"Love this game and hats off you developers"
Mobile gaming in India continues to quickly grow so it is no surprise that it is one of the world’s top five countries when it comes to mobile games.
One of the main reasons is because new smartphones are being developed all the time.
Not only that but it is very easy to obtain mobile games. A gaming app can be downloaded at the touch of a screen.
While games are more immersive on a console, it is not as popular as it is far more expensive than purchasing a phone.
The average cost of a console in India is approximately Rs. 36,000 (£400), whereas the average cost of a phone is about Rs. 10,000 (£111).
Many more people have smartphones than consoles but in terms of the type of phone, more have Android phones as opposed to Apple. This is again due to costs.
As a lot more people have Android devices, more mobile games are downloaded from the Google Play Store.
The wide variety of mobile games means that they are enjoyed among a wide variety of people, even those who don’t consider themselves gamers.
When it comes to the most popular ones of 2019, some are still highly enjoyed while there are others which have made their way into the mainstream.
We look at the 10 most popular mobile games in India of 2019.
Subway Surfers
Although Subway Surfers is not as popular as it was in 2018, it is still one of the 10 most enjoyed mobile games in India.
It is a fast-paced game where the aim is to collect as many coins as possible all while avoiding oncoming trains.
The game is combined with colourful graphics to make it more appealing to gamers.
While the game is simple, it is incredibly addictive. Players stay entertained for hours as they try to beat their high score.
The simple controls of swiping to avoid oncoming trains is a positive but the fact that the developers continue to add fresh content makes it enjoyed worldwide, let alone India.
One avid player is Abhijeet Singh who said:
“Nice and great app for spending time and real-time competition with friends and family.
“Love this game and hats off you developers that you have upgraded it to the next level.”
Since its first release in May 2012, Subway Surfers has an average rating of 4.5 from over 30 million reviews on the Google Play Store.
Clash of Clans
Clash of Clans is currently the ninth most played game in India. Millions of players build villages, raise clans and use them to battle against other clans in this strategy game.
The online game requires you to defend your village from other players while upgrading your own clan at the same time.
The most popular feature is playing online which can become competitive at times but is a lot of fun. But casual gamers can take part in friendly challenges against friends they invite.
Regular content updates and the tactical style of gameplay is what Indian mobile gamers love about Clash of Clans.
Rishab Debnath said: “This is the best and epic strategy game of all time. My experience has been great since the past 4 years of gameplay experience with Clash of Clans.
“You get a lot of updates keeping it alongside with new events going on around you.”
It was India’s second most popular mobile game in 2018 but despite the drop in popularity, it is still an appealing game with over 49 million people giving it an average rating of 4.6.
Candy Crush Soda Saga
Candy Crush Soda Saga follows the same gameplay as the original game Candy Crush Saga but it manages to keep players engaged.
The puzzle adventure game sees Kimmy on her journey to find Tiffi by switching and matching her way through magical gameplay.
New combinations and challenging game modes are brimming with purple soda. With hundreds of levels, continuous fun is highly likely.
Even though the gameplay is simple, the increasingly difficult levels made the game a challenge to master.
This makes for millions of addicted gamers looking to progress through as many levels as possible.
When the game was released, it was certain that it would be a success in India, especially when taking into account it’s predecessor.
Friends can compete against one another by comparing leaderboard scores through Facebook Connect.
With an average of 4.6 from 6.9 million Android reviews, Candy Crush Soda Saga remains one of the most popular mobile games in India.
Callbreak Multiplayer
Callbreak Multiplayer is a trick-taking card game played between four players. The target is to win each round by playing the highest card possible in the dealer’s chosen suit.
The four players bid a number of tricks that they must win in order to get a positive score. Failed bids result in a negative score.
Each game contains five rounds and points are added up for the first four rounds. In the final round, players set themselves a goal. In the end, the winner and runner-up are announced.
The player with the highest number of points is the winner.
Indian gamers enjoy Callbreak Multiplayer mainly because of the multiplayer aspect. They can either play against random opponents or against their friends by connecting the app to their Facebook account.
Many players praise the multiplayer gameplay as a great way of passing the time.
The free-to-play game has achieved an average rating of 4, based on over 200,000 reviews on the Google Play Store.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) is one of India’s most popular mobile games even though it was first released on consoles.
The online Battle Royale game allows 100 players to play against each other as are placed onto an island.
They must locate their own weapons and defeat each other in this winner takes all showdown. As time goes on, the island shrinks, which forces gamers into a smaller play zone.
Similar to the console version, the game boasts an astounding visual experience with its realistic effects and HD map.
Players either play solo or they can team up with friends to have a better chance of surviving the battle.
The gameplay is extremely enjoyable and addictive as players compete to be last person standing.
