Sensor Tower APAC Awards 2024

In 2024, global mobile users spent $150 billion on the App Store and Google Play, marking a 13% increase from the previous year, according to Sensor Tower's estimates. The mobile industry continues to reshape users' digital journeys, transforming how we engage with entertainment, social interactions, shopping, work, learning, investment, travel, and more.

A few key trends have emerged: the growing demand for bite-sized entertainment has fueled the success of short drama apps and hyper-casual games; AI apps are boosting productivity, especially in education; and mobile apps are bridging cultures, enabling cross-border communication like never before.

It's remarkable how much of this innovation comes from the APAC region, home to more than half of the top 100 highest-grossing mobile publishers globally.

Sensor Tower APAC Awards 2024 celebrates the standout games and apps from APAC publishers. Some have made a significant impact worldwide, while others excel in particular markets. All are recognized for their keen insights and exceptional user experiences.

Best Games of 2024

AFK Journey, Car Race, Cookie Run: Tower of Adventures, Dream11, Gakuen Idolmaster, Gossip Harbor®, Last War: Survival, Legend of Mushroom, Lord Nine, Love and Deepspace, Office Cat, Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, PUBG MOBILE, Solo Leveling: Arise, Summoners War: Sky Arena, The Battle Cats, Wuthering Waves

Best Apps of 2024

7-eleven, Azar, Binance, DANA, DramaBox, Gauth, GO, Grab, Groww, ibis Paint X, Japan Travel by NAVITIME, Litmatch, LUUP, Parallel, rednote, Seekho, Tabelog, Timee, Trip.com, U-NEXT, UNNI, vFlat Scan, Xiaomi Home, Zalo

Note: Winners are sorted in alphabetical order.

Best Games of 2024

AFK Journey

Best Fantasy RPG

Ranked No. 1 worldwide for both revenue and downloads among 2024's newly released squad RPG games, AFK Journey is a critically acclaimed masterpiece that redefines the genre with its mesmerizing combat arena theme. Set against the immersive backdrop of high fantasy, the game captivates players with its stunning 3D anime art style. Recognized as the best fantasy AFK RPG for its 'Play, Progress, and Relax' gameplay and celebrated as the best debut RPG for transforming squad strategy gaming, this title has earned an impressive average rating of 4.8 stars, offering an unparalleled gaming experience.

Car Race

Best Racing Game

Ranked No. 1 by worldwide downloads within the Racing category, Car Race elevates the genre with its compelling driving-aerial theme. Set in a richly detailed environment, it captivates players with realistic driving experiences. Featuring a vast array of surfaces and obstacles to race over, the game delivers a fast and furious experience to over 236 million players globally.

CookieRun: Tower of Adventures

Best Action RPG

Devsisters' CookieRun: Tower of Adventures has revitalized the mobile action RPG genre by combining exhilarating combat with breathtaking 3D visuals. Leveraging the beloved CookieRun IP, the game offers a dynamic battle system, a captivating story, and a cast of unique characters that draw players into its immersive world. In 2024, it led global revenue within the action RPG category. Its top markets are Korea, Taiwan, and the U.S., contributing 58.8%, 20%, and 7.3% to the game's revenue, respectively.

Dream11

Best Fantasy Sports Game

Dream11 stands as the No. 1 fantasy sports game platform, capturing the massive passion for cricket while expanding its thrilling offerings to 12 popular sports like football and basketball. Dominating the Sports category charts on both the App Store and Google Play, Dream11 appeals to users who enjoy sports strategy and analysis, allowing them to create dream teams and compete for top spots. It has built a robust community of sports enthusiasts who engage deeply in strategic gameplay and share their excitement for the sports they love in India.

Gakuen Idolmaster

Best Simulation Game

The latest title in the THE IDOLM@STER series, Gakuen Idolmaster, was released in May 2024. According to Sensor Tower data, the game generated approximately $150 million* in revenue in 2024, making it the top-ranked simulation game worldwide for the year. Bandai Namco Entertainment, which publishes games leveraging popular IPs such as DRAGON BALL and ONE PIECE, found Gakuen Idolmaster to be the fourth largest contributor to their global revenue from mobile devices in 2024, marking it as a significant revenue driver for the company. (*Data source: Sensor Tower)

THE IDOLM@STER™& ©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.

