The mobile gaming market in 2025 continued to grow steadily, with several titles achieving record downloads across the App Store and Google Play. Analysis from AppMagic, covering data from January 1 to December 22, 2025, reveals the most downloaded games, rising genres, and the impact of marketing campaigns in the sector.
At the top of the download charts was Hungry Studio’s Block Blast, which reached 356.2 million installs. The game rose from second place in 2024, solidifying its position as the most installed mobile title of the year. The previous year’s rankings had been influenced by the bundling of Free Fire and Free Fire Max, which share gameplay but differ in graphics and access to additional features such as the Craftland map-building mode.
Roblox moved up to second place with 286 million downloads, reflecting steady growth from its third-place finish in 2024. Free Fire and Free Fire Max collectively accumulated 279.6 million installs, with the standard Free Fire reaching 150.2 million and Max 129.4 million downloads. Subway Surfers and Pizza Ready completed the top five, recording 186.7 million and 161 million installs respectively. In total, fourteen titles surpassed 100 million downloads in 2025, with worldwide mobile game installs reaching 5.92 billion, representing a 4% increase over the previous year.
Marketing Campaigns and Their Impact
Dream Games’ Royal Kingdom illustrates the influence of celebrity marketing on mobile game downloads. The Turkish developer launched a campaign featuring LeBron James, Jimmy Fallon, Shakira, and actors from series such as Friends and The Big Bang Theory. The match-3 title generated 80.7 million downloads in 2025, ranking 35th globally. Downloads spiked during the campaign, rising from 2 million in March to a peak of 12.5 million in August. Despite this increase in installs, revenue growth has stabilized, although Royal Kingdom became the sixth highest-grossing match-3 game of the year.
Puzzle Games on the Rise
Mahjong solitaire and tile match games emerged as a significant trend in 2025. Vita Mahjong led the surge, ranking seventh worldwide with 121.9 million downloads. Other titles, including Tile Explore and Tile Club, also performed strongly, reaching 92.4 million and 86.6 million installs respectively.
The mahjong solitaire category saw a 189% year-over-year growth with 258.3 million downloads, while the tile match genre grew 28% to 502.9 million installs. Despite these increases, revenue for both categories declined, suggesting that while player interest in puzzle mechanics remains high, monetization strategies may need adaptation.
Hole.io and the Return of Hybridcasual Hits
Voodoo’s Hole.io experienced a resurgence, reaching 119.1 million downloads in 2025, surpassing the figures from its 2018 launch. Player spending also hit a record $3.7 million. Updates to the game included a level progression system in late 2024, and further additions in August 2025 introduced a raid system, player profiles, and a redesigned city. These changes, combined with targeted user acquisition, contributed to renewed engagement and increased spending.
The Year in Mobile Gaming
The mobile gaming market in 2025 was defined by both established franchises and emerging trends. While top titles like Block Blast and Roblox maintained dominance, puzzle games and hybridcasual experiences demonstrated growing appeal. Marketing campaigns, gameplay updates, and genre diversification were key drivers of download growth, providing a foundation for future trends in 2026.
Make sure to check out our articles about top games to play in 2026:
Best Nintendo Switch Games for 2026
Best First-Person Shooters for 2026
Best PlayStation Indie Games for 2026
Best Multiplayer Games for 2026
Most Anticipated Games of 2026
Top Game Releases for January 2026
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What was the most downloaded mobile game of 2025?
Block Blast was the most downloaded game of 2025, with 356.2 million installs across the App Store and Google Play.
Which mobile games reached over 100 million downloads in 2025?
In addition to Block Blast, Roblox, Free Fire, Free Fire Max, Subway Surfers, and Pizza Ready surpassed 100 million installs, with a total of fourteen titles reaching this milestone.
Did celebrity marketing help Royal Kingdom’s downloads?
Yes. Dream Games’ campaign with celebrities like LeBron James and Shakira boosted Royal Kingdom’s downloads from 2 million in March to 12.5 million in August.
Which puzzle game genres grew the most in 2025?
Mahjong solitaire and tile match games saw significant growth, with mahjong solitaire downloads increasing 189% year-over-year and tile match games up 28%.
How did Hole.io perform in 2025?
Hole.io experienced a resurgence, achieving 119.1 million downloads and $3.7 million in player spending, surpassing its 2018 launch. Updates such as new progression systems and raid features contributed to the growth.
How did the mobile games market perform overall in 2025?
Worldwide mobile game downloads reached 5.92 billion, up 4% from 2024, highlighting steady growth across multiple genres and categories.