PUBG player Soumyak Das said: “Loved the concept and the graphics.
“Servers are good and it’s easy to find friends via Facebook login.”
While it is still played regularly, it is not as popular as it once was in India. This is possibly due to the game’s ban in various states of the country.
There had been concerns about the game’s violence and its addictive nature.
Despite the controversy, PUBG remains an entertaining mobile game in India, with an average rating of 4.3 from over 21 million reviews.
Bubble Shooter
Bubble Shooter has risen through the ranks in 2019 and has become the fifth most popular mobile game in India.
It is a free game with over 3,000 levels meaning that players have endless amounts of fun.
The objective is to fire the bubble into other bubbles of the same colour. By clearing them out, it means that the next level will upon you.
While it is mainly a casual game, players can pick different modes, some of which will make the game more competitive.
Players can compete against family and friends to see who can reach the highest score.
It is a simplistic game which requires logic and puzzle-solving skills in order to progress.
Even though there are regular updates with new levels, Uday Kiran requested that they add even more levels. He said:
“Thank you for giving an update but you gave only 30 levels. Sir, you take time but you give more levels to play because I have completed 3,730 levels so I don’t have time pass to play games so you please give more than 100 levels like that so please think about it sir please.”
With an average of 4.2 from 622,000 reviews, it is no surprise that Bubble Shooter is one of India’s most played mobile games of 2019.
Ludo King
The mobile game was originally released in 2016 and it is based on the classic board game.
Players roll the Ludo dice and move their counters to make it to the centre of the board. Beat the other players to become the Ludo King.
The game was modernised for phones and different ways to play were created.
Gamers can play offline against the computer or against family and friends. Players can go online if they want a competitive edge by going against players from around the world.
Up to 2019, the game has had more than 270 million downloads and many of those playing it comes from India. This is no surprise as the app was developed by Indian studio Gametion Technologies Pvt Ltd.
The simple gameplay makes it a great way to pass the time as Priyansh said:
“This is a game where you can timepass with your friends, family, or anyone.”
With over 3.1 million people giving Ludo King an average rating of 4.2, it cements its place as India’s fourth most popular mobile game of 2019.
Carrom Disc Pool
Carrom Disc Pool is the mobile version of the popular tabletop game.
The original game is typically played in South Asian countries and it is usually played among families.
With the mobile app, carrom enthusiasts can play on the go against friends. As it is multiplayer, there is also an online element where players can match up against opponents from around the world.
The main objective is to pot your pieces before the opponent pots theirs.
Winning leads to unlocking new items which you can show off to your opponents.
With simple gameplay, great physics and smooth controls, online players compete against people of all abilities.
It is the third most popular mobile game in India of 2019 and with an average of 4.4 from 809,000 reviews, it is easy to see why.
Candy Crush Saga
Candy Crush Saga continues to be an enjoyable game ever since it was first released in 2012.
The straightforward gameplay involves switching and pairing the sweets in order to progress through the levels.
Playing with friends or alone provides players with different options and appeals to wider audiences. A network connection lets players look at leaderboards to compare with others.
The game still remains popular as the developers continue to add new levels every two weeks.
This ensures that even the most hardcore gamers will face a challenge in this wonderfully addictive game.
It has a huge following in India with many loving that it makes them think about each move they make.
Shillu Malik regularly plays the game and explained:
“This is the sweetest puzzle game ever. It is a brainstorming game with lots of fun. All the graphics and controls are perfect.”
Twenty-six million players gave it an average of 4.6, however, in 2019, Candy Crush Saga is no longer the most popular mobile game in India.
Garena Free Fire – Anniversary
The number one mobile game of 2019 in India is Garena Free Fire – Anniversary.
It looks to be an even faster approach to the highly popular Battle Royale style of game.
This survival shooter game has 10-minute matches in which players are placed onto a remote island against 49 other players, all looking to survive.
It is every person for themselves as the objective is to be the lone survivor.
Players choose their starting point with their parachute and aim to stay in the safe zone for as long as possible.
Use vehicles to explore the map but ensure that you search for weapons as other players will be doing the same. It is a game where every little helps when it comes to gaining an advantage.
Ten-minute matches ensure fast gameplay whether you want to play alone or with friends in a squad.
In India, many have downloaded the game for the competitive nature of it coupled with the simple controls and smooth graphics.
It has an average of 4.2 from 33.7 million reviews and with it acting almost as a successor to PUBG, it is no wonder that Garena Free Fire – Anniversary is India’s most popular mobile game of 2019.
Even though these mobile games are of different genres, all of them entertain the millions of mobile gamers in India.
One of the main reasons for their popularity is the fact that they are free to download.
With mobile games being created all the time, it is possible that new games emerge as the most popular in 2020 and beyond.