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Google Play 2017 – What We Can Learn From Google’s Top Trending Games of 2016

December 10th, 2016

Google Play 2017 – What We Can Learn From Google’s Top Trending Games of 2016
David Quinn

by David Quinn

VP of Strategy & Partnerships at Gummicube, Inc.

On December 2, Google announced their top trending apps for 2016. Included were games like Pokémon GO and Clash Royale, as well as apps like Face Changer 2 and Castbox. The popularity of these titles won’t surprise most who work in the apps industry, but Google’s announcement is still worth looking into for the sake of determining trends that have influenced the Google Play market this year – And may continue to do so throughout 2017. For starters, Google’s Top Trending Games of 2016 were:

  1. Pokémon GO
  2. Clash Royale
  3. Traffic Rider
  4. slither.io
  5. Dream League Soccer

Meanwhile, their Top Trending Apps were:

  1. Face Changer 2
  2. Lumyer- Photo & Selfie Editor
  3. Castbox – Podcast Radio Music
  4. Emoji Keyboard Pro
  5. MSQRD

Let’s start with the games. Pokémon GO became the fastest app to reach $600 million in revenue just three short months after its launch in July 2016. The app rode a wave of nostalgia and social media buzz to a massive launch, but that wasn’t the only thing that made it a success. The game was the first major title to use augmented reality to enhance the game experience. Users were asked to go out and catch monsters in the real world, and the unique flavor of the gameplay made it a big hit. Augmented reality isn’t going anywhere in 2017, either. Just look at Google’s own Tango to see that Google Play 2017 will feature more of the AR gameplay that made Pokémon a hit. Clash Royale, meanwhile, shows that real-time strategy games still have room to expand. With strategic online multiplayer games becoming more readily accessible through the mobile market, games like Clash Royale that offer real-time online multiplayer will be more attractive to the gaming market, in a similar way that online multiplayer has evolved the console gaming market. Other games, like Traffic Rider, Dream League Soccer and sliter.io, serve to reassure game developers that arcade action and sports games aren’t going anywhere in 2017. These genres remain immensely popular, if crowded. Expect the usual growth spurts for sports games as the football and basketball seasons hit their peaks next year. Google’s Top Apps, meanwhile, reveal a continued fervor for face changing and enhanced expression. Of the top five, only two (Castbox and Emoji Keyboard Pro) are not related to photos. While these trends show that photography apps remain popular, there are tons of apps in these categories, and your app will need a fun hook to stand out. Face Changer 2 focuses on warping photos into funny facial expressions, while Lumyer has high-quality video effects and MSQRD has a wide array of face stickers. It’s safe to say we’re in for more face changing and video editing in 2017. Google’s Top Trending Apps of 2016 reveal an interesting set of trends that will no doubt carry over into 2017. Look out for the above and more as we welcome in the New Year.

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