Most Popular App Store Games in 2023

Mobile gaming continues to grow exponentially, with experts predicting over $136 billion in global revenue for 2023. As graphics and touch controls improve, smartphones and tablets have become gaming powerhouses. Here we break down the biggest app store gaming trends and most popular titles of the year so far.

Diablo Immortal Brings Blizzard to Mobile

In June 2022, acclaimed PC developer Blizzard Entertainment launched Diablo Immortal worldwide. This brought the dark gothic world of their iconic Diablo ARPG franchise to iOS and Android for the first time as a fully-fledged MMORPG.

With 6 character classes, massive multiplayer zones, and deep progression systems, Diablo Immortal represents a new era for AAA gaming experiences on mobile. It quickly became one of the top-grossing apps following its divisive launch.

Jackpot World Casino Enters the Ring

This new mobile casino app differentiates itself from standard options through community events, interactive mini-games, and over 130 themed slot titles from top providers like IGT. You can find more of these at the official VegasSlots site.

Jackpot World Casino has quickly gained traction as both a social experience and pure gambling app thanks to its inviting theme and focus on making slots and table games accessible for first-time players. The potential for local competitive tournaments provides added appeal

Apex Legends Mobile Brings Battle Royale Action

Following in the footsteps of PUBG Mobile and Fortnite, Electronic Arts launched Apex Legends Mobile in May 2022. This iOS and Android port faithfully adapts the strategic battle royale squad gameplay from their popular hero shooter Apex Legends.

With slick touch controls and optimized visuals, Apex Legends Mobile has proven one of the best adaptations of a battle royale experience on mobile. The ability to revive fallen teammates and unique Legends abilities add welcome depth.

Genshin Impact Continues RPG Domination

This anime-inspired action RPG from Chinese developer miHoYo has cemented itself as one of the most popular ongoing mobile games. Regular huge content expansions add new regions, story quests, characters, and seasonal events – all for free.

The Zelda-style open world exploration combined with deep combat, gacha character collecting and co-op multiplayer provides seemingly endless gameplay variety. Genshin Impact seems poised to remain a mobile gaming staple.

Tower of Fantasy Launches as Genshin Rival

Hot on the heels of Genshin Impact’s success, Chinese publisher Perfect World launched Tower of Fantasy on iOS and Android in August 2022. This shared open world RPG quickly became labeled a Genshin “clone” and competitor.

With a sci-fi setting, action combat and gacha mechanics, Tower of Fantasy replicates much of the Genshin formula. But it provides enough differentiation through mecha suits, simulated MMO features and a multiplayer housing system to succeed in its own right.

Marvel Snap Reinvents Card Battling

After a limited regional beta, Marvel Snap saw a wide release on mobile in October 2022. Developed by ex-Blizzard staff, this refreshing take on digital card battling focuses on quick, tactical matches often decided in just 6-8 turns.

With over 150 Marvel heroes and villains to collect and dozens of creative locales that modify rules, Marvel Snap has successfully appealed to casual players and hardcore card game enthusiasts alike thanks to its polish, balance and strategic depth.

Angry Birds Gets an RPG Makeover

Proving the longevity of the Angry Birds IP, Rovio launched Angry Birds Journey for iOS and Android in 2022 to wide success. This match-3 puzzle game combines the classic slingshot bird play into a larger RPG framework.

Players battle pigs through hundreds of levels while collecting birds with different abilities to strengthen their flock. The merging of casual puzzle play with an RPG progression system makes Angry Birds Journey one of the more innovative mobile titles lately.

Subway Surfers Remains an Endless Runner Staple

This tap-to-jump endless runner from Kiloo and Sybo continues to find success over a decade after first launching. Subway Surfers stands out through its colorful, vibrant graphics and collaborations with major brands like SEGA for unique sprinter characters and game locations.

Frequent seasonal events, in-game contests and challenges keep players engaged. This simple yet addictive mobile game remains competitive against more advanced titles thanks to accessibility and mass appeal to all demographics…

Raid: Shadow Legends Dominates RPG Charts

After an influx of marketing across YouTube, Twitch and other platforms, Raid: Shadow Legends has cemented itself as one of the top grossing RPGs despite complaints around its overly aggressive monetization.

Regular new character releases known as Champion updates and crossover IP collaborations like a Battle Pass with Tomb Raider help maintain interest in collecting heroes to battle through thousands of story stages. Raid proves production values win out.

The Future of Mobile Gaming is Bright

With gaming-grade processors and advanced displays now standard, smartphones boast power rivaling modern consoles. Cloud gaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming also enable console-quality games to stream instantly across devices.

As concepts like AR gaming and 5G reduce hardware limitations, mobile offers an accessibility and flexibility consoles can’t match. The runaway successes of games like Diablo Immortal and Apex Legends Mobile prove mobile gamers eagerly embrace deeper experiences. The future looks bright.