SensorTowerSensorTower

Global Indie Games Market Report 2024

Jan 2, 2024·2 min read

Summary

For the first time, indie games are generating as much revenue as AAA and AA titles on Steam. Record-breaking releases like Black Myth: Wukong and Palworld have sold tens of millions of units. The indie market has grown every year since 2020, despite wider industry slowdown.

The market splits into segments: Triple I Indies, Middle Market, Small Teams, and Hobbyists, each with unique trends. Experienced indie developers see better financial success with each release, indicating industry maturation.

You Might Also Like

AppsFlyerAppsFlyer

Marketing attribution guide: Best practices to optimize your ROI

Marketing attribution identifies which channels drive conversions, helping allocate budgets effectively. It uses models like single-touch (first/last click) or multi-touch (linear, time-decay) to assign credit across customer journeys. Challenges include privacy changes and tracking difficulties, but solutions like MMPs and AI can help optimize campaigns.

Shani Rosenfelder·Oct 11, 2023·5 min readRead article →
AppLovinAppLovin

Sparking Joy: Creating Great Mobile Games

Solotopia's success with IAP-based game Alice's Dream highlights APAC's lead in mobile gaming revenue. Key insights: integrating mini-gameplay extends lifecycle, focusing on select ad channels (AppLovin, Facebook, Google) improves UA, and creative strategy must combine gameplay, IAA, and story. Data-driven growth and adapting to user preferences are crucial for scaling.

Feb 27, 2024·4 min readRead article →
AppsFlyerAppsFlyer

Where European Finance Apps Win or Lose Users

European finance app installs hit 960M in 2025 but grew only 0.4%. BNPL apps grew 40% while crypto fell 35%, signaling a shift to utility. Neobanks win acquisition; traditional banks win retention (1.5-2x Day 30 rates). Web-to-app drives 41.8% of conversions but most brands can't measure the handoff. Nearly 1 in 2 investment app installs in Western Europe is fraudulent, distorting CPI and ROAS. Winning brands prioritize engagement, fraud detection, and cross-platform measurement.

Lesia Kupriienko·Jun 18, 2026·12 min readRead article →
SensorTowerSensorTower

Mega Crit’s “Slay the Spire II” Slays with 7 Million Units Sold

Slay the Spire II generated $140M revenue in 3 months, with 1.7M DAU and 5M MAU. The sequel outperformed the original by 2.5x revenue and sold 3M more copies. A discounted bundle drove 4M purchases in the first week, boosting both titles. The co-op mode (up to 4 players) adds unique mechanics, attracting multiplayer audiences. Despite early access, it is Steam's top seller for 2026, proving small indie hits can compete with major titles. For ad ops, this signals the growing value of franchise bundling and co-op features in driving user acquisition and retention.

Jun 27, 2026·3 min readRead article →
SensorTowerSensorTower

Gaming Deep Dive: Ad Monetization Report

Ad monetization dominates mobile gaming downloads, with puzzle titles driving over half of ad revenue across major networks. Hybrid-casual has split into two models: ads-first and IAP-first, with IAP-driven titles significantly outperforming in total earnings. Success requires aligning game design, network choice, and regional strategy. The report emphasizes that ad strategy is now foundational, not secondary, for player acquisition and monetization.

Jun 26, 2026·4 min readRead article →
SensorTowerSensorTower

2024 State of Mobile: The App Market Bounced Back in 2023 and is Primed for a Record-Breaking 2024

Mobile market rebounded in 2023 with record $171B consumer spend. Apps drove growth at 11% YoY to $64B. Generative AI exploded 7x. Travel apps surged 13%. Mobile ad spend reached $362B.

Jonathan Briskman·Jan 28, 2024·5 min readRead article →
SensorTowerSensorTower

State of Digital Banking 2026

Digital banking ad impressions surpassed 50B quarterly with spend above $350M by Q1 2026, driven by mobile-first adoption. Neobanks like Nubank lead downloads, while traditional banks modernize apps. SeaBank's integration with Shopee exemplifies ecosystem-driven acquisition. For ad ops, key takeaways: prioritize mobile channels, leverage partnerships for scale, and balance reach with trust-building to sustain engagement.

Jul 9, 2026·10 min readRead article →
SensorTowerSensorTower

State of Short Drama Apps 2026

Short drama apps are reshaping mobile entertainment, surpassing 850M downloads in Q1 2026 (up 140% YoY) with IAP revenue reaching $750M. Growth is concentrated in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and India, where these apps outpace traditional OTT in user acquisition. Engagement is surging: daily time spent grew 85% to 25 minutes globally, nearing OTT levels in Southeast Asia. For ad ops, the shift toward ad monetization in addition to IAP opens new inventory opportunities. Key players like FreeReels, NetShort, and Melolo are scaling via localized content and paid acquisition, creating competitive ad markets.

Jun 27, 2026·3 min readRead article →

More from SensorTower