Gossip Harbor®

Best Merge Game

Traditionally, Asian game developers have been less prominent in the merge mobile game genre, but this trend is evolving. Gossip Harbor® blends classic merge gameplay with dramatic storylines, restaurant management, and decoration missions, capturing the hearts of players from the U.S., Brazil, Germany, and beyond. It has become the fastest-growing merge game in downloads in 2024. Driven by this success, publisher Microfun soared to the top of the global merge game publisher revenue rankings in 2024, with earnings more than twice that of the second place.

Last War:Survival

Best Gameplay Innovation

The 4X Strategy mobile game genre has struggled with growth, facing rising user acquisition costs. Last War: Survival tackles these challenges by adopting a popular survival theme, merging classic 4X gameplay with casual elements highlighted in its ads to draw a wider audience. The game has attracted over 90 million users and holds an average store rating of 4.7 stars.

Legend of Mushroom 

Best Game Theme Innovation

Dominating the worldwide Idle RPG rankings in both downloads and revenue, Legend of Mushroom sets a new benchmark in the RPG genre. It introduces a groundbreaking Mushroom-inspired Dungeon Crawler theme, offering players a fresh and imaginative twist in a world brimming with creativity and innovation. With over 23 million downloads globally and an impressive average rating of 4.7 stars, it delivers a truly unique and unforgettable gaming experience.

Lord Nine

Best Immersive MMORPG

Lord Nine sets the standard for immersive MMORPGs with its high-quality graphics, featuring elaborate visuals brought to life through motion capture and 3D photo scanning. Among MMORPGs with 3D realistic graphics, Lord Nine ranked as the highest-grossing title released in 2024, highlighting its immersive qualities. Rapidly gaining popularity, particularly in Korea, the game has built a loyal following through strategic advertising and engaging content. With impressive revenue growth and a dedicated fanbase, Lord Nine is poised to lead the immersive MMORPG space throughout 2024.

Love and Deepspace 

Best Interactive Story Game

As the latest debut in the popular Mr. Love series, Love and Deepspace captivates players with its immersive cutscenes and lifelike interactions. It has soared to the top of worldwide rankings in revenue and daily active users for interactive story games. The game invites players to step into a 3D first-person perspective world alongside its beloved characters, engaging 17 million users from China, the U.S., Japan, and beyond. Love and Deepspace delivers an unforgettable narrative adventure, making it a standout experience for fans and newcomers alike.

Office Cat 

Best Tycoon Game

Office Cat blends the quirky charm of cat-themed games with the engaging mechanics of a management tycoon, creating a unique gameplay experience that resonates with global audiences. Surpassing 11 million downloads and generating $15 million in revenue, it has become the highest-downloaded and highest-grossing mobile tycoon game among those released in 2024. The game's success is notably strong in markets such as the U.S., Mexico, and Korea. Its effective blend of organic and paid user acquisition strategies has solidified its position as a leader in the genre.

Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket 

Best Global Game Debut

The card battle game Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, released in Q4 2024, quickly gained worldwide popularity, topping mobile game downloads in 76 countries, according to Sensor Tower data. The game's cumulative global downloads in 2024 exceeded 50 million, establishing it as the dominant leader in the card battle genre. It also excels in daily active users, with the U.S., Brazil, and France as its top markets, boasting more than three times the users of the second-place competitor. Since its release, the game has consistently added expansion packs, and in January 2025, introduced a trading function between friends, enhancing its appeal to players.

PUBG MOBILE

Best Global LiveOps Game

LiveOps has become a cornerstone of success in modern mobile gaming, and PUBG MOBILE illustrates its full potential on a global scale. Surpassing 1 billion cumulative downloads, with the Indian market as the largest contributor, and generating over $5 billion in lifetime revenue, with the U.S. leading in earnings, PUBG MOBILE is available in multiple versions across different markets. The game introduces dynamic events, seasonal updates, and region-specific content. By consistently engaging players with tailored experiences and innovative operations, PUBG MOBILE sets the standard as the Best Global LiveOps Game.

Solo Leveling:Arise 

Best IP-Based Game

Building on the popularity of the Solo Leveling web novel and manga, Solo Leveling: Arise has ascended to become a top-performing mobile game in 2024. With $150 million in global revenue, it ranks as the highest-grossing title among mobile games based on manga and anime IPs released this year. Its thrilling, action-packed gameplay and stunning visuals have attracted both long-time fans and new players, making it a standout in the IP-based mobile game category, with users worldwide.

