South Korea Mobile Gaming Statistics in 2023

South Korea Mobile Gaming Statistics in 2023 for Android
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Some of the most innovative mobile gaming app companies are based in South Korea. With independent publishers like J-PARK, and gaming stalwarts like NEXON, GAMEVIL, and Netmarble, Korea has long occupied a spot on the leading edge of mobile gaming. Now, with the advent of the app economy, even the big boys, like NAVER Corp. and Kakao, are getting involved.

In this article, we will provide a number of detailed mobile games statistics and insights into the South Korea Android game market with focus on mobile games only. We will cover a number of topics, including: how many Korean game publishers exist on the Google Play Store, how many mobile games they have released, and how Korean mobile games have performed compared to the global average. The data is aggregated based on address, such that only major game publishers and ones with valid Korean addresses on the Android market have been considered. Furthermore, all download statistics are estimates.

Table of Content

Data Source 42matters

42matters tracks everything from mobile game meta data, to rankings, to download estimates, to changes in meta information, to SDK usage, to App-ads.txt and more. If you would like to leverage our data into your own product, research or app industry analysis, it can be obtained via our API or File Dumps or our interactive App Market Explorer.

How Many Mobile Game Publishers Are from South Korea?

There are more than 3,446 Korean publishers on Google Play out of all 191,666 game publishers. One of the biggest Korean publishers are mobirix, SUD Inc., BitMango, Netmarble, CookApps, Button E&M, Com2uS, SUPERBOX.Inc, JOYCITY Corp., mobirixsub . Overall 2% of all game publishers on Google Play are from South Korea. Find the biggest app publishers with our App Market Explorer.

Percentage
Globally
Korean
Publishers
vs
Total
Publishers

How Many Mobile Games Are from Korean Publishers?

There are more than 11,929 games from Korean publishers on Google Play out of the 536,902 games. Mobile Games with most downloads of Korean publishers are 허츠워 (HeartsWar), Idle Moon Rabbit: AFK RPG, Zanmang Loopy : Idle Tycoon, 데미갓 키우기 : 방치형 액션 RPG, Infinite Stairs, Reload Rush, Cat Snack Bar : Cat Food Games, 드래곤빌리지 컬렉션, FIFA 모바일, 나이트 크로우 . 2% of all mobile games on Google Play are from Korean publishers. Filter for mobile games by publisher country with our tool here.

Percentage
Globally
Korean Mobile Games
vs
Total Mobile Games

How Are Mobile Games from Korean Publishers Rated?

The average rating of 11,929 games from Korean publishers on Google Play is 3.99 out of 5 stars. This is better than the overall average rating of all mobile games which is 3.93. Mobile Games from Korean publishers on Google Play have on average 12,908 ratings. This number is higher than the average number of ratings of all games, which is 6,661 ratings. Sort by the best rated game or by the game with most ratings directly in our App Market Explorer.

Average rating of
Korean Mobile Games
3.99 stars
Average #Ratings of
Korean Mobile Games
Average rating of
All Mobile Games
3.93 stars
Average #Ratings of
All Mobile Games

How Many Downloads Do Mobile Game from Korean Publishers Get?

Mobile Games by Korean publishers have an average of 768.59k downloads. Overall they get more downloads than the average of all mobile games which is 570.15k. We offer also more detailed download estimates for any app.

Download Statistics
Average Downloads Per Korean Mobile Game
Average Downloads Per Mobile Game

How Do Korean Mobile Games Monetize?

5% of games by Korean publishers are paid. That is a higher value of paid mobile games compared to the overall games, where 4% are paid. 81% of games by Korean publishers include ads. That is a higher value compared to the whole world, where 72% games have ads. 51% of games by Korean publishers make use of In-App Payments to monetize. That is higher than the average of 20% of games.

Paid Mobile Games monetization paid Korean Paid Mobile Games5% Overall Paid Mobile Games4%
Ads monetization ads Korean Include Ads81% Overall Include Ads72%
In-App Billing monetization iap Korean In-App Billing51% Overall In-App Billing20%

Do Korean Mobile Games Publishers Release on both iOS and Android?

