Nominations open for the Top 50 Mobile Game Makers of 2026

PocketGamer.biz has opened nominations for its 2026 Top 50 Mobile Game Makers list, beginning the process of identifying the developers and publishers that have had the greatest impact on mobile gaming during the last year. The ranking considers factors including the quality and quantity of released games, commercial performance, innovation, cultural impact and future potential.

Developers and publishers of different sizes and from any country can qualify, while middleware providers, ad networks and other service companies are excluded because the list focuses specifically on game makers. Public nominations remain open until August 31, after which final placements will be determined editorially. The completed Top 50 is scheduled to be revealed during Pocket Gamer Connects Nordics in Helsinki on October 20 and 21.

Industry lists of this kind are useful because mobile gaming remains so fragmented geographically. Many commercially successful developers are extremely well known in one market while receiving little mainstream attention elsewhere. The 2026 ranking should provide another snapshot of which studios have adapted most effectively to changing acquisition costs, direct-to-consumer stores and increasingly demanding production expectations.