5. Candy Crush Saga
Genre: Puzzle game | Developer: King | Platform: Facebook, Android, iOS| Release date: April 12, 2012 (Facebook) | Revenue in 2019: $1.5 billion
What is Candy Crush? Candy Crush is a puzzle game where you must complete tasks within a certain time. You must achieve chains of candies of the same type to dissolve them, which earns you points.
This simple yet clever game mechanic makes Candy Crush Saga perfect for playing in between when you’re sitting in a doctor’s waiting room or trying to kill some time on the train.
How does the game finance itself? In Candy Crush, you can purchase lives for real money, which are needed when a level isn’t completed in time.
There are also boosters that make a level a bit easier.
In which countries is it particularly successful? Candy Crush can be played in over 200 countries and has over 2.8 billion downloads. It is particularly popular in England and Asia.
4. League of Legends
Genre: MOBA | Developer: Riot Games | Platform: PC | Release date: | Revenue in 2019: $1.5 billion
What is League of Legends? LoL is a MOBA from Riot Games and is one of the most popular PC games in the world. It is one of only three PC-only titles in this ranking.
In League of Legends, you play PvP matches as one of currently 146 different champions. Each game starts from scratch, and you must level up, improve skills, and buy items. There are different ways to earn gold and experience depending on the game mode.
LoL became popular mainly due to the large e-sports scene and the very successful tournaments.
How does the game finance itself? League of Legends finances itself through a shop where you can find new champions and cosmetic items in the form of skins.
For champions, however, there is also a selection available for free, and all heroes can be unlocked using in-game currency.
In which countries is it particularly successful? LoL is a global phenomenon and has followers in Europe, America, South America, China, Korea, and many other countries.
3. Honor of Kings / Arena of Valor
Genre: MOBA | Developer: TiMi Studios/Tencent| Platform: Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch | Release date: November 26, 2015 | Revenue in 2019: $1.6 billion
What is Arena of Valor? Arena of Valor is the western name for Honor of Kings, a MOBA by Chinese developer TiMi Studio. Conceptually, it is very reminiscent of League of Legends, but it was created as a mobile version from the start.
Once again, the arena PvP with various champions is in the foreground. In its early days, it was often labeled a LoL clone and had little appeal in the West.
In Asia, however, the game is a massive success.
How does the game finance itself? Arena of Valor largely finances itself like League of Legends. However, it hides stronger runes in loot boxes, so a small financial commitment can offer advantages at the start. In the later course, however, Free2Play players can catch up again.
In which countries is it particularly successful? Arena of Valor is particularly successful under the name Honor of Kings in China. It is also played in other Asian countries.
However, it only has weak access numbers in the West.
2. Dungeon Fighter Online
Genre: Action Beat ’em Up | Developer: Neople | Platform: PC | Release date: August 2005| Revenue in 2019: $1.6 billion
What is Dungeon Fighter Online? Dungeon Fighter Online is an action beat ’em up where you can explore a side-scrolling world with friends.
Your hero can improve over time, similar to an RPG, and become stronger. If you don’t just want to explore the game world, you can also fight other players in PvP.
Although we don’t hear much about the game, it has been one of the most successful games in the world for years.
How does the game finance itself? Dungeon Fighter Online finances itself through a shop where you can buy cosmetic items for your avatar.
There are also boosters and expansions for inventory or other game contents.
In which countries is it particularly successful? Dungeon Fighter Online is especially successful in Asia. In our country, it hardly reaches players, as Steamcharts show.
1. Fortnite
Genre: Battle Royale| Developer: Epic Games | Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS | Release date: July 25, 2017 | Revenue in 2019: $1.8 billion
What is Fortnite? The free Fortnite is a battle royale game where up to 100 players fight to be the last one standing. A storm reduces the playable field over time, ensuring there will inevitably be one winner.
Fortnite impresses especially with its shooter elements and the fact that you can destroy the game world and build in it. The timeless and very colorful graphics have also attracted many young players.
Fortnite was the big hit of the gaming year 2018 and managed to secure the throne as the highest-earning game in 2019 as well.
How does the game finance itself? In Fortnite, there are battle passes with cosmetic contents, emotes, and much more. Everything that can be purchased for real money does not provide any game-changing advantages.
In which countries is it particularly successful? Fortnite is a phenomenon, especially in the West, and even makes its way into pop culture with references in shows or with dances that were performed at a football game.
While Fortnite is a very successful game here, Korea is not part of the hype. There, the game doesn’t even make it into the top 10.
- 1
- 2
