Southeast Asian Mobile Game Downloads Rise by 3.4% to Reach 4.2 Billion in H1 2024

The mobile gaming market in Southeast Asia has witnessed a significant resurgence in 2024, with mobile game downloads rebounding impressively in the first half of the year. According to a report from Sensor Tower, downloads in the region grew by 3.4% year-over-year, reaching an astonishing 4.2 billion by mid-2024. This growth reflects Southeast Asia’s growing appetite for mobile gaming, with Google Play accounting for a dominant 91% of total downloads. As the market evolves, several genres and titles have emerged as major players, signaling shifts in user preferences and revenue dynamics.

Among the various genres, simulation games experienced the most notable download growth in the Southeast Asian market. The first half of 2024 saw an 11% increase in simulation game downloads, bringing the total to 1.2 billion from January to August. Games like Supercent’s “Pizza Ready!” and CodeXplore’s “Ojol The Game” captured the imagination of users, fueling the genre’s rise. In contrast, sports games marked an even more impressive financial success, with revenue surging by 39% over the same period. Leading titles such as “eFootball™ 2024” and “EA SPORTS FC™ Mobile Soccer” played key roles in this revenue spike, each achieving major growth milestones in the region. While downloads are booming, revenue from in-app purchases (IAP) in the Southeast Asian market showed a minor 3.0% decline, amounting to $1.16 billion. Nonetheless, Google Play continued to account for 57% of this revenue.

Within Southeast Asia, Indonesia has emerged as the largest mobile game market in terms of downloads. The first half of 2024 saw Indonesian mobile game downloads grow by 10% year-over-year, contributing 41% of the region’s total downloads. Indonesia’s strong market presence underscores the country’s pivotal role in Southeast Asia’s mobile gaming ecosystem. However, when it comes to revenue, Thailand stands at the forefront. From January to August 2024, Thailand’s mobile game revenue increased by 10% to over $400 million, making it the highest revenue-generating market in the region.

As mobile gaming continues to dominate leisure time in Southeast Asia, Garena’s Free Fire has maintained its position as the most downloaded game in the region. Key events like “The Chaos,” “2024 Ramadan Campaign,” and “Mechadrake” helped the game achieve a massive 110% increase in downloads within Indonesia and a 54% growth across Southeast Asia. This strong performance solidified “Free Fire’s” reign as the most downloaded and fastest-growing game in the market.

Another title making waves is Moonton’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, which recorded a 45% rise in downloads in the first half of 2024. Indonesia again emerged as a critical market for this game, contributing 44% of its global downloads. With engaging in-game events, the game experienced a 72% download growth in Indonesia alone, retaining its place as the second most downloaded game in the region.