Mobile gaming has come a long way from Snake on a green screen to billion-dollar games with global multiplayer. It’s changing who plays games, how developers create them and how the industry makes money from them. It’s also bringing immersive, social experiences to the fingertips of more people than ever before.

The first mobile phone with a game is often credited to the Hagenuk MT-2000, which came with a basic version of Tetris in black and white on a tiny display. While this wasn’t a great gaming experience by today’s standards, it showed that people enjoyed casual gameplay on small, multipurpose devices.

By the late 2000s, mobile hardware had caught up to PC levels and opened the door for hard-core games. This era saw hits like Angry Birds, Flappy Bird and Pokemon GO bring console-quality visuals and gameplay to the smartphone. It also saw the rise of mobile MOBAs, such as Honor of Kings and Arena of Valor, which brought real-time 5v5 competitive gameplay to phones.

In 2022, the pandemic slowed growth in the industry, but mobile games continued to gain momentum. As people stayed indoors, they turned to mobile games for entertainment and connection with friends. Mobile games became the most popular gaming platform worldwide, generating significant revenue and spawning a new generation of gaming companies.

The accessibility and affordability of mobile gaming have allowed new players to enter the market. This has diversified the player base and created a diverse array of genres, with something to appeal to everyone from hyper-casuals to hard-core gamers.

This variety has also made it easy for developers to experiment with new genres and ideas. In the early days of mobile games, it was common to see independent developer releases make big money from innovative, experimental titles. In addition to these original titles, major publishers have adapted their existing franchises for the mobile market.

Unlike traditional console games, many mobile games support social connectivity. Players can challenge or compete with friends locally or globally, forming bonds across time zones and language barriers. These games can even promote positive behaviors, such as exercise, sleep and dietary choices, by providing incentives for good habits.

While the ubiquity of mobile gaming has opened up a new source of revenue for the industry, it has also created challenges. Over-saturation of the app stores and in-app purchases have impacted consumer spend, while monetization strategies are shifting. This is leading to a rise of subscription-based games that provide a steady stream of updates and new content while still allowing consumers to monetize through microtransactions. This has opened the door for a range of new game genres to thrive, including action and adventure games that offer narrative immersion and exploration, strategy games that demand tactical thinking and resource management, and social multiplayer games that connect players from around the world. These unique games are helping mobile gaming continue to grow into a global entertainment phenomenon.