← All reportsSensor Tower · Q1 2026

Digital Market Index — Q1 2026

20 facts read through Player Driven’s 9-pillar lens · 4 ranking lists

Monetization

Economy, IAP, web shops, D2C, pricing, retention dollars.

9 facts
+2.2%
mobile_iap_revenue_yoy_pct · google play · games
“gaming revenue grew 2.2% on Google Play, offsetting a slight decline on iOS”
+14%
mobile_iap_revenue_yoy_pct · ios · non games
“compared to 14% on iOS”
+9.3%
mobile_iap_revenue_yoy_pct · mobile
“+9.3% vs. Q1 2025”
$23B
mobile_iap_revenue_usd_bn · mobile · non games
“Non-gaming apps drove the majority of growth, with IAP revenue rising 18% YoY to surpass $23 billion.”
+18%
mobile_iap_revenue_yoy_pct · mobile · non games
“IAP revenue rising 18% YoY”
$3.25
mobile_iap_revenue_per_download_usd · ios
“In Q1 2026, iOS generated an average of $3.25 in IAP revenue per download”
$0.5
mobile_iap_revenue_per_download_usd · google play
“compared to roughly $0.50 per download on Google Play”
+31%
mobile_iap_revenue_yoy_pct · google play · non games
“Non-gaming revenue increased 31% YoY on Google Play, compared to 14% on iOS”
$43.5B
mobile_iap_revenue_usd_bn · mobile
“Global in-app purchase (IAP) revenue across iOS and Google Play reached $43.5 billion in Q1 2026, maintaining steady year-over-year (YoY) growth of 9%.”
Industry & Business

Studios, indies, M&A, market share, regional trends.

3 facts
+3.5%
mobile_iap_revenue_yoy_pct · US · mobile
“its +3.5% YoY increase in IAP revenue is also an all-time low (the previous low was 4.4% in Q2 2022)”
+3%
mobile_iap_revenue_yoy_pct · US · mobile
“The United States, the world's leading market for mobile monetization, saw IAP revenue grow a modest 3% YoY in Q1 2026.”
+138%
mobile_iap_revenue_yoy_pct · mobile · non games · short drama
“Short Drama (+138%)”
AI in Games

Generative AI, AI ops, AI policy, AI in design + analytics.

1 fact
+60%
mobile_iap_revenue_yoy_pct · mobile · non games · ai assistants
“AI Assistants (+60% YoY)”
Player Psychology

Motivation, demographics, behavior, accessibility.

3 facts
-12%
mobile_game_downloads_yoy_pct · mobile · games
“Game downloads in particular fell 12% YoY, reaching their lowest total for the first quarter of a year since before the pandemic in 2019.”
-0.8%
mobile_downloads_yoy_pct · mobile
“-0.8% vs. Q1 2025”
37.5B
mobile_downloads_bn · mobile
“37.5B Downloads”
Game Design

Mechanics, narrative, UX, balance, level design, genre dynamics.

4 facts
+3%
mobile_iap_revenue_yoy_pct · mobile · games · strategy
“Strategy revenue was up 3% YoY”
$4.9B
mobile_iap_revenue_usd_bn · mobile · games · strategy
“Strategy remained the top games genre by revenue at just under $4.9 billion.”
+21%
mobile_iap_revenue_yoy_pct · mobile · games · puzzle
“Puzzle continued to be a reliable driver of revenue growth, with IAP revenue surpassing $4 billion for the (+21% YoY)”
-10%
mobile_iap_revenue_yoy_pct · mobile · games · rpg
“RPG -10%”
Rankings from this report

4 ranked lists

mobile_breakout_downloads (10)

  1. 1HeartopiaUnknown (China) · Simulation
  2. 2Subway Surfers CitySYBO Games · Endless Runner
  3. 3Color Block: Combo BlastUnknown · Puzzle
  4. 4Block World 3DUnknown · Sandbox
  5. 5Goose Goose DuckGaggle Studios · Party
  6. 6Disney SolitaireJam City · Card
  7. 7Craft Explore: Block BuilderUnknown · Sandbox
  8. 8Moto Bike Stunt Wheelie GameUnknown · Racing
  9. 9Gossip HarborMicrofun · Puzzle
  10. 10Mahjong BlastUnknown · Puzzle

mobile_breakout_iap_revenue (10)

  1. 1Game for PeaceTencent · Shooter
  2. 2Honor of KingsTencent · Battle Arena
  3. 3Arknights: EndfieldHypergryph · Role Playing
  4. 4Pixel Flow!Unknown (Turkey) · Hyper-Casual
  5. 5DRAGON BALL Z DOKKAN BATTLEBandai Namco · Role Playing
  6. 6Gossip HarborMicrofun · Puzzle
  7. 7HeartopiaUnknown (China) · Simulation
  8. 8Brawl StarsSupercell · Shooter
  9. 9Mobile Legends: Bang BangMoonton · Battle Arena
  10. 10Tasty TravelsUnknown · Casual

mobile_downloads (10)

  1. 1Block Blast!Hungry Studio · Puzzle
  2. 2Garena Free FireGarena · Shooter
  3. 3RobloxRoblox · Sandbox
  4. 4Subway SurfersSYBO Games · Endless Runner
  5. 5Pizza Ready!Supersonic Studios · Hyper-Casual
  6. 6Vita MahjongUnknown · Puzzle
  7. 7Ludo KingGametion · Board
  8. 8Tile ExplorerUnknown · Puzzle
  9. 9Paper.io 2Voodoo · Hyper-Casual
  10. 10Mobile Legends: Bang BangMoonton · Battle Arena

mobile_iap_revenue (10)

  1. 1Last War: SurvivalFirstFun · Strategy
  2. 2Honor of KingsTencent · Battle Arena
  3. 3Whiteout SurvivalCentury Games · Strategy
  4. 4Royal MatchDream Games · Puzzle
  5. 5MONOPOLY GO!Scopely · Casual
  6. 6Gossip HarborMicrofun · Puzzle
  7. 7Candy Crush SagaKing · Puzzle
  8. 8Game for PeaceTencent · Shooter
  9. 9KingshotCentury Games · Strategy
  10. 10Coin MasterMoon Active · Casual