37% of games of Korean publishers are available on both Google Play and iTunes. Overall they put more effort in publishing on both stores, compared to the average publisher with 17%. Use our iOS to Android Matching API or Android to iOS Matching API to find the same app across stores.

Korean Mobile Games
Available on Both Stores
Overall Mobile Games
Available on Both Stores

Who Are the Top 15 Korean Mobile Game Publishers Based on Downloads?

The following are the top publishers from South Korea that accumulated most downloads.

sdks
1 mobirix

mobirix is on position 1 of the biggest Korean game publishers. mobirix is a mobile gaming app publisher based in South Korea. Their goal is to provide content that users of all ages and cultural backgrounds can enjoy and to provide the best gaming experience possible to millions of gamers all around the world. They believe that the player always comes first. mobirix has developed such gaming apps as Bricks Breaker Quest, Grow Kingdom, World Soccer League, 4 in a row king, and much more. They own 149 mobile games that have been downloaded together more than 1.27b+ times.

1.27b+
149
2 SUD Inc.

SUD Inc. is on position 2 of the biggest Korean game publishers. SUD Inc. is a subsidiary of NAVER Corp, the South Korean internet content service company known for operating the popular search engine, Naver. They are focused primarily on developing and publishing mobile gaming apps. SUD Inc. has developed and published such apps as Dr. Parking 4, Dr. Driving, Dr. Gomoku, Dr. Chess, and more. They own 28 mobile games that have been downloaded together more than 806.45m+ times.

806.45m+
28
3 BitMango

BitMango is on position 3 of the biggest Korean game publishers. BitMango is a mobile gaming app publisher, based in South Korea, founded in 2011. They develop and publish mobile puzzle apps that users around the world can enjoy. BitMango’s portfolio includes: Block! Triangle Puzzle, Block! Hexa Puzzle, Bubble Pop! Puzzle Game Legend, Line Puzzle: Pipe Art, and more. They own 31 mobile games that have been downloaded together more than 588.48m+ times.

588.48m+
31
4 Netmarble

Netmarble is on position 4 of the biggest Korean game publishers. Established in 2000, Netmarble has cemented its position as one of the most popular mobile game companies in the world. Their primary concern is providing players with epic gaming experiences. Netmarble’s mobile gaming repertoire includes: The King of Fighters, Marvel Future Fight, BTS WORLD, Iron Throne, and more. They own 45 mobile games that have been downloaded together more than 314.5m+ times.

314.5m+
45
5 CookApps

CookApps is on position 5 of the biggest Korean game publishers. They own 85 mobile games that have been downloaded together more than 231.21m+ times.

231.21m+
85
6 Button E&M

Button E&M is on position 6 of the biggest Korean game publishers. They own 2 mobile games that have been downloaded together more than 218.93m+ times.

218.93m+
2
7 Com2uS

Com2uS is on position 7 of the biggest Korean game publishers. Com2uS is an industry-leading Korean mobile gaming app company that has been developing and publishing mobile games since 1999. Com2uS has been growing in lockstep with the mobile gaming industry and has a well-earned reputation for producing excellent products. Com2uS has created a diverse portfolio of apps, such as MLB 9 Innings 19, Homerun Battle 2, Golf Star, Skylanders Ring of Heroes, and more. They own 36 mobile games that have been downloaded together more than 195.77m+ times.

195.77m+
36
8 SUPERBOX.Inc

SUPERBOX.Inc is on position 8 of the biggest Korean game publishers. They own 73 mobile games that have been downloaded together more than 191.51m+ times.

191.51m+
73
9 JOYCITY Corp.

JOYCITY Corp. is on position 9 of the biggest Korean game publishers. JOYCITY is a South Korean game developer founded in 1994. Over the years they have developed numerous innovative games, spanning a wide range of genres. Early on in the mobile gaming boom, they struck gold with their social-network-game (SNG) ‘Rule the Sky,’ and have since invested more resources into the mobile gaming market. JOYCITY Corp. has published GUNSHIP BATTLE: Helicopter 3D, Game of Dice, WARSHIP BATTLE:3D World War II, The War of Genesis: Battle of Antaria, and more. They own 19 mobile games that have been downloaded together more than 187.18m+ times.

