adminPremium mobile games are gaining ground as players show greater interest in paid titles and PC and console games adapted for phones. New data estimates that premium game releases on mobile increased by 77% in 2025, even though free-to-play games continue to account for most downloads.
Image credit: Wishfully/Thunderful Publishing
Premium mobile games grow as more titles arrive
Just under 750 premium games launched on mobile in 2025, according to AppMagic research. That is a notable increase, but premium releases remain a small part of the overall market: free-to-play games represented 96% of mobile downloads during the year.
Most premium releases were original games or titles launching across multiple platforms at the same time. Ports of existing games accounted for only 3% of premium releases. Still, the number of PC and console games brought to mobile grew from seven in 2024 to 23 in 2025.
For developers considering a mobile version, the figures suggest that ports can create an additional source of revenue. A strong existing audience may help, but adapting a game to a smaller screen and touch controls still requires careful planning.
Monthly downloads and revenue of PC/console-to-mobile ports released since 2019. Image credit: AppMagic
Premium game releases on the App Store and Google Play by year. Image credit: AppMagic
PC/console-to-mobile game port releases by year. Image credit: AppMagic
Successful ports lead the revenue growth
Balatro was the biggest contributor to growth among mobile ports. AppMagic estimates that the game has earned $21.3 million on mobile and reached more than 3.1 million downloads. Mobile port revenue rose 44.6% year over year in 2025, while downloads increased 38.3%.
The broader trend remains positive even when Balatro is excluded, suggesting that growth is not limited to one hit. Other successful ports include Slay the Spire, with estimated lifetime revenue of $13.1 million; Human Fall Flat at $7.8 million; Dead Cells at $6.5 million; and Ultimate Custom Night at $5.3 million.
What developers look for in a mobile port
Marco Bettencourt, CEO of Portugal-based porting and co-development studio Redcatpig, says the company has received more requests to bring premium PC games to mobile. Developers may see mobile as a way to reach new players when a game’s sales on another platform begin to slow.
Redcatpig adapted Wishfully’s 2023 puzzle-platform game Planet of Lana for mobile on behalf of Playdigious, a publisher that licenses PC games for mobile adaptations. The mobile version launched in December 2025, more than two years after the original release. AppMagic estimates it has generated nearly $189,000 in revenue.
Playdigious CEO Abrial Da Costa says Planet of Lana continues to perform well. The company’s mobile release of Dead Cells has been its biggest success, while Subnautica also recorded strong mobile sales in 2025. Loop Hero and Little Nightmares were among its strongest performers in 2024. Da Costa says Subnautica Below Zero, Sea of Stars, and Slime Rancher are performing particularly well this year.
Results can vary, even when a game is well regarded. Da Costa says Skul: The Hero Slayer and Children of Morta fell short of expectations, and Besiege sales were disappointing. Familiarity with a game or franchise and the strength of its community can influence how well a mobile edition sells.
Awards and long-term interest may also help less widely known games find an audience. Da Costa points to Chants of Sennaar, which won Google Play’s Best Indie Game of 2025 award, as a title that continues to sell well. Northgard, Cultist Simulator, and Spiritfarer are also steady sellers from the back catalogue.
Dead Cells has been a strong performer on mobile. Image credit: Motion Twin
Playdigious has seen sales growth in countries including the Philippines, Thailand, and Mexico. Da Costa also says mainland China accounts for most of Dead Cells’ mobile sales. The publisher remains selective, releasing five to seven games a year after reviewing many potential projects. Its approach prioritizes the quality of the adaptation over the number of releases.
Why players are considering paid mobile games
Da Costa believes subscription services such as Apple Arcade and Netflix Games have helped build interest in higher-quality games through editorial curation. Third-party stores, including the Epic Games Store, may also improve the visibility of paid titles. Some players value buying a game without ads or in-app purchases.
Technology and platform support could make it easier to connect PC and mobile gaming. Google Play Games’ addition of PC support is one example of efforts to build links between the platforms. For developers, a mobile release may offer access to players who want a single-player game for a commute or a journey.
However, the premium market has experienced sharp swings before. Nearly 1,000 premium games launched on mobile in 2022, but releases fell by more than half in 2023 and declined again to 422 in 2024. Revenue offers another measure of momentum: mobile port revenue rose from about $7 million in 2022 to roughly $15 million in 2025. In the five months through May 2026, premium mobile ports generated around $10.2 million.
What the premium mobile games trend means
Free-to-play remains the dominant model, but the growth in premium mobile games points to a meaningful opportunity for paid titles and carefully adapted PC and console releases. Success is not guaranteed: audience awareness, platform fit, and the quality of the port all matter. For players, the expanding catalogue means more options to discover complete games without ads or in-app purchases.
