According to Sensor Tower, in the first quarter of 2026, the mobile application market in India received 6.2 billion downloads and earned over $300 million (an increase of 33 per cent over the same period). Growth is driven mainly by non-player applications, of which AI and short play are particularly prominent; at the same time, the intellectual and LiveOps (real-time operations) games have maintained a steady growth momentum. The following data include only the projected in-service purchase (IAP) income from Google Play and App Store, excluding advertising income and income from third party Android application stores.
Indian market transition from scale expansion to liquidity efficiency, non-play-driven growthIn the first quarter of 2026, the mobile application market in India achieved a strategic transformation from a simple pursuit of scale growth to a more profitable one. The market recorded a staggering 6.2 billion downloads, of which non-play applications accounted for 72 per cent. This is due mainly to the proliferation of generating AI and short-time platforms, as well as to the steady growth of electrical and financial science and technology services. The profit-making model showed a stronger growth momentum, with total applied purchases exceeding $300 million, an increase of 33 per cent over the same period. For non-player applications, in-house purchases generated more than $200 million, an increase of 44 per cent over the same period, a new record. The steady growth of OTT, cloud services and AI-driven practical tools further enhanced their contribution to overall market realization. In the first quarter of 2026, Indian mobile game downloads stabilized at over 1.7 billion and income grew by 15 per cent over the same period, well above the global average of 0.4 per cent. However, in a more mature and competitive market, the growth of different games varies. Taken together, the above trends suggest that India is undergoing a structural transformation in its mobile ecosystem, with non-play applications driving profit growth, while the demand for games remains stable.Generating AI and Short Play Reshaping User NeedsAccording to the App Performance Insights data of Sensor Tower, in the first quarter of 2026, the number of mobile application downloads rankings in India showed a marked shift in user demand, largely as a result of breakthroughs in generating AI (downloads increased by 69 per cent over the same period).
ChatGPT has accumulated more than 300 million downloads in India, far above other productivity applications, while its revenues are in the top three, reflecting the high user acceptance and willingness to pay for AI-driven productivity and advanced tool services. At the same time, short play applications such as FreeReels, Stoy TV, and Kuku TV have increased their downloads by 403 per cent over the same period, holding more than one of the top ten places. FreeReels, with a 520 per cent increase in downloads, spends more than five times more on digital advertising than on the Meta platform. According to Sensor Tower ‘ s insight data, aggressive advertising strategies have achieved significant results among young user groups (70 per cent of whom are under 34 years of age), with a relatively balanced gender ratio. It is noteworthy that, as the short play content became more popular, the Indian-flowing media giant, Jio Hotstar, introduced “Tadka” in its application at the beginning of the second quarter of 2026. In addition to AI and short play content, the top 10 also reflect the availability of day-to-day digital services, such as the electrician platforms Meesho and Flipkart.Disbursement focused on entertainment and practical toolsIndia ‘ s top 10 income applications continue to focus on mature ecosystems, covering mainly productivity, social and video entertainment applications. Video entertainment applications occupy five of the top 10, highlighting their strong liquidity. Crunchyroll ranked eighth in the income ranking in the first quarter of 2026, with an increase of more than four times over the same period. Its growth was the result of the “Ready to Anime?” event, which invited a large number of celebrities to speak on behalf of the ICC men’s T20 World Cup and Shark Tank India. According to Sensor Tower, the Crunchyroll audience is young, with 87 per cent under the age of 34.
Crunchyroll spent up to 75 per cent on advertising in Instagram, highlighting its central role in reaching young user groups. In addition, advertising expenditures are concentrated in high-volume markets such as Maharashtra (14.6 per cent) and Delhi (9.1 per cent). Taken together, these factors demonstrate the ability of Crunchyrol to translate regional visibility into a scaled commercial value.The puzzle game drives growth and the head is stableIn the first quarter of 2026, the downloads of Indian games remained stable, with Ludo King, Free Fire and Cricket League as regular guests. This year-to-year stability highlights the continued dominance of market leaders, while localized content and real-time operational services help to sustain stable user growth.
With the exception of the first three mentioned above, most of the other games on the list are of a recreational and easy-to-hand type, highlighting the continuing demand of players for light quantitative games. Model games such as Indian Bikes Driving 3D and old games such as subways are further proof of the role of localised elements and brand names in maintaining downloads. The Indian cricket game, Cricket League, took advantage of the strong market growth momentum of the first quarter, and the downloads surged with the opening of the Cricket World Cup in February and the Indian Cricket Super League. This performance highlights the close link between sports events and the demand for games in India, where major events support the growth of users. Carrom Pool continues to be a successful example of a local multiplayer game by digitizing culturally familiar experiences. In the first quarter of 2026, Miniclip supported its growth through activities such as “Into the Wild” and “Turf Battles”, using thematic incentives and token stores to maintain user access and participation.Head game drives income growth through real-time operationsThe high concentration of best-selling games in the Indian market and limited year-on-year changes, with growth driven mainly by specific types, such as intellectuals, reflects increasing competition in the market. Free Fire continues to have a steady head and head, with a good business strategy in the first quarter of 2026. Key operational strategies include the “Lost Treasure” campaign, the Ramadan electric competition in 2026, and the high-intensity connection with the “Counter of Curse ” , which helped to sustain the steady growth of in-house purchases during the hot season.
Wise games have become key engines of growth. The Sweet Legend kept its fourth, and Dream Garden and Royal Match climbed to ninth and tenth respectively. The increase of 78 per cent over the same year in the income of the puzzle game is the second largest type of income after the shooting type and reflects the increased liquidity of the Indian leisure game market. In the strategy game, Kingshot has had a breakthrough since its launch in February 2025. Profit growth was achieved through frequent online activities, which introduced thematic incentives and progress-based incentives to encourage continued participation by players. Kingshot is now the top ten regulars of the Indian strategic game, reflecting the role of sustained localization in sustaining income growth. In the first quarter of 2026, Indian mobile market revenue grew steadily in a more mature and competitive environment, while non-play applications achieved a stronger 44 per cent increase, highlighting the continuing shift towards tool- and service-driven spending. This differentiation indicates that the mobile market in India is gradually moving from a phase of growth driven by size to a phase of greater participation and realization efficiency, and that non-play categories are increasingly driving income growth.
