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| (Image Source: Pocket Gamer) |
The Pocket Gamer Awards 2024 took centre stage last December 6, 2024 at the iconic Ham Yard Hotel in London, England, bringing together mobile gaming’s brightest stars. Highlighting the depth, dynamism, and diversity of mobile gaming, from innovative indie titles to blockbuster franchises, the event celebrated the achievements of the gaming industry — a $184.4B (184.4 billion dollars) powerhouse that captivates more than a third of the world's population.
Crowning The People’s Champions
“It’s the first-ever definitive representation of what people are actually playing in their spare time and where the fans are, rather than a critic-led showcase of who's who. Long live mobile!" said Pocket Gamer Editor-in-Chief Dann Sullivan. Celebrating 14 years since its first B2C (Business-To-Consumer) awards, this is the fifth year that the Pocket Gamer Awards have been entirely fan-voted. As one of the most anticipated events in mobile gaming, the Pocket Gamer Awards not only recognize the best games of the year but also serve as a barometer for the industry’s future, showcasing emerging trends, fan favorites, and game-changing innovations. With over 255,000 votes cast and more than 200 nominated companies and games, this year's awards showcased the passion and engagement of players worldwide. A total of 20 categories recognized outstanding games, developers, and communities, with the prestigious Mobile Game of the Year going to the Apple Arcade adaption of Bloons TD 6 by Ninja Kiwi — encapsulating the game's enduring appeal since its PC debut and Apple Arcade adaptation. Balatro by Playstack merits special mention as the only game to claim two awards: Best Digital Board Game of the Year as well as Best Mobile Port. Its double victory is emblematic of its dominance across industry awards and cements its status as the standout Indie game of the year. Other notable winners included:
• Best Updated Game of the Year: Brawl Stars by Supercell
• Best Multiplayer Game: Eggy Party by NetEase Games
• Best Game We're Still Playing: Warhammer 40,000: Tacticus by Snowprint
• Best Action Game: Vampire Survivors by Poncle
• Best Puzzle Game: Underground Blossom by Rusty Lake
• Most Anticipated Game: Destiny: Rising by NetEase Games
Co-sponsored by Kabam which is the developer of this year's Best Community awardee Marvel Contest of the Champions, the Pocket Gamer Awards reflect the industry's growing sophistication with winners spanning genres from RPGs and platformers to community-driven titles.
Spotlighting Gaming’s Biggest Trends
The awards spotlighted several key trends shaping mobile gaming. Vampire Survivors and Balatro are noteworthy examples of cross-platform evolution — these titles not only thrived on mobile but also gained traction on multiple platforms, reflecting the industry's shift towards more interconnected, player-driven experiences. The diversity in genres of the winners, ranging from casual hits to core gaming experiences, reflects the broad appeal and continued expansion of the market, whilst the recognition of sustained community engagement in titles like Warhammer 40,000: Tacticus and Marvel Contest of Champions emphasises the importance of long-term player support. Global representation was another key theme with developers from around the world including major players from Asia like NetEase Games and FunPlus, reinforcing mobile gaming’s status as a truly universal phenomenon. Overall, this year's awards highlight mobile gaming’s maturation, with successful titles thriving on strong community engagement and cross-platform accessibility. The presence of both casual and core gaming experiences reflects the thrilling evolution of mobile gaming, showcasing the significance of this dynamic and ever-expanding market.
A Night To Remember
The gala event featured inspiring speeches and lively networking reinforcing its reputation as a key highlight of the gaming calendar, as Industry leaders and Indies celebrated together the creativity and innovation that define mobile gaming today. "The mobile games scene continues to be one of the most vibrant parts of the broader gaming ecosystem, and this year's winners underline that more than ever. In 2020, Genshin Impact's wide recognition showed the whole industry that mobile platforms aren't simply a den of micro-transactions and hypercasual games, but one equally fuelled by innovation and iteration. The Pocket Gamer Awards 2024 has everything: strong licenses and IPs like Warhammer, Tamagotchi and Destiny; a strong presence from mobile-first giants like Kabam, Scopely and Supercell; and a great selection of cross-platform indie hits like Balatro and Vampire Survivors. With changes to the regulations on advertising, and the prevalence of licensing, it was only a matter of time before we saw an Awards that was not just representative of mobile gaming, but gaming on the whole – that's this year," said Sullivan.
Setting The Stage For 2025
As mobile gaming continues to evolve, the Pocket Gamer Awards remain a benchmark for excellence, reflecting the community's voice and celebrating the achievements that resonate most with players. With 2024's edition now concluded, anticipation is already building for next year’s event. Meanwhile, we turn our focus to the exciting events in the Pocket Gamer Connects conference calendar starting with Pocket Gamer Connects London on January 20-21, 2025. This key event will kick off the new year in gaming with the highly coveted UK Top 30 Game Makers List, celebrating the UK’s best developers across all platforms - PC, HTML5, console and XR and mobile.
Congratulations to all the winners, nominees, and everyone who helped make 2024 a remarkable year in mobile gaming. The Pocket Gamer Awards remain a true testament to the power of the gaming community and its ability to shape the future of entertainment. With exciting developments on the horizon, we’re all eager to see what 2025 brings for the industry.
