Five of the biggest ever smartphone games
People use the power of their modern mobile phones daily. Users regularly order food through apps, they’re taking high-quality photos for social media, and they’re investing in fashionable smartphone accessories. Alongside this, smartphone gaming is a clear preference, be it through an iOS device or an Android phone.
Compared to PC gaming and consoles like the Nintendo Switch 2, mobile gaming is more affordable, convenient, and portable, and there are some exceptional games to tackle in the modern environment. Speaking of the games people play, it’s an area of smartphone gaming that has clearly kicked on. Given the power of Apple phones and Samsung devices, we’ve seen some fantastic games transition over to the mobile category of gaming, including PC favorites and console-quality delights. However, some games have recorded bigger numbers than others.
Alongside exploring games in other areas, such as Fantasy Premier League products and new DraftKings casino games like Mega Don Triple Threat, there are some clear favorites among the mobile gaming community. With that in mind, below we focus on five of the biggest smartphone titles ever, with these must-play products being viewed as undoubted success stories.
Clash of Clans has a global fanbase
Every so often, we’re exposed to games that captivate global audiences. A title that fits the bill in that respect is Clash of Clans, with this free-to-play mobile strategy game keeping gamers everywhere entertained since it first arrived in 2012. With battles to take part in, villages to build, and an engaging resource management aspect to boot, bringing in revenues of over $6 billion in 2018 alone highlights just how impressive Supercell’s product is.
Pokémon Go is an augmented reality delight
When Pokémon Go captured the global imagination when it released in 2016, not many gamers thought its augmented reality package would still be going strong a decade later. Well, fast forward to 2026, and Niantic’s immersive product still has a dedicated community of players behind it. In fact, this top-grossing mobile game is so unique that it continues to achieve downloads, especially as players have to traverse the outdoors while playing the game. Its unique package has resulted in over over $500 million being generated annually, while research from 2023 – seven years after the game was released – suggested that Pokémon Go still had 55 million active players.
Nothing comes close to Candy Crush Saga in terms of longevity
While Pokémon Go’s popularity has been quite remarkable over the years, nothing comes close to Candy Crush Saga in terms of longevity. This match-three puzzle delight is still housed on smartphones around the world, despite coming out in 2012. With over 295 million players during its peak years, plus revenues exceeding $20 billion in that time, Candy Crush Saga is an undoubted success story when assessing the biggest mobile games ever.
Roblox has a massive community
With user-generated games shared by the title’s active community of millions, Roblox is a cross-platform favorite that is perfect on mobile. In 2023 alone, the game achieved over $1 billion in revenues, with this detailed and highly interactive platform delivering strong doses of entertainment.
PUBG Mobile is a battle royale masterpiece
Although the debate will rumble on for years to come, PUBG Mobile beats Fortnite for so many mobile gamers out there. Both battle royale products have achieved a great deal of success, although PUBG beats Fortnite on mobile. It has billions in lifetime revenue, as players can’t resist taking part in epic clashes against the community. Bringing console-style battles to the mobile gaming category, PUBG Mobile is another highlight from Tencent’s catalog.
