Mobile game monetization is the process of earning money from your mobile game. There are different ways you can make money from games and apps, ranging from displaying affiliate ads to selling in-game products and consumables. The goal of showing ads in a game is to ensure the developers cover their development costs and, ultimately, start making money. Depending on your strategy, it can take as little as a few months or several years before you start seeing the ROI for your mobile game. This is why most developers work with game consulting services that can use the best industry practices to ensure the period before a game becomes profitable is as short as possible.

You should consider your game monetization strategy in the early stages of development. This will make the entire process easier as you already have a solid structure in place and build into the game’s mechanic. The revenue strategy you choose can affect the gameplay, levels, features, and other aspects of the experience.

There are various mobile game monetization models to consider, including in-app ads and purchases, subscriptions, one-time payments, and more. The type of the game or app your making will vastly influence the best revenue model for you. Monetization should always enhance your users' experience, and not deter them from using your game or app.

While developers have several strategies to choose from, in-app advertising has proven to be the most popular game monetization strategy in 2022. In-app advertising accounts for 20% of mobile game revenue. This is mainly because not all users can afford to pay for various features like in-game consumables and cosmetic items. Mobile ads benefits players, developers, and advertisers alike. Players can continue enjoying their experience for free. Developers can earn revenue to cover their costs and keep producing quality content. Finally, advertisers have a chance to reach new audiences.

Many developers make the mistake of not considering mobile app game monetization until the end of the development process. If you want to develop an effective ad monetization strategy, you need to plan it out in the early stages or hire a professional service to help create one. Game monetization may affect certain aspects of the gameplay, and many of the game’s features and strategies will center around it. Therefore, you need to consider an optimal ad strategy as soon as you start development to ensure your game revenue model and gameplay complement each other.

Ad networks are a direct link between the game and the advertisers. They help advertisers reach their ideal audience and help developers make money from their games. There are many ad networks for mobile games to choose from, and selecting the best ones is based on several factors, including their rates, targeting options, ad formats, high eCPMs, and more. Therefore, it’s almost impossible to determine which mobile ad network is the best without knowing the type of game you are developing, your target audience, game monetization model, and other factors.

Mobile gaming is one of the fastest-growing entertainment industries, currently worth over $93.2 billion and accounting for 52% of the global market. The games that rank in the top 50 earn just under $50,000 daily, with the top 5 games earning a staggering $750,000 per day. Mobile game ads make up 56% of that revenue for casual games. In 2023, the total number of mobile game downloads was 88 billion, while consumer spend was $107.3B. Mobile game revenue accounted for 66% of total App Store revenue in the same year. Players are expected to spend $138 billion by 2025. Google Play generates more revenue than iOS, which might do with ad monetization with and without IDFA. The most popular mobile genre games are puzzle games, casino games, and RPGs.