Have you ever played this game?
It’s Flappy Bird and, around ten years ago, it was a global phenomenon.
It’s a casual game developed by Vietnamese video game artist and programmer Dong Nguyen, and in 2014, it was earning around $50,000 a day!
Many see this game as the start of Vietnam’s mobile gaming industry.
Today, Vietnam has one of the most flourishing gaming markets in the world, with 35,000 game developers and 400 active studios operating in the country.
Now, let’s go over the latest statistics and trends to help you understand the Vietnamese gaming market better.
- Vietnam is home to over 54 million gamers, with a high smartphone penetration rate.
- The market is projected to reach $1.66 billion in 2025, growing to $2.61 billion by 2030.
- Android accounts for 84% of gaming installs, but iOS users spend more in specific genres.
- Players are young and active: 70% are aged 18-34, and the gender split is still high (63% male, 37% female).
- Top genres include arcade, puzzle, RPG, and simulation, with a strong interest in social and culturally relevant games.
- ARPU is ~$28, with high usage of free-to-play games.
- To succeed: Focus on local culture, hybrid monetization, low-spec optimization.
Market Overview: Mobile Games in Vietnam
After an initial boom, Vietnam’s gaming industry has entered a new phase, defined by maturity, consolidation, and regional influence.
According to Statista, the country’s gaming market is projected to reach $453.94 million in 2025, with an annual growth rate of 9.39%.
This growth is expected to bring the market to a value of $781.74 million by 2030.
After years of constant growth, in 2025, gaming installs in Vietnam have slowed down (AppsFlyer):
- -5% YoY for Android.
- -7% YoY for iOS.
This is also due to the growth of other countries in the APAC region. In 2017, Vietnam held 35% of the installs in the region; by 2025, that share has decreased to 17.7%.
On the other hand, countries like Indonesia and the Philippines have grown by +37% and +19%, respectively (AppsFlyer).
Sensor Tower confirms this trend as well. According to the report State of Mobile 2025, in the last year, there has been a decrease in both IAP revenue and downloads:
- IAP revenue: -4% YoY.
- Downloads: -11% YoY.
Demographics & Player Behavior
The reason why mobile games have boomed in Vietnam is the high smartphone penetration in the country.
In 2024, Vietnam reached an all-time high, with over 84% of the population using smartphones (Vietnam Briefing).
Vietnam also has one of the highest percentages of adult gamers in the world. There are around 54.6 million gamers in the country (Vero), and its total population is 101 million (54.05%).
Let’s compare this percentage with other countries:
- Japan: 55.5 million players in a population of 124 million people (44.7%).
- USA: 188.64 million players in a population of 340.1 million people (55.4%)
- Germany: 37.5 million players in a population of 83.51 million people (44.9%)
These mobile gamers are mostly men (63% vs 37% of female players) and very young. 70% of Vietnamese players are between 18 and 34 years old (iGamingToday).
Regarding the platforms used, the Vietnamese population is Android-first (84% of installs), but iOS is gaining weight (16% of installs).
However, according to Statista, the average ARPU is much lower than in other countries, around $28.15 per user in the mobile gaming sector.
It’s a striking difference if we compare it with other countries:
- Japan has an average ARPU of $140.03.
- The USA has an average ARPU of $215.45.
- Germany has an average ARPU of $179.20.
In general, people in Vietnam tend to go for free-to-play games and aren’t too keen on making in-app purchases.
Top Mobile Game Genres in Vietnam
As of February 2025, among all the games available on Google Play, 4,045 were developed in Vietnam (Statista).
If we look at the most popular games in the country, we notice a preference for mobile gaming experiences that have social elements and local cultural references.
Among the top genres by downloads, there are:
- Arcade
- Simulation
- Puzzle
- RPG
- Lifestyle
Instead, the top-grossing game genres are:
- RPG
- Strategy
- Casino
- Shooter
- Simulation
Now, let’s take a closer look at the top titles.
Most Popular Games in Vietnam (2025)
According to AppMagic data, the top games in Vietnam in 2025 are the following:
By Downloads
- Roblox VN
- Free Fire MAX – Light Fire
- Block Blast!
- Garena RoV: RoV Day
- Trở Về Tuổi Thơ
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
- Talking Tom Gold Run
- Play Together VNG
- Last War: Survival VN
- Tiệm Tạp Hóa Thời Gian
By Revenue
- Free Fire MAX – Light Fire
- Last War: Survival VN
- Garena RoV: RoV Day
- Coin Master
- Rise of Kingdoms
- Roblox VN
- Thời Đại Anh Hùng
- Candy Crush Saga
- PUBG Mobile VN
- Play Together VNG
The data in this section was gathered using the premium version of the AppMagic tool.
Gaming Conferences in Vietnam
Being such a flourishing market, it’s no surprise that Vietnam also hosts several gaming conferences every year, where developers, UA managers and marketers from all over the world gather.
A few examples:
How to Succeed in Vietnam’s Gaming Market
Vietnam’s gaming industry is booming. To succeed here, you need to understand how Vietnamese players think, play, and spend.
Here are a few tips to help you stand out in this market:
Focus on Android, But Don’t Ignore iOS
With 84% of installs happening on Android, this platform should be your top priority for UA and monetization.
However, iOS users tend to spend more, especially in genres like casino, sports, and racing.
In fact, according to AppsFlyer, although the majority of sessions happen on Android, iOS users represent more than 50% of sessions in the sports, racing and casino categories.
So if your game falls into one of these categories, don’t treat iOS as an afterthought.
Test Hybrid Monetization
With a relatively low ARPU and a general interest in free-to-play games, Vietnam is the right region to test hybrid monetization models.
Try to balance in-app advertising, like rewarded advertising, banners or interstitials, with IAPs. However, it’s better to avoid play-to-win mechanics, since they wouldn’t be perceived positively.
Optimize for Performance and Low-Spec Devices
Many Vietnamese players use budget or mid-range smartphones.
Keep your file size small, minimize battery drain, and make sure your game runs smoothly on lower-end devices, otherwise, you’ll lose a big part of your potential audience.
Mobile Games in Vietnam: Final Thoughts
Vietnam’s mobile gaming market can be considered a leading market worldwide.
With millions of active players, rising international influence, and a vibrant developer community, it offers huge opportunities for growth.
Whether you’re a publisher, UA manager, or indie developer, Vietnam is a market worth watching and worth investing in.
