Benchmark Drop, Casual gets you players. Strategy keeps them. Simulation grows them. Shooter monetizes them.

Genre performance across DE, US, UK, IN, and KSA market. 390#

Hey Friends, Greetings from Bangalore 💗

Growth across genres by rev and downloads across the DE, US, UK, IN, and KSA markets.

If you’re building for 2026, you can invest in the following genres:
✔ Strategy
✔ Shooter LiveOps
✔ Simulation with ownership loops

Approach cautiously:
⚠ Puzzle (aging cohorts, CPI inflation)
⚠ Action (hit-driven, expensive retention)

Avoid:
❌ Arcade / ultracasual dependency
❌ Casino in regulated markets

Casual gets you players. Strategy keeps them. Simulation grows them. Shooter monetizes them.

A deep dive: Revenue is consolidating into “mastery genres”. These are the titles where players think, compete, and commit:
- Strategy is growing everywhere — +39% in the US, +56% in India, +36% in the UK, +31% in Germany
- Shooters are no longer growing installs, yet still monetizing via cosmetics and season passes
-Action is polarizing: huge declines in Europe, yet still monetizing in the US

Downloads are collapsing across casual genres
- Puzzle downloads are down in 5 of 6 regions
- Arcade has entered negative YoY territory globally
- Lifestyle installs dropped double-digits in every Western market

Which genre do you believe still has breakout potential in 2026?

tCARe, CARtic P
/ iCartic.com