Mobile RPG games have always relied on hardcore spenders… except, of course, for the hybrid-casual RPGs that break the rule.
But according to the latest AppMagic‘s Monetization Report, 2025 was one of the toughest years the mobile RPG genre has seen in a long time.
Subgenre Performance
Most major RPG niches declined 15–30% YoY:
● Idle RPG: –18.6%
● Puzzle RPG: –28.2%
● Action RPG: –23.5%
● MMORPG: –19.7%
But not everything is down
● Tactical RPGs: +56%, driven by Warhammer 40,000: Tacticus & GIRLS’ FRONTLINE 2
● Roguelikes: +26%, boosted by Archero 2 & Mech Assemble
Spending Trends
● Google Play hit hard: Dropped day-90 ARPPU by 42% and purchase counts per user by 16-29%
● iOS strengthens: Average first purchase climbed to $17.9, more than 2X Google Play’s $8.3
Monetization Insights
● Hard currency bundles ($29, $49, $99) still anchor top-grossing RPGs
● Titles like CookieRun: Kingdom show battle passes can take a meaningful share
● HoYoverse’s 30-day subscription packs continue to shine, contributing up to 10% of total revenue
Rise of Low-Priced Offers
● Midcore RPGs are experimenting with $0.99–$4.99 event bundles to capture lower-spending players
● Honkai: Star Rail & Zenless Zone Zero both launched sub-$5 offers that drove strong volume
● This strategy is becoming even more valuable as high-spending Android users pull back
Key Takeaways
● RPGs are cooling overall, but Tactical & Roguelike RPGs are heating up
● iOS monetization keeps strengthening
● Google Play needs more accessible pricing strategies
● Flexible price ladders + event-driven offers are becoming essential