📈 Dungeon & Fighter: Origin DOMINATES as the Worldwide #1 Revenue Game
📈 Dungeon & Fighter: Origin DOMINATES as the Worldwide #1 Revenue Game
D&F Origins aka 地下城与勇士：起源 makes almost twice as much revenue as the #2 game, Honor of Kings
Hello Gamemakers,
We will trial a new data partnership with AppMagic for the next month or two. Based on how things go, we may make a more long-term switchover. Note that there are differences in estimates and rankings between data providers.
One new feature: you can click on any of the charts in this newsletter to go to AppMagic and view some of the data yourself.
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Working with data.ai/SensorTower over the past few years has been great, but let’s also see how this turns out. Hopefully, we can also continue to collaborate with SensorTower on events and content in the future.
As part of this new partnership, we have a few more surprises planned, and hopefully, we’ll roll those out soon.
Stay tuned!
This week, we take a closer look at the #1 Revenue game in the world: “Dungeon and Fighter: Origin,” also known as 地下城与勇士：起源: in China.
Based on estimates, DNF: Origin makes almost twice as much revenue as the #2 Revenue game, Honor of Kings. This game is an absolute beast; check it out!
DNF: Origin Quick Summary:
Global Launch: May 19, 2024 (China Only!)
Cumulative Downloads: 4.3M
Cumulative Net Revenue: $118.4M (only since May 19!)
Read below for more information, including deeper coverage of DNF: Origin!
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Top 10 Mobile Charts (Worldwide, US, and China)
As covered last week, Squad Busters hit #1 top downloads on its launch and continued its #1 run at top downloads last week.
While Garena’s Free Fire is a mainstay in top downloads worldwide, let’s see how long Free Fire MAX can stay there.
Prediction: Within the next 3-4 years, a game catering to Indian audiences will emerge as another mainstay in top downloads, joining Ludo King (#5).
Here's some clarification for those confused by seeing 地下城与勇士：起源: as the #1 revenue game worldwide. Last week, we listed Dungeon & Fighter at #9 top revenue (SensorTower estimate) and Nexon as the publisher. Here, AppMagic lists Tencent as the publisher for 地下城与勇士：起源: (aka Dungeon & Fighter). What’s right? Neople, a subsidiary of Nexon, developed the PC game “Dungeon Fighter Online,” but Tencent developed and published the mobile game, which is currently only available in China.
US loves Supercell games! Two Supercell games in the top downloads… Squad Busters and Brawl Stars.
It looks like Zynga made a big for the Star Wars: Hunters launch. Most of the push seems to have been US-based.
The grudge match between Whiteout Survival and Last War: Survival continues in top revenue!
At #1 downloads, Lost Light is NetEase’s extraction shooter game that has struggled for a while in both downloads and revenue.
At #2 downloads, 野兽领主：新世界 aka “Beast Lord: New World” is an animal kingdom-based 4X game. Yes, you read that right, and that is not a typo, lol.
At #3 downloads, 剑网3无界, aka “Jianwang 3 Unbound,” is a martial arts fantasy MMO ARPG game based on the Jianwang (Swordsman) series.
#4 downloads is D&F: Origin
At #6 downloads, 欢乐钓鱼大师 aka “Happy Fishing Master,” is a fishing sim game that we’ve mentioned here a few times before.
Top 10 Mobile Publishers
As we predicted in this newsletter, Supercell would return to being a top 10 mobile games publisher. Supercell has been on a tear, starting with Brawl Stars (impact of Frank^2) and now Squad Busters. See the crazy revenue growth, especially over the past 9 months, below.
Top 10 Steam Games
Awww yiss! Black Myth: Wukong at #1. I already pre-ordered for PlayStation.
Indies are back! Bodycam, in early access on Steam, hits #6 revenue. The two young French kids, Luca and Leo, aged 17 and 20, should be proud of themselves. The game is an ultra-realistic multiplayer FPS.
