Top Mobile Games by Revenue and Downloads in May 2026
Honor of Kings emerged as the highest-grossing mobile game worldwide in May 2026, according to Sensor Tower's App Performance Insights. Following it closely were Royal Match, Whiteout Survival, Gossip Harbor, and MONOPOLY GO!, which completed the top five revenue rankings. The success of Honor of Kings can be attributed to its ongoing live-ops efforts in China, particularly a collaboration with the popular film IP Ne Zha 2 that introduced a limited-time crossover skin, enhancing its cultural relevance during May.
Royal Match climbed two spots to secure the second position in global revenue, benefiting from an active May live-ops schedule filled with challenges, seasonal progression, and level expansions. The game's early-month engagement was driven by titles like Merge Smith and Cinema Collection, while the Parade Atelier update introduced new levels and rewards, sustaining player interest.
Gossip Harbor also capitalized on narrative-driven events, implementing storylines like Silvertail Slingers’ Jubilee and Brimwave’s Bigfoot Sighting to keep players engaged. Similarly, MONOPOLY GO! utilized familiar storybook themes to create short-term progression loops, integrating collectible tokens and team-based rewards into its gameplay.
In May, global consumer spending on mobile games reached $6.6 billion, reflecting a 2% increase month-over-month. The United States contributed the largest share with 29.6% of total revenue, followed by China (iOS only) at 16.8% and Japan at 12%. Wuthering Waves topped the revenue growth rankings, thanks to a steady rollout of premium character content, including the introduction of limited characters Hiyuki and Denia in April and May updates, respectively.
Neverness to Everness claimed the second position for revenue growth, driven by its launch celebration that featured limited S-rank character Hotori and various login rewards. The late-May Dreamwalking Gallery update further boosted engagement with additional limited-time content.
Dungeon & Fighter Mobile secured third place in revenue growth, marking its second anniversary with an update that combined special cosmetics and new gameplay content, including a mobile-exclusive Black Dragon raid and expanded rewards.
The downloads landscape saw Arrows Puzzle Escape rise to the top as the most downloaded mobile game globally, outpacing Block Blast!, which slipped to second. The former's success can be linked to its engaging mechanics and a strong paid user acquisition strategy. Meanwhile, ROBLOX climbed to third place globally, propelled by a diverse mix of user-generated content and branded experiences.
In total, global mobile game downloads reached 3.77 billion in May, up 5% month-over-month. India led the download count with 703 million, representing 18.7% of the total, followed by the United States and Brazil.
Why it matters
The growth chart for downloads was dominated by arrow-based puzzle games, with Arrows Puzzle Escape leading the charge. The trend indicates a strong preference for accessible and ad-friendly mobile formats. Titles like Mini Challenges: Calm Games and Bus Traffic Fever! also gained traction, showcasing the versatility of mobile game mechanics that cater to casual players.
Original source
Google News: Sensor Tower Blog mobile