187.18m+
19
10 mobirixsub

mobirixsub is on position 10 of the biggest Korean game publishers. They own 62 mobile games that have been downloaded together more than 181.19m+ times.

181.19m+
62

What Are the Most Used SDKs by Korean Mobile Game Publishers?

The following shows which SDKs are most used by South Korea game publishers. To find out which mobile games integrate the following SDK use our App Market Explorer. We have also aggregated the worldwide Top Ad Network SDKs and other categories.

sdks
1 sdk icon Google Firebase

81% of mobile games from Korean publishers have Google Firebase integrated. In total 8,841 games. Firebase is a mobile and web application development platform SDK that gives app builders the ability to develop their apps faster, without worrying about infrastructure. It includes functionalities like analytics, databases, messaging and crash reporting so developers can move quickly and focus on their users.

81
8841
2 sdk icon Google Ads AdMob

76% of mobile games from Korean publishers have Google Ads AdMob integrated. In total 8,277 games. Google Ads AdMob is a mobile advertising platform that enables users to monetize their mobile applications via in-app advertising. AdMob is based on the Google Mobile Ads SDK and serves over 200 billion ad requests a month, with over 1 million advertisers and 1 million apps currently running on the AdMob mobile ad network.

76
8277
3 Google Ads AdMob Mediation Adapters

75% of mobile games from Korean publishers have Google Ads AdMob Mediation Adapters integrated. In total 8,166 games.

75
8166
4 FMOD

74% of mobile games from Korean publishers have FMOD integrated. In total 8,096 games.

74
8096
5 Unity3D

74% of mobile games from Korean publishers have Unity3D integrated. In total 8,057 games.

74
8057
6 sdk icon Google Play Game Services

55% of mobile games from Korean publishers have Google Play Game Services integrated. In total 6,028 games. Google Play Game Services is an SDK that provides cross-platform services that gives app developers the ability to easily integrate popular gaming features such as achievements, leaderboards, Saved Games, and real-time multiplayer on their tablet and mobile games.

55
6028
7 sdk icon Google Drive

55% of mobile games from Korean publishers have Google Drive integrated. In total 5,970 games. The Google Drive SDK makes it possible for app developers to create mobile, web, and desktop apps that leverage Google Drive cloud storage. This includes reading, writing, and syncing files in Google Drive.

55
5970
8 sdk icon Unity Ads

45% of mobile games from Korean publishers have Unity Ads integrated. In total 4,941 games. The Unity Ads SDK helps publishers integrate especially video advertisements, aimed at maximizing revenue and improving user experience, into their games. Unity Ads gives developers the ability to offer users a variety of rewards in exchange for watching videos, such as additional “life,” currency, score increases, etc.

45
4941
9 Android Sqlite

40% of mobile games from Korean publishers have Android Sqlite integrated. In total 4,326 games.

40
4326
10 Google Play Games plugin for Unity

37% of mobile games from Korean publishers have Google Play Games plugin for Unity integrated. In total 4,036 games.

37
4036

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What Are the Most Used Android Mobile Games Permissions by Korean Publishers?

The following shows which android permissions are most frequently request by South Korea mobile games publishers. Use our App Market Explorer to filter the Google Play Store by mobile games with specific permissions.

sdks
1 Internet Access

android.permission.INTERNET makes it possible for app publishers to create network sockets and use custom network protocols within their apps. This permission is not required for internet connection however, as the mobile browser provides all apps with the ability to send data to the internet. 95% of the games from Korean publishers use the Internet Access permission. Total 11,339 games.

95
11339
2 Network Information Access

The android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE permission can be leveraged by app developers to enable their apps to view information about network connections. This information includes such things as which networks exist and which already have connections. 92% of the games from Korean publishers use the Network Information Access permission. Total 10,931 games.

