The mobile gaming industry is growing rapidly around the world, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Indonesia, for example, leads the industry in Southeast Asia. Let’s take a brief look at Indonesia’s download and revenue growth in 2024. According to SensorTower analysis, mobile game downloads in Indonesia have grown significantly — by 10% — from January to August.
Indonesia is an Asia-Pacific country with a sizeable population of 270 million people. The Asia-Pacific region currently accounts for 53% of all gamers worldwide. Furthermore, NEWZOO data projects that there will be 2,848 million mobile gamers in 2024.
A significant number of players — 1,809 million — come from Central and Southeast Asian countries.
According to NEWZOO research, Indonesia ranks fourth in the “Global Gamer Study”. This latest analysis was conducted by the Statista Research Department in February 2025. It describes the current situation and changes in Indonesia’s mobile gaming segment. There are 76.92 million users in the Indonesian mobile market.
In short, we can clearly envision the popularity of mobile games in Indonesia. This raises the question of why they are so popular. Let’s look at the main reasons.
Indonesia is a modern, technology-friendly country. Digital adoption is growing rapidly, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for people to live without it. Smartphones are able to integrate features that are highly convenient for users. They function as personal assistants, offering valuable and entertaining features. The widespread adoption of smartphones in Indonesia is driven by their affordability, variety of choices, and access to Asian brands. Oppo, Xiaomi, Realme, and Vivo, for example, are the leading smartphone vendor brands in Indonesia. Prices range from IDR 1,460,700 to IDR 6,492,000, allowing people to choose the right device for them. The average price of a PC is IDR 21,060,200, while consoles start from IDR 1,700,800. When comparing the prices of smartphones, consoles, and PCs in Indonesia, it is clear that PCs and consoles are more expensive than smartphones. As a result, many Indonesian gamers prefer to play mobile games exclusively.
The internet in Indonesia is growing rapidly and efficiently. Indonesia is one of the most advanced countries with the largest number of internet users. Recent studies show that Indonesia ranks fourth in terms of digital population.
The rise in mobile game downloads reflects a shift in user preferences in Indonesia, driven by several factors including high internet penetration, the widespread availability of 4G and 5G trials, a robust mobile app ecosystem, and the growth of user-generated content reaching an ever-expanding audience across the country.
The first steps in this direction were taken in 2018 by President Joko Widodo, who recognised the enormous potential of the digital industry. The implementation of digital optimisation plays a crucial role in economic wellbeing. The government therefore set goals to accelerate digital transformation in the manufacturing sector, including food, textiles, automotive, chemicals, and electronics. As mentioned, electronic devices have expanded their functions and contributed to the success of the sophisticated gaming industry.
In 2024, President Joko Widodo issued Presidential Regulation No. 19, aimed at accelerating and strengthening the national gaming industry ecosystem. Here is a brief look at the key provisions of the regulation:
The Indonesian gaming industry — mobile gaming in particular — is growing, and the government is aware of its full potential.
Indonesia’s young generation enthusiastically embraces mobile gaming, which has long evolved from a hobby into a lifestyle. Empowered by affordable smartphones and fast internet, Indonesian gamers are fully immersed in virtual worlds. According to a study by Deloitte, the majority of Indonesian gamers belong to Generation Z, numbering 34–35 million people, most of whom are students and new workers. This demographic group has a unique opportunity to express themselves and create new identities through gaming, as they can customise characters, skins, and weapons to match their preferences.
In addition, mobile gaming encourages social interaction and helps foster a sense of community and closeness among eSports players. The growth of eSports and competitive gaming also offers unique opportunities for young people to develop skills and build careers in this thriving industry. Overall, these factors contribute to the popularity of mobile gaming among young gamers.
This article has explored the reasons behind the popularity of the mobile gaming industry in Indonesia. Here are the key points:
In short, the mobile gaming industry is growing rapidly worldwide, and Indonesia is working hard to achieve even better results.
If you are planning to host a webinar, game stream, or online tournament in Indonesia, our Villo Studio is ready to help. We offer a fully equipped space for streaming, filmmaking, and podcasting — right here in Bali.
👉 Visit our website or follow us on Instagram to learn more.
