Top 10 Global Mobile Game Downloads in January 2025

Global mobile game downloads reached 4.41 billion in January 2025, marking a 5.4% month-on-month increase, according to Sensor Tower data.

Leading the charge was Garena’s Free Fire, which retained its position as the most-downloaded game globally for the third consecutive month, while emerging titles like Cat Chaos: Prankster and survival-themed games reshaped market dynamics146.

Key Trends in January 2025

1. Dominance of Established Titles

Free Fire recorded over 37.1 million new downloads in January, pushing its lifetime total to 1.86 billion. India remained its largest market, contributing 34.8% of downloads, followed by Indonesia (22.2%) and Brazil (6.4%). Seasonal events and a Naruto Shippuden collaboration on January 10 fueled its sustained popularity146.

Roblox climbed to second place with 13.2 billion cumulative downloads since its 2012 launch. Its “Hell’s Kitchen” challenge, featuring celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, enhanced player engagement in key markets like the U.S., Brazil, and Indonesia16.

Other top-five titles included Block Blast!, Subway Surfers, and Cat Chaos: Prankster, reflecting the enduring appeal of puzzle and runner genres15.

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2. Rise of Hyper-Casual and Survival Games

Mirai Studio’s Cat Chaos: Prankster surged 182 spots to rank fifth in absolute downloads, amassing 22.4 million downloads since its December 2024 release. Its third-person prank mechanics and social media virality drove growth in Indonesia, Brazil, and France146.

Three survival games—Prison Survival: Tap Challenge, Survival Game: 456 Challenge, and 456 Cat Survival Master 3D—gained traction with high-stakes gameplay and dynamic camera angles. Their success mirrored Netflix’s Squid Game: Unleashed, which ranked seventh in download growth, underscoring the lasting impact of the “Squid Game” IP16.

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3. Regional Market Highlights

India led global downloads with 682 million (15.5% share), followed by the U.S. (8.0%) and Brazil (7.8%).

China’s iOS market saw momentum from NetEase’s Where Winds Meet, a AAA MMORPG blending martial arts and open-world exploration, which ranked tenth in download growth146.

Editor’s Comments

The January 2025 data highlights two parallel trends: the resilience of established franchises like Free Fire and the disruptive potential of hyper-casual and IP-driven titles.

Free Fire’s recovery in India—despite its 2022 ban—suggests strategic localization and partnerships are critical in volatile markets. Meanwhile, Cat Chaos: Prankster’s meteoric rise exemplifies how social media integration can amplify organic growth for indie studios.

The survival genre’s resurgence, fueled by Squid Game’s influence, signals a shift toward high-tension, short-session gameplay. However, the success of Where Winds Meet and Genshin Impact (ranked fifth in revenue) also underscores growing demand for console-quality mobile experiences.

As hyper-casual and AAA titles coexist, developers must balance accessibility with depth to capture diverse audiences.

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