Simulation games lead the charge in breakout downloads rankings

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 October 7th, 2024.

Top games by breakout downloads in September 2024 

The September 2024 breakout rankings underscored the enduring popularity of casual simulation games, with three of the top 10 breakout titles coming from this genre. Let’s delve into the key titles driving this growth and explore why simulation games continue to captivate players around the globe.

• Satisroom: Perfectly Organize, a room-organization simulator, claimed the #1 spot for top games by worldwide downloads growth and is currently ranked 9th by absolute downloads. Published by Vietnam-based Falcon Game Studio, the game has been available globally since July 2024, with over 18 million downloads to date. Its top markets by downloads include Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia and India. The game distinguishes itself with its relaxing, visually appealing gameplay, where players use intuitive controls to creatively organize and customize rooms, delivering a satisfying and stress-free experience.

• My Supermarket Simulator 3D, a supermarket-themed simulator, continued its upward momentum from the previous month, securing the #2 spot for top games by worldwide downloads growth. It is currently ranked 3rd in absolute downloads after climbing five positions from the prior period, with nearly 38 million downloads to date. The top markets by downloads include Indonesia, Russia, Turkey, Brazil, and Mexico. The game has also performed well in monetization, surpassing $1.6 million in lifetime revenue. The game employs a dual monetization strategy, offering both ad-based rewards and in-app purchases.  

• Traffic Racer Pro : Car Games, a driving simulator, claimed the #6 spot for top games by worldwide downloads growth and is currently ranked 34th in absolute downloads. Since its launch in December 2020, the game has amassed around 18.6 million downloads, driven primarily by players in India and Russia. Its success in these regions is due to its accessible gameplay, low device requirements, free-to-play model, and a range of engaging customization options that resonate well with mobile gamers.

These standout performances in the September 2024 breakout rankings highlight the growing demand for accessible, engaging, and easy-to-play simulation experiences across a variety of themes, with casual simulators continuing to attract and retain players globally through innovative gameplay and effective monetization strategies.

Top games by downloads in September 2024

In September, the introduction of new characters and items as part of the "Gloo Nova" event propelled Garena Free Fire to reclaim the #1 spot in worldwide downloads, overtaking Roblox from the previous period. My Supermarket Simulator 3D continued its upward momentum, jumping five positions to secure the #3 spot in global downloads, while breakout title Satisroom: Perfectly Organize entered the top 10 at #9.

Additionally, Hole.io, a defining game in the black-hole hypercasual genre, climbed five positions on the charts. The game’s surge in popularity was driven by a combination of updated features, seasonal events, and its consistent appeal in the hypercasual market. Recent updates likely introduced new maps and challenges, keeping both returning players engaged and attracting new users. Published by Voodoo, Hole.io has been a global hit since its release in May 2018, now amassing around 333 million downloads to date.

Top games by revenue growth in September 2024

Similarly, we analyzed which games experienced the most significant growth in revenue during September 2024. How did successful launches, innovative monetization strategies, and well-timed re-engagement campaigns shape the revenue growth charts for these top-performing titles?

• Honkai: Star Rail,  a turn-based RPG, took the #1 spot for top games by worldwide revenue growth, climbing 16 positions to rank 12th by absolute revenue. Published by miHoYo, the game has been a global success since its launch in April 2023, amassing around 52 million downloads to date, with leading markets including China, Japan, and the United States. Two major in-game events—"Trailblaze Continuance Is Live" and "Feixiao Is Here!"—were key drivers of this revenue surge in September. The Trailblaze Continuance event introduced new content and missions, keeping players engaged, while the Feixiao event offered exclusive characters and rewards, enticing players to spend on premium in-game items. 

• Dragon Quest Walk, a geolocation-based game, secured the #4 spot for top games by worldwide revenue growth, soaring 55 positions to reach #37th game by absolute revenue. Developed by Square Enix, this game uniquely blends the Dragon Quest universe with real-world exploration, allowing players to walk through their physical environments while completing quests and battling familiar monsters. The game's recent 5th anniversary celebration was a major contributor to its revenue surge, pushing its lifetime revenue to an impressive $2 billion, all generated exclusively in its home market of Japan. 

• Dragon Raja: Cassell's Gate (龙族：卡塞尔之门), a squad RPG, claimed the #7 spot for top games by worldwide revenue growth. Published by Huaian Loong Technology, the game has garnered around 1.9 million downloads and around $8.8 million in revenue, exclusively in its home market, China. The game’s unique side camera perspective, set in a dragon-themed high-fantasy world, along with its 2D anime art style, appeals to mid-core players. Its squad-based tactical battles, where strategy and character customization play key roles, further enhance its immersive experience and drive player engagement.

• Ashes of the Kingdom (如鸢), a squad RPG by Alibaba's Lingxi Games, secured the #8 spot for worldwide revenue growth, climbing into the top 200 rankings. With 1.5 million downloads and $11.6 million in revenue to-date on China’s iOS App Store, the game stands out for its tactical squad-based combat, deep character progression, and visually immersive 2D art inspired by Chinese mythology.

Top games by revenue in September 2024

Top revenue charts tend to be more stable than breakout charts, with player loyalty playing a crucial role in the sustained success of leading games.

The match-3 puzzle game Royal Match climbed one position to secure the #3 spot for top games by worldwide revenue, while Honor of Kings and  MONOPOLY GO! maintained their respective #1 and #2 positions in consumer spending. The MOBA hit Brawl Stars  rose to the #9 spot, climbing one position from the previous period. This growth was largely driven by the SpongeBob SquarePants collaboration event, which introduced themed characters, skins, and limited-time game modes, reigniting player interest and driving in-game purchases. The event’s nostalgic appeal, coupled with exclusive rewards, significantly boosted engagement and revenue by nearly 30% month-over-month.

Top in-app events in September 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:

• Azur Lane, a 2D action shooter, ran the special event “Ode of Everblooming Crimson”, which introduced new characters, exclusive in-game items, and limited-time outfits. The event led to a remarkable 21x revenue spike on its peak day in the US App Store, fueled by player interest in unlocking these exclusive items and characters.

• Wuthering Waves   held an event featuring the new character “Shorekeeper”, offering limited-time gacha opportunities and exclusive event rewards. The event generated strong player engagement and spending, resulting in a 19x revenue surge on its peak day as players sought to acquire the new character and special rewards.

• In China, Tears of Themis saw a massive 39x revenue lift during its “NXX Island Mystery” sidestory event. This highly anticipated storyline drew players in with its immersive narrative and exclusive content, encouraging them to spend on in-game items and premium event-specific rewards.

• Turn-based RPG Reverse: 1999  celebrated its 1st anniversary with a series of special events in Japan, offering limited-time rewards and increased gacha rates for obtaining rare characters. The event significantly boosted player spending, driving a 53x revenue surge during the peak of the anniversary celebration.

• In South Korea, Arknights experienced a 53x revenue surge during its “Operation Lucent Arrowhead” side story event. The introduction of limited-time in-game rewards and increased rates for obtaining rare characters attracted both returning and new players, resulting in a sharp increase in revenue.

• In the UK, Hay Day topped the revenue lift charts by celebrating the fall season with a new sticker collection. This seasonal update, offering exclusive in-game items to mark the changing season, captivated players and led to a significant spike in revenue.

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.