In Partnership With
With AppMagic, you can access the same estimates for rankings, downloads, revenue, usage, and more for millions of apps on the App Store and Google Play. You can drill down by platform, device, country, dates, and more! Also, note additional features like LiveOps calendars, see below:
But don’t just take it from me. Here’s the reaction I got from one of our product managers after checking out AppMagic:
“The tool is litttttt!” - Lila Games, Product Manager
Check out AppMagic now:
🔦 Dungeon & Fighter: Origin is the most dominant mobile game in the world by far!
Based on AppMagic estimates, this game earned an average of $5.9M and 202K downloads daily from May 21st through June 9th.
Overview
Title: 地下城与勇士：起源 (Dungeon & Fighter: Origin)
Developer/Publisher: Tencent
IP Owner: Neople, a subsidiary of Nexon
Genre: Action RPG (ARPG), Dungeon Crawler
Platform: Mobile (iOS and Android)
Release Date: May 19, 2024 (China only)
Gameplay
Core Mechanics: The game is based on classic arcade-style beat 'em up gameplay with modern RPG elements. Players navigate through various dungeons, battling hordes of enemies and bosses.
Classes and Characters: Players can choose from multiple classes, each with unique abilities and skill trees. These classes typically include fighters, mages, gunners, and more.
Skills and Combos: Emphasis on performing combos and using various skills to defeat enemies. The game mechanics are designed to be highly responsive and action-packed.
Multiplayer: Includes cooperative gameplay options where players can team up to tackle more challenging dungeons and PvP (Player vs. Player) modes for competitive play.
Market Data (AppMagic)
We have very limited data since the game was released not too long ago, on May 19; however, the revenue from the game so far has been insane!
In addition, the RPD (revenue per download) growth is just crazy. Y-axis = RPD in $:
Reception
Popular Positive Comments and Reviews
Engaging Gameplay and Nostalgia: Many players appreciate the game's engaging and fast-paced combat, which captures the essence of the original Dungeon & Fighter (DnF) experience. The nostalgia factor plays a significant role, with long-time fans of the franchise praising the faithful adaptation of the beloved PC game to mobile. The blend of side-scrolling beat 'em up action and RPG elements continues to be a hit among the community. (PocketGamer.biz) (APKPure.com)
Character Variety and Customization: The diverse range of character classes, each with unique abilities and skill sets, has received positive feedback. Players enjoy the depth of customization and the ability to develop their characters according to their play style. This variety keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging as players experiment with different classes and strategies. (PocketGamer.biz) (South China Morning Post)
High-Quality Graphics and Performance: The game has been praised for its high-quality graphics and smooth performance on mobile devices. The visual appeal, fluid animations, and detailed environments enhance the gaming experience, making it visually enjoyable and technically impressive. (PocketGamer.biz) (APKPure.com)
Critical Comments and Reviews
Monetization and In-App Purchases: A common criticism revolves around the game's monetization strategy. Some players feel that the in-app purchases can be intrusive and that the game may lean towards a pay-to-win model. This concern about balancing free-to-play versus paying players is frequently mentioned in reviews. (PocketGamer.biz) (South China Morning Post)
Connectivity Issues: Several users have reported issues with server connectivity and lag, particularly during peak times. These technical difficulties can disrupt the gaming experience, frustrating players who expect seamless gameplay. (South China Morning Post) (APKPure.com)
Repetitive Content: Despite the game's strengths, some players have noted that the content can become repetitive over time. The dungeon-crawling aspect, while initially exciting, may lose its appeal as players encounter similar challenges and environments repeatedly. This has led to calls for more varied and innovative content updates. (PocketGamer.biz) (APKPure.com)
Outlook
Many people in the games industry previously did not believe any game could come close to the former #1 mobile game, Honor of Kings, based on League of Legends/DOTA. Well, DNF: Origin just blew the game out of the water.
What can we learn from this game, and how will it translate (if at all) to the West?
You all need to study this game and keep an eye out because DNF: Origin just put the world on notice that a new big boy is in town and dominating everybody!