As the end of the year approaches, we asked mobilegamer.biz readers to give us a few lines on their personal mobile game of the year. Here’s what they said:
Chris Hewish, Xsolla CSO
My personal game of the year 2024 is Monopoly Go. It’s an incredibly engaging and creative reimagining of the classic board game. The way it incorporates social features, quick rounds, and strategic elements makes it perfect for mobile players who want a mix of nostalgia and innovation.
Its accessibility and the ability to connect with others through gameplay are what really set it apart, making it a standout experience for me this year.
Elena Grigorian, My Games CEO
I believe one of the breakthrough successes of the year is Legend of Mushroom. Despite its apparent simplicity at first glance, it offers a unique take on core gameplay, making it feel more like a social casino than a traditional idle RPG. The validation of this approach is evident in the impressive revenue numbers the developers achieved in the first year after launch, as well as the numerous titles attempting to iterate on this concept – none of which have matched the scale of Legend of Mushroom.
Equally noteworthy is the bold D2C strategy they adopted. They’ve been highly proactive in promoting their own store, both within and outside the game. Additionally, the game features extensive live-ops with intriguing IP inclusions. One standout example is Pepe the Frog, a rare and creative choice that’s seldom seen outside of memes.
Todd Green, King general manager of Candy Crush
I’ve been really enjoying introducing my kids to Pokémon Go this year, endless adventure and it feels magical to them to see this other world hidden in plain sight!
Karah Sutton, PikPok CPO
Perhaps it’s a sign of the industry that many of the games I played this year were new updates and liveops content from pre-2024 games, but I wanted to respect the spirit of the question so I’ve only allowed myself to consider 2024 mobile games.
The one that captured my heart was Paper Trail, which I played on Netflix Games. This game is my jam: an inventive and tactile gameplay mechanic, gouache-esque stylised art direction, and a whimsical world. Cosy and delightful.
Alex Merutka, Craftsman+ CEO
My game of the year is Diablo Immortal. I like the stories and lore that bring in an in-depth world to explore. It ties into other Diablo games and is consistent with new updates. Of which have a lot of new content within them. Overall it plays like a full console game and not just a cheap mobile knock-off.
Alexandra Takei, Naavik podcast host
My personal game of the year is Balatro. Just like last year when I pitched Marvel Snap, I’m an absolute sucker for a fantastic card-based game. I’m among the elite 1.4% of players who hold the Rule Breaker Achievement, complete with my own custom Excel sheet for score calculations.
I didn’t hesitate to spend $9.99 for this premium mobile title. Pretty surprising to see a studio and publisher taking on the premium, non-free-to-play mobile market – especially since they’re selling the same game twice without cross-account linking. In today’s market, we may have swung too far toward giving players free value, which is why I believe this premium pricing approach was financially sound for a small-scale studio. They’ve impressed me all around. I’m at 157 hours and counting.
Jason Wang, Hungry Studio VP
Duolingo is hands-down my personal game of the year. Sure, it’s not literally a game, but with its incredible gamification design, who could argue? Its playful, vibrant interface turns learning a new language into an exciting quest, more like levelling up than hitting the books.
My six year-old son and I have had a blast earning achievement badges together and climbing the leaderboards – it’s become our favourite family challenge! And I absolutely love how Duolingo’s data-driven magic personalises the experience, keeping us hooked and learning at just the right pace. It’s brilliant, fun, and totally addictive!
Kristan Rivers, AdInMo CEO
True to form, I can’t commit to just one game. I’m inherently a grinder in games, and this year Rage Swarm (Voodoo) has scratched my “quick pick-up and play and grind through levels” itch.
It would have been my GOTY until Monument Valley 3 launched on the app stores via Netflix. I’m now set to spend countless hours on it until the year ends. Shout-out also to Balatro; just as addictive and “oh no where did all the hours go” on the recent mobile release. It will almost certainly and deservedly be the game of the year on Steam.
