Mobile games account for 87% of gaming in Africa, although the share of console and PC gaming is expected to grow as hardware becomes more affordable and a middle class more open to pay-to-play models emerges.

Africa’s video game market generated more than $2.29 billion in revenue in 2025, fueled largely by the rise of mobile app-based games. The figures come from a report published on February 10 by game studio accelerator SpielFabrique and Xsolla, a payment solutions provider for the gaming industry.

The report, titled State of the Industry: African Video Game Report 2026, shows that the market is growing at an average annual rate of 12.32%, well above the global average of 7.5%.

Egypt leads the continent with $368 million in revenue, followed by Nigeria ($300 million), South Africa ($278 million), and Kenya ($46 million). As in many other sectors, gaming activity is concentrated in major urban centers.

Mobile gaming is the main growth engine. About 87% of African gamers play on smartphones, making mobile the dominant platform across the continent.

PC and console gaming are expanding but remain limited to specific urban segments and higher-income players. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) gaming remain marginal for now.

Cloud gaming is the fastest-growing segment, with an estimated annual growth rate of 14%. It offers an alternative to traditional console gaming, although its expansion depends heavily on reliable internet access. Growth could accelerate as hardware becomes more affordable and as a middle class more open to pay-to-play models emerges.

African developers look beyond the continent

The most popular games in Africa are Candy Crush (10.4%), PUBG (6%), FIFA (2.2%), Dream League Soccer (1.8%), and Temple Run (1.6%).

However, monetization remains a major challenge. Around 90% of Africans do not have access to a credit card or app store credit, limiting in-app purchases and paid downloads.

Google Play remains the main platform for distributing gaming apps across Africa. Apple’s App Store holds a smaller share but remains relevant in more mature markets such as South Africa and Egypt.

The report also highlights the rise of new players in mobile game distribution. Launched in 2023, Gara Store has positioned itself as an Africa-focused digital marketplace. It first targeted French-speaking West Africa before expanding across the continent.

In addition, app stores run by smartphone manufacturers — such as Huawei AppGallery and Samsung Galaxy Store — distribute several games, although their impact varies depending on device type and region. KaiStore, developed for the KaiOS operating system, supports games on basic feature phones. Meanwhile, third-party APK stores remain fragmented and often raise higher concerns around security and user trust.

The report also notes that Africa’s gaming ecosystem is largely made up of early-stage and semi-professional developers, alongside a smaller but growing number of fully professional studios.

Most African game studios prioritize international markets over local audiences to reduce commercial risk. While this cautious strategy has led to some global success stories, it has also slowed the growth of Afrocentric storytelling and increased reliance on foreign consumers for revenue.

Walid Kéfi