Top 10 Worldwide Mobile Games By Revenue and Downloads in January 2026

According to Sensor Tower’s App Performance Insights, Honor of Kings led global revenue in January 2026, supported by a steady cadence of premium skin releases, a new hero launch, and seasonal progression systems that lifted spending. The month began with the release of the Sun Wukong Fighting Buddha Wushuang limited skin, followed by the debut of new hero Da Yu  alongside the S42 season refresh—reinforcing the title’s ability to turn well-timed live ops into outsized revenue leadership.

Tencent’s hit Battle Royale game Game for Peace also saw renewed strength, climbing 19 positions to re-enter the global Top 10 by revenue. The title benefited from the rollout of its Twilight Rose Shadow God Suit, a long-running premium cosmetic event anchored by narrative quests, alongside a spring update that introduced themed map overhauls, a new Volcano map, and expanded Metro Royale systems. 

MONOPOLY GO!  moved up one position in the revenue rankings, supported by an extended Harry Potter live ops cycle. The collaboration unfolded through competitive racing events, short-burst challenges, and social partner mechanics that encouraged cooperative play and repeat participation, culminating in a high-value sticker album finale that reinforced incremental spending. 

For the full ranking of the top 10 mobile games by revenue, please see the chart above. Please note that data from third-party Android markets is excluded.

Global consumer spending on mobile games across the App Store and Google Play reached $7.1 billion in January, up 1.4% month-over-month. The United States led with 31% of total revenue, followed by China (iOS only) at 16% and Japan at 13%.

A notable standout in January’s revenue growth rankings was Arknights: Endfield, which surged to No. 3 by worldwide revenue growth following its January launch. The title successfully translated strong IP recognition into early monetization by reimagining the Arknights universe as a mobile-first open-world experience, blending real-time exploration, base-building systems, and high-fidelity 3D visuals to differentiate itself from traditional mobile RPG formats.

Genshin Impact returned to the revenue growth rankings following major mid-January updates and limited-time five-star banners. New cosmetic paths, Traveler progression tied to a fresh Archon Quest, and the launch and return of limited characters reactivated gacha spending and reinforced monetization momentum across its core player base.

Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle also saw a sharp rebound in January following the launch of its 11th Anniversary Campaign. Back-to-back anniversary gacha events introduced new top-tier characters and limited-time rewards, driving renewed spending from fans drawn by the milestone celebration and the game’s globally recognized anime IP.

Several additional Tencent-backed titles also posted strong rebounds. Dungeon & Fighter Mobile climbed on the back of progression-driven updates and long-running live ops, while Delta Force benefited from competitive shooter refreshes and premium content drops across China and Southeast Asia. Naruto Mobile rounded out the Top 10, driven by IP-led events and character-focused updates that reactivated spending among its long-standing fanbase.

Explore more with Sensor Tower Playliner for deeper insight into live ops execution, monetization performance, and player engagement trends across the global mobile games market.

Top 10 Worldwide Mobile Games Download Rankings for January 2026

Block Blast! remained the most downloaded mobile game globally in January 2026, maintaining its No. 1 position from the prior period. ROBLOX  held steady at No. 2, followed by  Free Fire, Pizza Ready!, and Subway Surfers, completing the top five by downloads.

Block Blast!  maintained its global No. 1 ranking in January, while intensifying its live ops strategy. Back-to-back puzzle marathons, including a 21-day Space Rocket–themed event, used collectible rewards to reinforce daily retention across a broad audience.

ROBLOX followed at #2, leveraging a mix of seasonal culture and high-profile media crossovers. After kicking off the month with the Crowns of the Magi marketplace event and the Weird Gun Game anniversary, it saw a significant engagement surge via the official KPop Demon Hunters Netflix collaboration, which successfully blended film-inspired fashion with social gaming.

Global mobile game downloads reached 4.2 billion in January, up 5.4% month-over-month. India led with 607 million downloads (14.4%), followed by the United States (7.9%) and Brazil (7.1%).

The fastest-growing mobile games by downloads highlighted a broad mix of social, simulation, and casual-driven experiences, underscoring how discovery is being fueled by variety rather than any single dominant genre.

Heartopia led worldwide download growth, rapidly climbing the global rankings as interest surged in its avatar-driven life simulation gameplay. Adoption was strongest across the US and Southeast Asia, where its blend of open-ended exploration, customization, and social interaction resonated with casual audiences seeking expressive, low-pressure play.

Goose Goose Duck ranked second, reinforcing the enduring appeal of social party games built around deception and group play. Renewed visibility across Asian markets helped drive its resurgence, particularly among mobile-first audiences favoring short, multiplayer-friendly sessions.

Gossip Harbor climbed on sustained demand for narrative-driven merge gameplay, while city-building and block-based titles such as TheoTown and ColorBlock: Combo Blast demonstrated how creative and hypercasual formats continue to scale efficiently across emerging markets.

Explore more data and insights for the above game titles with Sensor Tower’s App Performance Insights. You can set up a meeting with our team through the "Request Demo" button on the link provided.

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