92
10931
3 Phone Sleep Mode Preventation

android.permission.WAKE_LOCK gives apps the ability to prevent the phone they are running on from going into sleep mode. This is good for apps, like YouTube, that get extended periods of engagement that do not necessarily require the user to touch the screen or otherwise interact physically with the device. 76% of the games from Korean publishers use the Phone Sleep Mode Preventation permission. Total 9,052 games.

76
9052
4 Billing

The com.android.vending.BILLING permission is required for the integration of billing in android applications. 65% of the games from Korean publishers use the Billing permission. Total 7,763 games.

65
7763
5 Install Referrer

Apps often advertise other apps. By leveraging com.google.android.finsky.permission.BIND_GET_INSTALL_REFERRER_SERVICE apps can make sure that installs of other apps launched via their ads are properly attributed. 52% of the games from Korean publishers use the Install Referrer permission. Total 6,157 games.

52
6157
6 Start At Boot Time

android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED gives apps the ability to start themselves as soon as the system it is running on has finished booting. It should be noted, however, that this can often slow down the phone start time. In addition, it can slow down the device generally by enabling the app to run constantly. 43% of the games from Korean publishers use the Start At Boot Time permission. Total 5,116 games.

43
5116
7 Vibration

android.permission.VIBRATE makes it possible for app builders to give their apps control over the vibrating function of the devices they are running on. 42% of the games from Korean publishers use the Vibration permission. Total 4,998 games.

42
4998
8 Wifi Information Access

App publishers can leverage android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE to enable their app to view information about Wi-Fi networking. This includes whether Wi-Fi is enabled and the names of the connected Wi-Fi devices. 36% of the games from Korean publishers use the Wifi Information Access permission. Total 4,352 games.

36
4352
9 android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE

36% of the games from Korean publishers use the android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE permission. Total 4,337 games.

36
4337
10 Push Notification

com.google.android.c2dm.permission.RECEIVE can be used within apps to allow them to accept cloud to device messages sent by the app’s service. It should be noted however, that using this service will incur data usage, and malicious apps could cause excess data usage. 36% of the games from Korean publishers use the Push Notification permission. Total 4,310 games.

36
4310

What Are the Top 15 Mobile Games in South Korea?

The following shows the official Google Play mobile games top chart of South Korea. 27% of the top games in South Korea are from Korean game publishers. See the full chart here.

What Are the Top 15 Mobile Games in South Korea's Grossing Top Chart?

The following shows the official Google Play Grossing mobile games chart of South Korea. 53% of the top grossing games in South Korea are from Korean game publishers. See the full chart here.

What Are the Top 15 Arcade Mobile Games in South Korea's Top Chart?

The following shows the official Google Play Arcade mobile games chart of South Korea. 33% of the top arcade games in South Korea are from Korean game publishers. See the full chart here.

What Are the Top 15 Highest Ranked Casual Mobile Games in South Korea?

The following shows the official Google Play casual mobile games chart of South Korea. 13% of the top casual games in South Korea are from Korean game publishers. See the full chart here.

What Are the Top 15 Highest Ranked Racing Mobile Games in South Korea?

The following shows the official Google Play racing mobile games chart of South Korea. 13% of the top racing games in South Korea are from Korean game publishers. See the full chart here.

What Are the Top 15 Highest Ranked Action Mobile Games in South Korea?

The following shows the official Google Play action mobile games chart of South Korea. 13% of the top action games in South Korea are from Korean game publishers. See the full chart here.

What Are the Top 15 Highest Ranked Simulation Mobile Games in South Korea?

The following shows the official Google Play simulation mobile games chart of South Korea. 60% of the top simulations games in South Korea are from Korean game publishers. See the full chart here.

What Are the Top 15 Highest Ranked Strategy Mobile Games in South Korea?

The following shows the official Google Play stranegy mobile games chart of South Korea. There are no games from Korean publishers. See the full chart here.

Data Source 42matters

42matters tracks everything from game meta data, to rankings, to download estimates, to changes in meta information, to SDK usage, to App-ads.txt and more. If you would like to leverage our data into your own product, research or app industry analysis, it can be obtained via our API or File Dumps or our interactive App Market Explorer.

Table of Content

Mobile gaming stats per country