Summoners War: Sky Arena

Best Evergreen Game

Summoners War: Sky Arena epitomizes the essence of an evergreen game, sustaining success and relevance for over a decade. In 2024, it celebrated its 10th anniversary, amassing $3 billion in lifetime revenue, thereby becoming the game with the highest cumulative earnings in the mobile squad RPG genre. Its global popularity is evident through its revenue distribution across its top three markets: the U.S., Japan, and Korea. With a robust event strategy, regular updates, and a dedicated global fanbase, Summoners War continues to solidify its position as the Best Evergreen Game.

The Battle Cats 

Best Ongoing Game

Celebrating its 12th anniversary in 2024, The Battle Cats has maintained its acclaim in the fast-evolving world of mobile games. The game's momentum continued in 2024, topping the global charts for mobile real-time strategy games developed by APAC studios in terms of downloads. While Japan remains the top market, contributing over 50% of total revenue, the game also enjoys strong support from diverse markets worldwide, including the United States, South Korea, and Taiwan. Throughout its 12-year history, The Battle Cats has collaborated with many famous IPs, such as 'Evangelion' and 'Hatsune Miku.' Committed to their vision of 'bringing smiles to users around the world through The Battle Cats,' the developers continue to focus on the global market and operate aggressively to expand its reach.

Wuthering Waves 

Best Open World Adventure Game

In the realm of Open World mobile games, a genre that carries gamers' high expectations for captivating experiences, Wuthering Waves made its debut in May 2024. It swiftly soared to the top of mobile game download charts in 91 markets worldwide. Offering an engaging adventure with its outstanding combat mechanics, diverse gameplay, and continuous updates, the game boasts an impressive average store rating of 4.6 stars. Among the multitude of games released in 2024, it stands out as the leader in downloads, revenue, and monthly active users in the Open World category.

Best Apps of 2024

7-eleven 

Best Convenience Store App

7-eleven, one of the world's most renowned convenience stores, has launched its app in numerous global markets and has been offering the app in Japan since 2018. According to Sensor Tower data, 7-eleven ranks first in monthly active users among convenience store apps worldwide in 2024. The 7-eleven App in Japan offers features such as product-saving coupons, mobile payments through integration with 'nanaco' and 'PayPay,' and store and product search functions. As a tool that enhances the convenience and economy of shopping at 7-eleven, which operates over 20,000 stores in Japan as of December 2024, the app has garnered significant user recognition.

Azar 

Best Video Chat App

Social networking apps are thriving, and Azar stands out as a category leader. Developed by Hyperconnect, Azar has been connecting users worldwide through spontaneous video chats since 2014. A decade later, it remains the top-grossing social discovery app globally, boasting revenue more than double that of its nearest competitor. Popular in regions such as Turkey, the U.S., Germany, and Korea, Azar's seamless global connectivity and advanced language support solidify its status as the world’s favorite video chat app.

Binance 

Best Crypto App

With Bitcoin's price reaching new highs in 2024, Binance, the app dominating the Cryptocurrency category, saw its downloads soar once again. It stands out as the premier all-in-one crypto solution for trading, staking, earning, and learning. With over 225 million downloads worldwide, it has earned an impressive average rating of 4.8 stars and has led the monthly active user rankings in its category globally since 2022, with particularly strong growth in Asia.

DANA 

Best Innovative Fintech App

DANA has achieved remarkable success, leading the global growth in downloads for digital wallets and P2P payments. With an impressive average rating of 4.8 stars and over 200 million downloads worldwide, DANA has established itself as a pioneer in cashless innovation. Its significant impact in driving electronic payments in Indonesia, where factors like a large population, increased smartphone usage, and a push for greater financial inclusion create a strong demand for digital solutions, underscores its leadership in the digital payment ecosystem.

DramaBox 

Best Short Drama App

With their convenience and bite-sized content, short drama apps have perfectly aligned with the demands of today’s fast-paced lifestyles, rapidly gaining global popularity. In 2024, top short drama apps on the App Store and Google Play experienced explosive growth, achieving 475 million downloads and $1.45 billion in user spending, which were 9.5 and 16 times those of the previous year, respectively. DramaBox, through its sharp understanding of market trends and user interests, launched over 2,000 series across more than 200 countries and regions, quickly capturing the hearts of users worldwide. The app has exceeded 100 million downloads and $300 million in revenue, topping the short drama category in terms of downloads, revenue, and active users.

Gauth 

Best Study Companion App

Gauth has been recognized as a transformative force in education, topping the global charts for Teaching and Classroom Resources in 2024. It boasts over 89 million cumulative downloads and an impressive 4.8 stars average rating. By significantly enhancing productivity with AI, Gauth revolutionizes homework assistance and redefines the interaction between students, educators, and technology.

