2026 State of Mobile is Live!
Gaming Insights · Mobile App Insights · Bryan Isagholian · April 2026
Gaming Deep Dive: Action & Strategy
Action & Strategy remains the heavy hitter of the industry, dominating PC/console downloads and revenue as well as making up more than half of all mobile IAP revenue. Publishers are prioritizing social play and high-value engagement where possible. If you want to understand how indie co-ops climbed to the top and how mobile 4x strategy is cooling off, take a look at the Gaming Deep Dive: Action & Strategy in 2026.
If you want to skip ahead, download the full report for free here.
Still reading? Here are 3 key takeaways from Gaming Deep Dive: Action & Strategy.
#1. Steam Leads the Charge on Growth, Mobile Focuses on Monetization
Action and Strategy titles on Steam are seeing big YoY jumps in both downloads and revenue, proving there’s still a massive appetite for premium gaming. Hits like Battlefield 6, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and ARC Raiders show that PC and console can pull off the technically ambitious experiences that mobile just can't deliver.
On the mobile side, download numbers are still sliding, but revenue is warming up. This shift in strategy appears to be intentional. Instead of just hunting for new installs, publishers are doubling down on the players they already have, focusing on engagement and monetization from their core player base rather than chasing volume.
#2. Mobile Action & RPG Decline In Contrast to PC/Console
While Action and RPGs are thriving on PC and Console, mobile RPGs are facing a rougher reality. Revenue for the genre has declined for four years straight, and 2026 isn't looking much better. Mobile Action had a few bright spots in 2024, thanks to a massive Brawl Stars comeback and the release of Dungeon Fighter Mobile driving a 78% growth spike. However, that momentum didn't last, as the category took a 30% dip in 2025.
It’s becoming clear that the classic gacha formula, which kept RPGs at the top of the mobile charts through 2023, is finally losing its steam. While the Action category still sees the occasional breakout hit, the industry is struggling to find a repeatable strategy for growth. Still, there is plenty of room for a pivot since these genres are probably the most capable of picking up the tactics that made 4X Strategy so successful.
#3. Slay the Spire 2 Slays Deckbuilder Expectations
In just three months since release, Slay the Spire 2’s Steam revenue nearly matched what the entire deckbuilder genre brought in through all of 2025. Other deckbuilders still held onto 26% of the category’s total revenue, proving that the success of Slay the Spire 2 didn't cannibalize the rest of the genre.
Beyond the deckbuilder genre, the game is also holding its own against the biggest names on PC. In Q1 2026, only Resident Evil: Requiem sold more units or generated more premium revenue on Steam.
