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STORE INTELLIGENCE · CRAIG CHAPPLE · JUNE 2021

Ni No Kuni: Cross Worlds Races Past $100 Million in 11 Days, Faster Than Pokémon GO

Ni No Kuni: Cross Worlds is the No. 2 revenue generating mobile game worldwide across the App Store and Google Play since launch, Sensor Tower data shows.

Ni No Kuni: Cross Worlds Crosses $100 Million main image feature

Ni No Kuni: Cross Worlds from Netmarble has proven an instant hit after breaking past $100 million in player spending from the App Store and Google Play just 11 days after its official launch on June 10, Sensor Tower Store Intelligence data shows.

During its first 11 days, the title was the No. 2 revenue generating mobile game worldwide, accumulating an estimated $101.3 million. The No. 1 mobile game by player spending globally across the App Store and Google Play was Honor of Kings from Tencent, which picked up $102.3 million during the same period, while PUBG Mobile, also from Tencent and localized as Game For Peace in China, ranked No. 3, generating $80.2 million. Currently, Ni No Kuni: Cross Worlds is only available in five markets: Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. This means that outside of China, Netmarble’s title was the No. 1 revenue generating mobile game globally since its launch.

Anime Success

Ni No Kuni: Cross Worlds also ranks as the top RPG worldwide, above titles such as Uma Musume Pretty Derby from Cygames and Fate/Grand Order from Sony’s Aniplex. The top five revenue generating RPGs globally during this period have all been published by companies in Asia. By Analyzing the title using Sensor Tower’s Game Taxonomy and Game Intelligence, we can see that Ni No Kuni’s early success also shows the rising popularity of titles with a 3D Anime art style, following other recent stellar hits including the aforementioned Uma Musume Pretty Derby and global blockbuster Genshin Impact from miHoYo.

Top Grossing Mobile RPGs Worldwide Between June 10 and June 20, 2021

Ni No Kuni: Cross Worlds is one of the fastest mobile games to reach $100 million from player spending across the App Store and Google Play. Following its official release, Pokémon GO from Niantic took 12 days to reach the milestone, although it should be noted that the title, like Netmarble’s, was only initially available in select territories. Genshin Impact, meanwhile, took 13 days to hit $100 million, as did Lineage 2 Revolution from Netmarble back in 2016.

Japan was the most lucrative country for Ni No Kuni: Cross Worlds during its first 11 days, picking up $45.6 million in player spending, or 45 percent of revenue, from that market. South Korea ranked No. 2 with approximately 35 percent of global player spending, while Taiwan ranked No. 3 with 15.7 percent. Player spending was evenly split, with the App Store and Google Play both generating a 50 percent share.

Lasting Impact?

Ni No Kuni: Cross Worlds has had a stellar launch, quickly becoming the No. 2 earning mobile game in the world in just two weeks. The title proves once again just how lucrative the South Korean and Japanese mobile game markets are, particularly for RPGs, while also showing the increasing popularity of the 3D Anime art style among top grossing mobile games. While the title has been particularly lucrative during its opening salvo, early launch success for Asian RPGs isn’t something new, and what will matter most is how the title performs over the long term.


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Craig Chapple

Written by: Craig Chapple, Mobile Insights Strategist, EMEA

Date: June 2021