GO 

Best Taxi App

GO holds a significant presence in Japan. In 2024, it topped the list of the most downloaded cab and shuttle service apps in the country, achieving more than five times the downloads of the second-place app. In terms of monthly active users, GO was overwhelmingly popular, boasting seven times the user base of its nearest competitor. Impressively, nearly 30% of its active users downloaded the app from the App Store or Google Play outside of Japan, highlighting its effective response to overseas visitors and its important role in the Japanese tourism industry.

Grab 

Best One-Stop App for Daily Life

Leading the global rankings in downloads and active users for Food Delivery Services, Grab has redefined convenience and accessibility in the industry. From ride-hailing, food and grocery delivery to seamless payment, this super app integrates solutions to ease people’s everyday lives in Southeast Asia, delivering unparalleled value to both consumers and business owners. With an accumulative 329 million downloads and an admirable average rating of 4.9 stars, it’s driving Southeast Asia forward by creating empowerment for everyone.

Groww 

Best Investment App

Groww ranked No. 1 worldwide in downloads and monthly active users for Investing & Financial Management in 2024. As a cornerstone of modern financial solutions, Groww offers comprehensive financial management, including mutual funds, stocks, IPO trading, bill payments, and personal loans. It makes investing accessible to everyone and has received an outstanding average rating of 4.8 stars from over 108 million cumulative downloads.

ibis Paint X 

Best Drawing App

ibis Paint X is a mobile drawing app offering features comparable to those of PC illustration software, created with the concept of 'sharing the joy of drawing by capturing the drawing process on video.' In 2024, it ranked as the top digital art and drawing app globally, with an average of around 5 million daily active users, surpassing the second-place app by more than four times. Notably, over 90% of its active users are from markets outside Japan, with 23% coming from the United States. The app's YouTube channel, featuring more than 400 videos of drawing tutorials and usage tips, boasts over 2.9 million subscribers, effectively communicating its diverse functions to users in an accessible way.

Japan Travel by NAVITIME

Best Itinerary Planning App

Japan is one of the world's most alluring travel destinations, celebrated for its rich natural environment, diverse food culture, and the seamless fusion of traditional and modern culture. Japan Travel by NAVITIME is an all-in-one app designed to enhance the travel experience in Japan, offering support from trip planning and reservations before arrival, to route searches during the trip, and experience sharing afterward. The app provides comprehensive guides on transportation, money, internet access, dining, and shopping in Japan, as well as various sightseeing tips from foreigners living in the country. According to Sensor Tower data, it ranked as the top app in the global travel planning genre in 2024 for revenue growth (among apps from APAC publishers). Users can also share their itineraries and select from more than 1,000 itineraries created by other travelers. The app is highly regarded for its ability to cover everything from trip planning to actual sightseeing, offering travelers a seamless experience.

Litmatch 

Best Social Discovery App

Ranked No. 1 worldwide in downloads for social discovery apps, Litmatch has redefined how people connect and share meaningful interactions. Renowned for its innovative approach to fostering deep bonds through interactive games and immersive chat features, the app provides a safe and engaging environment for users to express themselves. With over 165 million downloads globally, Litmatch distinguishes itself with its unique ability to create genuine connections in the digital age, solidifying its status as a leader in the social discovery space.

LUUP 

Best Micro Mobility Sharing App

Micro mobility is gaining attention as a new mode of transportation, ideal for those who don't have the time to take a bus or cab but find walking too time-consuming. The LUUP app enables users to conveniently access and pay for electric kickboards and bicycles at numerous city ports using a single mobile device. In 2024, the app led its category in download growth in the bike and scooter sharing genre across Asia, surpassing 1.5 million downloads. Following the July 2023 revision of the Road Traffic Law in Japan, which permits electric kickboards meeting certain requirements to be used without a driver's license (for those aged 16 and older) while making helmet use recommended, the app saw a surge in downloads, reaching a record high in the second quarter of 2024.

Parallel 

Best App for Virtual Hangouts

Japan's unique anime and pop culture has captivated young audiences worldwide. Parallel has ingeniously offered a platform for these young users to interact and entertain themselves online. Through the app, users can watch videos, play games, sing karaoke, chat with friends remotely, and enjoy a virtual hangout experience. Since its launch in 2019, Parallel has continued to gain traction despite the strong resurgence of offline entertainment, amassing 8 million downloads, nearly 30% of which are from international markets.

rednote 

Best Lifestyle Platform App

Having reached 334 million downloads worldwide, rednote is celebrated for its focus on lifestyle content that resonates with young audiences, taking the digital world by storm. Its visually appealing format transcends language barriers, inviting users from around the globe to share their everyday experiences. Boasting an impressive average rating of 4.9 stars, rednote solidifies its status as a leader in the lifestyle platform sphere.

