By the end of 2023, Candy Crash Saga was ranked as one of the most popular mobile games of the year. It had more than 157 million downloads across the Google Play and Apple Store globally. Originally developed and released in 2012, the title is as popular as online casinos such as Ice Casino. The app also generated more than $1 billion in revenue during this time.
But it is not the only game that has generated this much revenue over the years. In fact, since the launch of modern mobile phones, some apps have dominated the mobile gaming industry. These include the likes of Flappy Bird, Angry Birds, Roblox, Call of Duty, and Tetris. Here’s a quick breakdown of all-time mobile favorites.
Flappy Bird
The popularity of Flappy Bird is debatable on many gaming forums online. However, the truth of the matter is that Flappy Bird is one of the most popular and downloaded mobile games of all time. Despite being pulled down from the Play Stores – sometime in 2014 – it remains one of the most successful and popular games on the internet. In fact, some don’t know this, but it was so popular that the developer – Dong Nguyen – became overwhelmed by the paparazzi and media attention.
Flappy Bird’s popularity stems from the fact that it was simple and direct to play. However, it was a little challenging as you had to fly the bird through what appeared to be tunnels. Very few people managed to attain a score of more than 1000 points.
Angry Birds
Angry Birds isn’t just an awesome mobile game but also one of the most successful franchises in today’s world! The name Angry Bird is included in merchandise, films, and console games. But this isn’t the reason why it became one of the most sought-after games on the mobile platform. Rather, its unique structure made it stand out from the crowd.
During gameplay, players use different types of bird characters to launch away from a sling. The objective is to bring down constructed towers filled with ‘green pigs,’ who are sworn enemies of the birds. With a captivating foundation and unique style, Angry Birds quickly became a darling of many mobile gamers.
Roblox
Though initially released as a computer game in 2006, the widespread and popular Roblox finally penetrated the mobile market in 2012. Since then, it has never gone back, as it has witnessed an ever-growing fan base, which incorporates children, young adults, and even the older generation. One of the main reasons for its growing popularity was the ability to support multiplayer mode.
Call of Duty
You cannot claim to be a mobile game fanatic or a lover of FPS multiplayer games and don’t have Call of Duty installed on your device. This is the epitome and true definition of action play. Designed and developed by the team at Activision, Call of Duty brings a rich mixture of action both in battle royale and multiplayer modes. It is one of the most popular and sought-after shooter games on mobile.
What makes it stand out from the rest of the games? It has a multiplayer and single mode. This gives you a chance to play by yourself or alongside your mates. The game’s battle royale mode is also one of its kind, allowing you to battle it out with 50 or 100 players. Call of Duty also supports multiple languages and comes with in-game purchases and bots.
Tetris
Tetris is a game that needs no introduction. If you grew up in the 90s and the better part of the early 2000s, you certainly know of Tetris. The game goes with all sorts of names and formats worldwide, yet they all come with the same concept. At its core, your objective is to strategically manipulate falling blocks of different sizes and shapes, referred to as “tetrominos.” You must create complete horizontal lines without any spaces.
The more lines you complete, the higher the points you earn. However, if you fail to complete the lines, the blocks will quickly stack and reach the top of the screen. This will mean the end of the game.
Traditionally, the game of Tetris was limited to consoles, game boys, and brick games. However, thanks to technology and mobile devices, you can now play whenever you feel like. Simply visit your respective app store and download the title you fancy.
Honorable Mentions
Of course, I know what you are thinking: why hasn’t a certain game been featured in the list? Of course, not all the games could be featured in the list of the top 5 most popular games of all time. However, there are some that were very close, and there’s no way this article can be complete without mentioning them. These include Subway Surfers, Snake, 8 Ball Pool, Mines, and Pokémon Go.
