Some of mobile gaming’s biggest earners cost nothing to download. These top-grossing mobile games offer their main experience for free, so millions of players can join without paying an entry fee. Their revenue comes from optional extras such as skins, battle passes, energy, boosters, and event bundles.
The scale of this free-to-play model is huge. Sensor Tower reports that players spent $6.6 billion on mobile games through Google Play and the App Store in July 2026. Yet every game below can be started for free, whether you prefer competitive battles, social experiences, puzzles, or strategy.
10 Top-Grossing Mobile Games You Can Start for Free
Here are 10 top-grossing mobile games that you can download and start playing for free.
1. Honor of Kings
Honor of Kings gives every player access to its competitive 5v5 MOBA battles. You can choose heroes, learn team roles, and climb the ranks without buying power. Revenue instead comes from character skins, crossovers such as the DAN DA DAN event, and seasonal content. That fair-to-win structure supports a vast Chinese audience and helped the game lead the latest monthly chart.
- Developer/Publisher: TiMi Studio Group / Tencent Games in China and Level Infinite globally
- Platforms: Android, iOS, and HarmonyOS in China
- Genre: MOBA
- Mobile Release Date: November 26, 2015 in China; June 20, 2024 globally
- Estimated H1 2026 Revenue: About $1 billion
2. Roblox
Roblox is a platform filled with games and social spaces that its community creates. Most experiences are free to enter, which makes it easy to move from an obstacle course to an anime RPG such as Shindo Life 2 in seconds. Robux purchases, avatar items, passes, and private servers turn that huge audience into steady mobile revenue.
- Developer/Publisher: Roblox Corporation
- Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Xbox, PlayStation, and Meta Quest
- Genre: User-generated gaming adventure
- Mobile Release Date: December 11, 2012 on iOS; July 16, 2014 on Android
- Estimated H1 2026 Revenue: $625 million
3. Gossip Harbor®: Merge & Story
Gossip Harbor®: Merge & Story pairs a relaxed merge-2 puzzle loop with an ongoing mystery. You combine ingredients, serve café customers, renovate the restaurant, and follow Quinn as she untangles family drama and sabotage. Energy limits set the pace for free players, while the story and frequent events create plenty of reasons to return.
- Developer/Publisher: Microfun Limited
- Platforms: Android and iOS
- Genre: Merge-2 puzzle and narrative simulation
- Mobile Release Date: July 2022
- Estimated H1 2026 Revenue: $626 million
4. PUBG MOBILE
PUBG MOBILE provides its full battle royale foundation without an upfront charge. Classic mode drops up to 100 players onto a large map, while Arena, Metro Royale, and World of Wonder add faster or more creative alternatives. Revenue largely comes from outfits, weapon finishes, emotes, crates, and Royale Pass seasons. Players can also pick up occasional free items through PUBG MOBILE redeem codes.
- Developer/Publisher: LightSpeed Studios and PUBG Studios / Level Infinite and KRAFTON
- Platforms: Android and iOS
- Genre: Action, Battle royale shooter
- Mobile Release Date: March 19, 2018
- Estimated H1 2026 Revenue: $676 million
5. Pokémon GO
Pokémon GO turns real locations into places to catch creatures, spin PokéStops, and battle in raids. The basic adventure remains open to everyone, while PokéCoins, storage upgrades, incubators, raid passes, and event tickets offer convenience or extra activities. Some extra items can also come from Pokémon GO redeem codes, which are often connected to events and partnerships. Its tenth-anniversary celebrations and GO Fest pushed the game back into the top five in July.
- Developer/Publisher: Pokémon GO team / Scopely Explore, Inc.
- Platforms: Android and iOS
- Genre: Augmented-reality, location-based adventure
- Mobile Release Date: July 6, 2016
- Estimated H1 2026 Revenue: About $205 million
6. Royal Match
Royal Match asks you to clear colorful match-3 boards and restore King Robert’s castle. The game stands out because it has no in-game advertisements, and levels can also be played offline. Optional coins, boosters, lives, and extra moves support the business, yet its polished puzzles remain accessible without a purchase.
- Developer/Publisher: Dream Games, Ltd.
- Platforms: Android and iOS
- Genre: Match-3 puzzle
- Mobile Release Date: February 25, 2021
- Estimated H1 2026 Revenue: $680 million
7. Whiteout Survival
Whiteout Survival mixes approachable settlement visuals with demanding 4X strategy. Your city grows around a giant furnace that protects survivors from deadly cold, and alliances become vital as nearby threats grow. Free players can build, recruit heroes, and join large events, while paid resources speed up construction and competitive growth. Whiteout Survival redeem codes can also provide free resources for upgrades and hero progression.
- Developer/Publisher: Century Games PTE. LTD.
- Platforms: Android and iOS
- Genre: 4X survival strategy and city building
- Mobile Release Date: February 12, 2023
- Estimated H1 2026 Revenue: $723 million
8. MONOPOLY GO!
MONOPOLY GO! turns the familiar board game into a quick daily routine built around dice rolls, landmark upgrades, tournaments, and sticker albums. Free dice refill over time, so anyone can keep progressing with patience. Limited events and social attacks add urgency, which helps optional dice packs and bundles drive strong spending.
- Developer/Publisher: Scopely
- Platforms: Android and iOS
- Genre: Casual digital board game
- Mobile Release Date: April 11, 2023
- Estimated H1 2026 Revenue: $604 million
9. Candy Crush Saga
Candy Crush Saga still turns a simple idea into a dependable habit more than a decade after launch. The main level path is free, with thousands of boards that introduce new obstacles and combinations at a steady pace. Gold Bars, boosters, extra moves, and lives help players clear stubborn stages faster.
- Developer/Publisher: King, part of Microsoft
- Platforms: Android, iOS, and Windows
- Genre: Match-3 puzzle
- Mobile Release Date: November 14, 2012 on iOS; December 14, 2012 on Android
- Estimated H1 2026 Revenue: $583 million
10. Kingshot
Kingshot is the newest release on this list, yet it has already joined mobile gaming’s highest earners. Its tower-defence opening leads into a medieval 4X campaign with kingdom construction, heroes, research, alliances, and PvP conflict. The full progression loop is free, while paid packs shorten timers and accelerate army growth.
- Developer/Publisher: Century Games PTE. LTD.
- Platforms: Android and iOS
- Genre: 4X strategy, idle survival, and tower defence
- Mobile Release Date: February 22, 2025
- Estimated H1 2026 Revenue: $545 million
Key Takeaway: Choose a Game That Fits Your Playstyle
Top-grossing can still mean genuinely playable for free. Each game on this list gives you enough access to understand its main loop before you spend anything. However, your experience may change once energy limits, upgrade timers, or difficult levels begin to slow your progress.
Start with the game that fits your usual playstyle and give it a few days. If the free progression remains enjoyable, you have found a game worth keeping. Then, if you consider a purchase, choose something that adds lasting value instead of paying simply to avoid waiting.
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