Seekho 

Best Education OTT

Seekho has redefined learning with its extensive library of video courses on Technology, Business Growth, Photography, English Speaking, Soft Skills, and more. In 2024, Seekho's popularity skyrocketed, leading the global downloads chart in the Professional Development category with a total of 77 million downloads. This app has set the benchmark for quick and effective learning solutions, delivering education in minutes and empowering users to advance their careers efficiently.

Tabelog 

Best Dining Exploration App

Tabelog enables users to search for and make reservations at an extensive range of dining options, from casual lunch and cafes to upscale dinners and venues for hosting guests. The app boasts an impressive database of approximately 900,000 restaurant listings and 75 million user reviews. It also offers a monthly subscription service called 'Tabelog Premium,' which includes features such as ranking searches to help guide restaurant selections and the delivery of exclusive coupons with better deals than usual. Even more than 15 years after its launch, Tabelog continues to reflect the needs and trust of its users with reliable and valued services.

Timee 

Best App for Part Time Job

After the pandemic, many major economies worldwide have been struggling with inflation. In response to rising living costs, many people have begun seeking part-time jobs during their free time to boost their income, and Japan is no exception. Timee, an app that allows users to find one-off and flexible part-time jobs, emerged as the top job-search app in Japan in 2024, with over 4.5 million downloads. The app also led in download growth within its category, underscoring its importance for both companies and job seekers as a crucial tool to address labor shortages across various industries.

Trip.com 

Best All-in-One Travel App

Trip.com, an app offering all-in-one travel services from hotels, flights, and car rentals to tour tickets and insurance, garnered the most downloads among APAC providers in the Travel Booking Services category. It simplifies travel planning not only through its wide range of options but also with unbeatable prices and seamless customer service. With over 87 million downloads worldwide, Trip.com has earned an impressive average rating of 4.7 stars and is trusted by travelers from South Korea, Thailand, Japan, the US, the UK, and many other countries.

U-NEXT 

Best Versatile Streaming App

U-NEXT is a video streaming service offering more than 320,000 titles, including movies, dramas, and anime. In 2024, it was the only global movie and TV streaming app in Japan to surpass $160 million in revenue, topping the rankings in its genre. The 'Soccer Pack,' introduced in August 2024, played a significant role in this success by exclusively streaming all English Premier League matches. Additionally, the service features a wide selection of e-books, including manga and novels, enabling users to seamlessly switch between watching videos and reading the original works within the same app, without needing to switch applications.

UNNI 

Best Personalized Beauty Care App

UNNI is the leading personalized beauty care app in APAC, achieving the highest levels of monthly active users and downloads. It has attracted a global user base that appreciates Korean beauty, with significant followings in Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, the U.S., and China. Since the summer of 2023, the number of active users from Japan has surpassed those from Korea, underscoring its growing popularity. Interestingly, there's a noticeable spike in Korean users every January, reflecting New Year’s resolutions focused on self-care and wellness. With its global reach and innovative features, UNNI sets the standard in personalized beauty care.

vFlat Scan 

Best Book Scanner App

vFlat Scan redefines book scanning with its flattening curved pages feature, providing professional-quality scans without the need to dismantle books. The app automatically crops, flattens, and enhances images, making book scanning seamless and efficient. Leading in monthly active users and downloads among scanner apps in Korea, and gaining popularity in Japan and India, vFlat Scan stands out for its advanced OCR technology and versatile features that cater to a wide range of users. These achievements make it a well-deserved winner of the Best Book Scanner App award.

Xiaomi Home 

Best Smart Home App

Ranked No. 1 worldwide for daily active users in the Smart Home Apps category, Xiaomi Home has transformed how users manage their connected devices. It offers a seamless platform for integrating and controlling smart home ecosystems. Having surpassed 165 million downloads globally, the app serves users from every corner of the world, making it the top choice for smart home enthusiasts.

Zalo

Best Multi-Function Messaging App

Standing out as an essential tool for modern communication, Zalo has garnered over 254 million downloads and serves users even in areas with less stable internet connections. Known for its fast and reliable messaging services, Zalo seamlessly integrates chat, government services, and more into a single platform. This versatility enables users not only to chat but also to make payments and access a range of vital services, making it an indispensable part of daily life for both urban and rural communities in Vietnam.