Highest‑Grossing Games Worldwide
1. Highest‑Grossing Games Worldwide
According to 2023 & early 2025 data, the top-earning free-to-play mobile games globally were (skillspere.com, betwiseup.com):
| Rank | Game | 2023 Revenue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honor of Kings | ~$2.2 B | Highest for multiple years (sensortower.com, betwiseup.com, zeebiz.in) |
| 2 | PUBG Mobile | ~$1.7 B | Top‑3 grossing in early 2025 |
| 3 | Genshin Impact | ~$1.6 B | $2 B+ first-year sales |
| 4–10 | Roblox, Candy Crush, Pokémon GO, Coin Master, League of Legends, Free Fire, CoD Mobile | varied | Massive playerbases |
Why They’re Lucrative
These games leverage:
- Live ops & events (e.g., Honor of Kings seasonal content) (sensortower.com)
- Microtransactions: skins, passes, loot boxes
- Global reach: large active user bases in China, US, Japan, India
2. Play‑to‑Earn & Competitive Models
Blockchain-based “earn while playing” games let users monetize in-game achievements:
- Axie Infinity (blockchain NFT game): Trusted path for Filipino gamers during the pandemic; early players made incomes above national averages, though later crypto crashes harmed earnings (skillspere.com, en.wikipedia.org).
- Splinterlands (NFT card battles): Players earn tradable cards and in-game tokens worth real money (investopedia.com).
Competitive Platforms:
- Skillz: Players pay_entry fees to compete in games like Solitaire Cube for cash prizes; payouts via PayPal (skillspere.com).
- GameChampions / eSports games (Dota 2, LoL): Earn through tournaments, coaching, or streaming; prize pools in high five- to six-figures (theneutral.pk).
3. Casual Game‑to‑Cash Apps
Apps that reward for casual play include:
-
- Mistplay (Android): Earn “units” redeemable for gift cards or cash; over $100 M paid out to more than 2M users (savvynewcanadians.com, earningify.com).
- InboxDollars, Swagbucks Live, Lucktastic: Earn via games, trivia, scratch cards; payouts via PayPal or gift cards (zeebiz.in).
- Freecash / Cashyy / Bubble Cash: Complete tasks or micro‑tournaments for cash (finder.com).
4. Smart Strategies to Maximize Earnings
- Choose your niche wisely
- Casual earners: go for Mistplay, Freecash, Swagbucks Live
- Skilled competitors: focus on Skillz, tournaments, eSports
- Crypto-savvy: explore Axie Infinity and NFT games—but beware volatility
- Understand payout structures
Mistplay = points → gift cards/cash; low ROI but low time investment- Skillz and Axie require skill or capital but offer higher returns
- Stack rewards
- Many apps offer sign-up bonuses and referral incentives—take advantage
- Stay updated
- Track in-game events (like Honor of Kings) and app promotions—these boost payouts
- Manage risk and times
For best ROI, pick 1–2 platforms; don’t overextend - Cash out smartly
- Use lowest-fee methods (PayPal, local wallets such as JazzCash/Easypaisa in Pakistan)
Key Takeaways
- Big Studio Games (e.g. Honor of Kings, Genshin Impact) earn billions via microtransactions—not directly earning players money.
- Play‑to‑earn titles like Axie Infinity offer direct earning but come with crypto market risk.
- Skill-based and casual apps provide moderate earnings—best when combined smartly.
Final Thought
There’s no universal “smartest money” game—choose based on your:
- Skills (competitive vs casual)
- Risk tolerance (crypto volatility vs stable rewards)
- Time commitment