Pixel P&L: India’s Top Mobile Games of 2024 Revealed by Google Play

India’s mobile gaming market reached new heights in 2024, adding 23 million players and cementing its status as the world’s second-largest for downloads. Today, Google revealed the biggest winners in its Best of 2024 awards—find out which games dominated.

Meanwhile, DreamHack X Hyderabad Comic Con smashed attendance records, India’s top Minecraft stars gear up for an epic showdown, Pokémon scores a historic mobile hit, and a U.S. manga giant sets its sights on India.

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Google Play has announced its Best of 2024 awards for India, celebrating the country’s top mobile games and the developers behind them. India’s mobile gaming market, now the world’s second-largest for downloads, continues to thrive, with 23 million new gamers added this year, bringing the total to 590 million. Average weekly playtime rose by 30%, underscoring the growing prominence of gaming in Indian digital culture.

Squad Busters was crowned "Best Game," capturing the love for fast-paced, multiplayer titles that emphasize social interaction. SuperGaming’s Indus Battle Royale won the "Best Made in India" award for the second consecutive year, lauded for its seamless integration of Indian mythology and aesthetics into the battle royale genre. Popular title BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) clinched "Best Ongoing," continuing to engage players with updates featuring cricket themes, festive collaborations, and content tailored to Indian tastes.

Indie developers also made a mark. Bloom, which won "Best Indie," impressed with its innovative puzzles and a player-driven level maker. Other winners included Clash of Clans for "Best Multi-device Game" and Yes, Your Grace for "Best Story."

The DreamHack X Hyderabad Comic Con 2024 wrapped up at the Hitex Exhibition Centre, attracting over 40,000 attendees in one of India’s largest celebrations of gaming and pop culture. The three-day event continued the established collaboration between DreamHack India and Comic Con India, offering an expanded format that featured competitive esports, exclusive comic launches, cosplay contests, and retro gaming experiences.

Esports competitions were a major draw. GodLike Esports dominated the Snapdragon Pro Series, taking home the lion’s share of the ₹24 lakh prize pool. Amigos Esports clinched the OMEN VALORANT Campus Quest Season 2 title, while individual players shone in KO Fight Night’s Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6 events. Casual gamers and nostalgia seekers flocked to the BYOD and retro zones, where classics like Pac-Man and board games remained perennial favorites.

The event also spotlighted the cultural crossover of gaming with broader fandoms. Highlights included the cosplay contest, which served as a qualifier for the Indian Championship of Cosplay 2025, and exclusive comic book debuts like The Warrior God. Organizers pointed to the record-breaking turnout as a testament to Hyderabad's growing appetite for gaming and pop culture events, solidifying the city as a hub for fandom convergence in India.

India’s Minecraft Creators to Compete in Creators Rumble Tournament

India’s top Minecraft creators, including Mythpat, GamerFleet, and Piyush Joshi Gaming, will compete in the Creators Rumble, a tournament organized by OP Gaming, a subsidiary of OpraahFx, on November 22. The event brings together 24 participants across six teams for skill-testing rounds of Parkour, MLG, and PvP. “Creators Rumble is a platform for growth, not just for players but for the entire gaming ecosystem,” said Mansi Gupta, Chief Business Officer at OpraahFx.

Pokémon TCG Pocket Surpasses $100 Million in Record Time

Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket has quickly become The Pokémon Company’s second-biggest mobile launch, grossing $120.8 million globally within 19 days. The game hit $100 million in just 17 days, with November 15 marking its most lucrative day at $8.2 million in player spending, according to AppMagic estimates. Averaging $6.4 million in daily revenue, Japan leads with $50.6 million (42% of earnings), followed by the U.S. at $33.6 million. While trailing Pokémon Go’s record-setting $138.8 million launch, TCG Pocket’s rapid success highlights strong demand for Pokémon's collectible card game franchise in the digital space.

US based Manga Publisher Expands to India

U.S.-based manga publisher Yen Press will launch in India on February 3, 2025, through a partnership with Hachette India for sales and distribution, as part of a global expansion announced on November 14. The partnership, covering the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand, aims to enhance the availability of manga, light novels, and manhwa globally. Known for translating works from smaller Japanese publishers, Yen Press brings critically acclaimed titles like Solo Leveling and Oshi no Ko to international readers. The move highlights the growing demand for diverse manga content in emerging markets like India.

Sony Interactive Entertainment Names New Mobile Leadership

Sony Interactive Entertainment has appointed Olivier Courtemanche as head of mobile and Justin Kubiak as head of mobile business development and partnerships. Both announced their roles on LinkedIn. Courtemanche, previously PlayStation’s co-head of mobile, joined Sony in 2022 after stints at Meta, Zynga, and EA. Kubiak, who joined in 2021 from Samsung, brings experience from NCSoft and Scopely. The leadership changes follow Sony’s recent closure of first-party mobile studio Neon Koi, formerly Savage Game Studios, acquired in 2022 but shuttered last month, signaling ongoing shifts in the company’s mobile gaming strategy.

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In 1990, SNK released the Neo Geo, the most expensive home video game console ever made, retailing for a jaw-dropping $650—a sum equivalent to over $1,566 today when adjusted for inflation. Designed to deliver an arcade-perfect experience at home, the Neo Geo was equipped with cutting-edge technology for its time, including a 16-bit processor and advanced graphics capabilities.

Originally intended as a rental-only console, demand for the system led SNK to pivot toward retail sales. Its steep price reflected its premium design and arcade-quality games, but it also placed the Neo Geo out of reach for most gamers, earning it a reputation as a luxury item. Adding to the cost, individual game cartridges, some as large as VHS tapes, often exceeded $200 each, making the console a significant financial investment.

Despite its niche audience, the Neo Geo built a devoted fanbase, thanks to its iconic library of games such as Metal Slug, King of Fighters, and Samurai Shodown. It also influenced future console designs by prioritizing high-performance hardware. While it may not have achieved mainstream success, the Neo Geo remains a symbol of gaming opulence and a testament to SNK’s ambition to bring the arcade into the living room.