Honor of Kings Expands Globally with Strong Launch

The Sensor Tower mobile gaming pulse highlights the top-performing iOS App Store and Google Play games each month. Our analysis covers trends and movement in the top charts among the leading games across countries. It is the industry standard for professionals looking to compare the latest market shifts of leading games and publishers and prepare for the months ahead. All lifetime downloads and revenue estimates are inclusive up to the time of the original publication on July 9th, 2024.

Honor of Kings' global expansion has been a resounding success. Its first direct overseas launch in Brazil in March 2023 was a smash hit, topping the downloads chart for the entire month. During its global rollout on June 22, 2024, the game clinched the #1 download spot in six markets, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore. This surge pushed total downloads outside of China to 21 million, with 8 million new downloads from the newly added markets.  To celebrate the global release, the game introduced a new hero available exclusively in the global edition. The recent market additions have collectively generated $4.7 million in in-app purchases, with the US, Indonesia, and Malaysia contributing the most.

The MOBA subgenre is a powerhouse, generating nearly $1.2 billion (6.1% of the market) in global consumer spending in Q2 2024, making it the third-largest subgenre by revenue, despite ranking only 27th in downloads with 134 million (1.4% of total gaming downloads). With recent entrants and the continued success of existing titles, we've seen double-digit growth in both downloads and revenue across key markets. It's an exciting time for players, with a wealth of choices in the MOBA arena.

Top Games by Downloads in June 2024: Which Mobile Games Topped Downloads Charts and Which Games Were the Breakout Stars of the Month? 

While Honor of Kings emerged as a standout title, the June 2024 breakout rankings also highlighted the enduring popularity of shooters and simulators in mobile gaming. Three of the top ten breakout downloads featured Battle Royale or FPS mechanics, underscoring their strong appeal in the mobile gaming market. Let's dive deeper into these trends and explore what makes these genres so captivating for players worldwide.

We took a look at which games saw the most significant growth in June 2024 in our Breakout Games by Downloads charts. 

• Manage Supermarket Simulator, a supermarket-themed simulator game, has taken the #1 spot for worldwide downloads growth, quickly climbing to the #2 worldwide position in absolute downloads. Published by Zego Studio, the game has been available globally since May 2024 and has been downloaded around 28.6 million times to date. The top markets by downloads include Indonesia, Brazil, India, Mexico, and Vietnam. The game stands out for its immersive first-person gameplay, realistic 3D graphics, and widespread popularity among casual gamers globally.

• Lost Light: Weapon Skin Treat, a FPS/3PS shooter game, has secured the #10 spot for worldwide downloads growth and is currently ranked #163 by absolute downloads. Published by NetEase, the game was initially available in select markets in 2022 and launched in mainland China in June 2024, adding 3 million downloads to its total of 12.5 million. Beyond China, the top markets by downloads include Russia, Brazil, the United States, and Mexico. In terms of monetization, Lost Light has generated over $7.4 million in lifetime consumer spend globally, with leading contributions from China, the United States, and Japan. Lost Light: Weapon Skin Treat stands out for its unique combination of first-person and third-person perspectives, strategic survival mechanics, realistic 3D art, and engaging multiplayer experience, which together have driven its global appeal and strong monetization success.

Most Popular Mobile Games by Downloads in June 2024

While the rising stars offer the best view into high-growth sectors, top charts showcase current consumer demand.

In June, Free Fire, a Battle Royale game, maintained its #1 position for top games by worldwide downloads, a status it held from the previous period. Published by Garena Games Online, the game has amassed approximately 1.66 billion downloads globally since its September 2017 launch, with its primary markets being India, Brazil, Indonesia, Vietnam and Mexico. MOBA newcomer Squad Busters, remained in the top 10 at #7 spot for top Games by Worldwide downloads, down from #2 the month prior. The game has been downloaded around 51 Million times,  surpassing $45 Million in lifetime consumer spend globally.

Top Games by App Store Consumer Spend in June 2024: Which Mobile Games Topped Spend Charts and Which Games Were the Breakout Stars of Month?

Similarly to downloads, we took a look at which games saw the greatest growth in June 2024. How did successful launches, monetization mechanics and timely re-engagement campaigns shape our Breakout Games by Consumer Spend charts?

• Dungeon & Fighter Mobile, a beat 'em up Action game, has secured the #1 spot for top games by worldwide revenue growth and is currently ranked #1 by absolute revenue, climbing 7 positions from the previous period. Originally published by NEXON, the game has been available in South Korea since February 2022 and saw its first overseas release in China in May 2024. It has been a smash hit in China as the combination of fantasy elements, martial arts, and fast-paced action fits the preferences of many gamers in China. In June, the game generated around $251 million in gross revenue in China, making it the top-grossing mobile game for the month.

• 三国：谋定天下 (Three Kingdoms: Plan to Rule the World), a 4X strategy game, has secured the #2 spot for top games by worldwide revenue growth and is currently ranked #28 by absolute revenue. Published by bilibili, the game was released in China in June 2024 and has since garnered around 1.2 million downloads on the iOS App Store, surpassing $41.9 million in lifetime consumer spend. The game stands out for its dynamic 4X strategy gameplay, historical accuracy, advanced AI and diplomacy, realistic art style, and global accessibility, all of which contribute to its innovative and engaging player experience.

Most Popular Mobile Games by App Store Consumer Spend in June 2024

Consumer spending top charts are more stable than breakout charts, with player loyalty being crucial for the longevity of leading games. In June, a game that broadened its global reach cracked the top 10, underscoring the value of targeting markets beyond one's own.

Dungeon & Fighter Mobile claimed the #1 rank in consumer spend, surpassing MONOPOLY GO! which dropped to 2nd place for the first time since November 2023. Whiteout Survival, a 4X strategy game, took the #9 spot for top games by worldwide revenue, climbing 2 positions from the previous period. Published by Century Games, it has been available globally since December 2022 and was finally rolled out in Mainland China in May 2024. Globally, the game has been downloaded around 52.5 million times to date and has generated $935 million in gross revenue.

Top In App Events in June 2024

Each month, we compile a list of the top two In-App Events with the highest impact in select markets, based on the total iOS revenue generated within the first three days. These events are ranked by their revenue lift growth in each market. In the latest rankings,Honkai: Star Rail  events topped the list for growth in numerous markets, driven by the introduction of the highly anticipated Firefly character and story arc, significantly boosting player spending.

Understanding the effectiveness of these events and learning how your competitors successfully run in-app events to boost user engagement and retention is crucial for achieving long-term success.