[Sensor Tower] [Report] 2024 Japanese Mobile Game Market Insight *Sensor Tower*
Press release: September 4, 2024
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[Report] 2024 Japanese Mobile Game Market Insight
*You can download the full report for free*
The number of mobile game downloads in Japan in the first half of 2024 has rebounded to 320 million, an increase of 2.5% from the same period last year. Meanwhile, Japan’s mobile game IAP revenue has fallen by 17% year-on-year to $5.3 billion due to the weaker yen. This report analyzes trends in mobile game revenue and download numbers in Japan in 2024, the outstanding performance of popular titles and top publishers, and also includes a case study on the success of the new mobile game “Zenless Zone Zero.” .
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Note: This report only aggregates IAP estimates of app store revenue and does not include advertising revenue or revenue from third-party Android markets in mainland China.
Number of mobile game downloads in Japan in the first half of 2024 will increase by 2.5% compared to the same period last year
The number of mobile game downloads in Japan in the first half of 2024 increased by 2.5% compared to the same period last year, reaching 320 million. 55% of them are Apps
Downloaded through the Store.
In the first half of 2024, mobile game IAP (in-app purchases) revenue in Japan in the first half of 2024 will be affected by an average 18% decline in the Japanese yen to US dollar foreign exchange rate in the second quarter of 2024 from the first quarter of 2023. Even though the number of downloads is recovering, it has fallen by 17% year-on-year to $5.3 billion.
“Mushroom Legend: The Hero and the Magic Lamp” ranks 6th in revenue rankings, and BNE ranks first in revenue by publisher
The top four mobile game titles in Japan by revenue from January to July 2024 are still dominated by Japanese titles. MIXI’s “Monster Strike” has maintained its top spot in the revenue rankings with over $290 million in IAP revenue during the same period. Approximately 11 years have passed since its release, and the number of users in Japan has exceeded 50 million, and its cumulative global revenue has exceeded $11 billion, making it the title with the highest cumulative worldwide revenue among Japanese mobile games.
Joy Net
Games’ “Mushroom Legend: The Hero and the Magic Lamp” has had an outstanding revenue track record since entering the Japanese market in February 2024, with IAP revenue exceeding $100 million in just four months after its release. This achievement is second only to Collapse: Star Rail, and it is also the only new game among the top 10 grossing games through the end of July 2024.
『Dragon Ball Z』
Dokkan Battle’s IAP revenue in Japan will increase by more than 200% compared to the previous month due to the implementation of the event “Dokkan Festival x Legend Advent Festival” in February 2024, and revenue in Japan from January to July 2024 will be the same as the previous year. This is an increase of 28% from
Bandai Namco
Entertainment’s new title “Gakuen Idolmaster” was officially released in May, and topped the Japanese mobile game revenue growth ranking in the same month, and also topped the Japanese mobile IP game revenue growth ranking in June and July. It has been at the top since the month. Following the strong performance of these two works, Bandai Namco
Entertainment has taken over the top spot in Japan’s ranking of mobile game publishers by revenue for the quarter, with revenue in Japan increasing 3.5% from the previous quarter to $390 million.
Bandai Namco
Entertainment is also one of the most successful Japanese mobile game publishers in expanding overseas. The company’s revenue in overseas markets from January to July 2024 was $270 million, with 40% of its total global revenue for the period coming from overseas.
The IP with the most revenue in Japan is “Dragon Quest,” with revenue of $170 million.
“Dragon Quest” is the IP with the most revenue in the Japanese mobile game market. Total mobile gaming revenue from January to July 2024 reached $170 million. Representative titles of this IP include the mobile location-based game “Dragon Quest Walk” and the mobile RPG “Dragon Quest Tact.”
Looking at each title, “Uma Musume”
Pretty Derby remains the highest grossing mobile IP game in the Japanese market, with over $160 million in Japanese revenue from January to July 2024. The game held a special event to coincide with the third anniversary of its release in late February 2024, and its daily revenue soared, with March revenue increasing 64% from the previous month. As of the end of July, the game’s cumulative worldwide revenue is approaching $2.5 billion, and the Japanese market share is 94%.
Japan is the largest market for mobile 3D anime games, with a global share of approximately 50%
Japan is one of the markets with the deepest 2D culture, and is also the market with the most revenue from mobile 3D anime games. Of the total revenue of the top 50 global mobile 3D anime game titles from January to July 2024, 49% came from the Japanese market.
Japan’s mobile 3D anime game market is still active, with new titles appearing one after another and achieving great results. Six new titles, “Gakuen Idolmaster,” “Saint Seiya Legend of Justice,” “Koi to Deep Sora,” “Zenless Zone Zero,” “Narushio,” and “Only I Level Up: Arise” rank in the top eight for revenue growth. I’m in. Five of these titles are from overseas publishers, demonstrating the openness and taste of Japanese mobile gamers towards new titles.
“Koi to Shinzora” became the otome game with the highest revenue increase in Japan
Japan is also the largest market for otome games, with 70% of the total global otome game revenue coming from Japan in 2023. In the first half of 2024, with the release of “Love and Deep Sky” and rapid growth, the Chinese market’s share of the global total revenue for otome games rose to 45%.
“Love and Deep Sky” has been well received by Japanese players, with revenue in Japan from January to July 2024 being approximately $21 million, ranking third in the revenue ranking in Japan. It also became the otome game with the highest increase in revenue. Of the total worldwide revenue of “Love and Deep Sky” of $200 million (as of August 11, 2024), 65% comes from the Chinese market, and the Japanese market, which has the most revenue outside of China, accounts for 65%. The market share is over 11%.
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Further information can be found on our website:
https://sensortower.com/ja/blog/state-of-mobile-games-in-japan-2024-JP
Introduction to Sensor Tower
Sensor was founded in San Francisco in 2013.
Tower is a company that provides data and analysis environment for mobile apps/games. Trusted by global digital companies such as X (formerly Twitter), Unity, Tencent, and HBO, it is a digital analysis platform that provides store intelligence that helps you understand trends in the mobile market, and advertising intelligence that can be used to optimize your advertising strategy. We provide high-quality insights and advanced customer support for every aspect of mobile.
Sensor Tower was awarded Best Analytics/Best Analytics at Pocket Gamer Mobile Games Awards 2022.
Received the Data Tool Award.
Our Japan office will be relocated to Nippori, Tokyo from the summer of 2023, strengthening our business in Japan, and the number of partner companies is rapidly increasing. We are increasing the number of our staff and will continue to strengthen our customer support.
Sensor Tower Japan Office Representative
Claude Matsuo
Further information about Sensor Tower can be found on our website: https://sensortower.com/ja
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