Google Play since it was released.

With 14 different playable maps and a ton of game modes to choose from, Modern Strike Online: PvP FPS offers the longevity that gamers crave.

Simulation

Simulation games generated $4.5bn in worldwide revenue last year, placing it sixth on the popularity list ahead of action, sports, arcade and tabletop.

The definitive game in this category is The Sims, and the mobile version unquestionably lives up to the legacy established by the console variants.

All the favourite features are present including the ability to fully customise your Sims, build your dream home and shape the Sims’ lifestyle.

The Sims bears plenty of similarities to the hit movie The Truman Show – albeit without the sinister characteristics displayed by Christof (Ed Harris).