China report puts mini-games back in the spotlight

China’s games market report is one of today’s biggest business reads because it makes mini-games sound much less mini. PocketGamer.biz cites Niko Partners’ Daniel Ahmad saying that around 80% of gamers in China have played mini-games, and that they now account for about 20% of mobile games revenue. That is massive. These are no longer throwaway one-tap distractions hidden inside super apps. They now include deeper RPG, strategy and simulation experiences with in-app purchases and serious monetisation.

For overseas developers, that means WeChat-style mini-program platforms are not a side alley anymore. They are becoming a real entry route into one of gaming’s hardest markets.