As the year draws to a close, China's mobile game export market shows no signs of slowing down. The latest November rankings of top-grossing Chinese mobile games abroad reveal several noteworthy trends worth examining from an analytical perspective.
Anime-Style Games Continue Dominance With Classic IPs Shining
Anime-style games maintained their strong performance from the third quarter, emerging as a highlight of the overseas mobile game market. Genshin Impact once again secured the top spot with over $105 million in overseas revenue, despite not introducing new characters during November. Instead, the game featured reruns of popular characters like Hu Tao, demonstrating the enduring value of established intellectual properties.
Geographically, Genshin Impact's revenue primarily came from Japan (35.6%), the United States (27%), and South Korea (8.8%), confirming its broad global appeal, particularly in markets with strong acceptance of anime culture.
Several factors contribute to Genshin Impact's sustained success:
- Global cultural appeal: The game blends traditional Chinese elements with contemporary anime aesthetics, effectively promoting cultural exchange while entertaining international players.
- Exceptional production quality: Industry-leading graphics, compelling narratives, and diverse gameplay create immersive experiences that set new standards.
- Continuous content updates: Regular introductions of new characters, storylines, and events maintain player engagement and freshness.
New Titles Gain Traction With Roguelite and Idle Mechanics
Beyond established performers, November saw promising debuts from new releases. Habby's PunBall, a spiritual successor to Archero, combined Roguelite mechanics with RPG elements and classic brick-breaking gameplay, securing fourth place in the growth rankings with strong showings across Greater China and international markets.
Meanwhile, The Infinite Journey demonstrated steady revenue growth, ranking seventh in growth charts since its mid-October launch in Southeast Asia. The game's distinctive theme and idle mechanics helped it stand out among more intensive strategy and card titles.
Another notable case was World Flipper, a nearly two-year-old game that achieved remarkable domestic performance through Thunder Network's localization, proving that quality games can find success regardless of release timing.
Diverse Genres Emerge as Anime Competition Intensifies
IGG's Mythic Heroes achieved 138% revenue growth since its August launch, primarily through European success, reaching tenth position despite not yet launching in Japan or South Korea. This suggests significant untapped potential for the fantasy-themed idle game.
The anime game segment saw intensified competition with multiple Chinese developers launching successful titles in Japan and South Korea, including Bilibili's Armed Girl, Rastar Games' Blazing Saga, and Yostar's Revival of the Goddess. Established franchises like Idol Fantasy and newer releases like Fairyland further demonstrate the genre's expanding diversity.
In download rankings, sports title Soccer Super Star maintained strong growth in Brazil, India, and Indonesia with 7.8 million downloads, while makeup simulator Makeup Master debuted on the charts.
Turkey Emerges as Promising New Market for Game Exports
The Turkish mobile gaming market has grown remarkably since early 2020, with November revenues reaching $55 million—2.5 times 2019 levels and matching combined totals from Brazil and Chile. This growth significantly outpaces Southeast Asia (50.5%) and Latin America (27.6%) during the same period.
Competitive titles like PUBG Mobile, Free Fire, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang pioneered this expansion, with PUBG Mobile alone accounting for 33.6% of Turkey's total game revenue. Chinese-developed games now represent nearly half of Turkey's top 50, including Pasha Fencer, Game of Sultans, and Rise of Kingdoms.
Turkey's rapid market development stems from several advantages:
- Substantial youth population providing abundant user base
- Growing purchasing power accompanying economic development
- Increasing smartphone and mobile internet penetration
- Cultural openness to international gaming content
Outlook and Strategic Considerations
November's export rankings highlight several key trends: sustained anime game leadership demonstrating IP value, successful new entries featuring Roguelite and idle mechanics, genre diversification amid intensifying competition, and Turkey's emergence as a strategic growth market.
As global mobile gaming continues evolving, developers must balance innovation with quality execution while deepening market-specific understanding to maintain competitiveness in this dynamic landscape.