7 Most Downloaded Mobile Game Publishers in Indonesia 2024
As of January 2024, Indonesia stands out in Southeast Asia for having the largest array of games featured on Steam. This prominence has stirred the interest of numerous international game companies, eager to delve into Indonesian gamers' preferences and behaviors, even actively scouting for avenues of partnership and collaboration with local game publishers. If you're one of them, acquainting yourself with the rankings of the most downloaded mobile game publishers in Indonesia becomes not just advisable, but imperative.
It’s crucial for you to know that Indonesia ranks as the third largest mobile gaming market, with a total of 3.37 billion downloads from Google Play in 2022. Indonesian gamers reportedly spent $288 million on in-game purchases in mobile games.
According to a Statista research report, the total value of Indonesia's gaming market is expected to reach $505.4 billion, with projections suggesting it will rise to $649.8 billion by 2027, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 8.74%. At the outset of 2024, Indonesia clinched the title of the leading contributor of games on the Steam platform across Southeast Asia.
This recognition comes from data provided by VirtualSEA, a prestigious curator on Steam. By January 2024, independent Indonesian developers had launched an impressive tally of 256 games on the platform.
Source: Statista
7 Most Downloaded Mobile Game Publishers in Indonesia and Their Best Games
Here's some intriguing information about the most downloaded mobile game publisher in Indonesia that's worth exploring:
1. Maleo, The Biggest Indonesian Game Publisher
Source: YouTube / eDroid Gaming
Maleo, an Indonesian-based video game development company, specializes in crafting simulation games. Founded by a passionate team of developers, Maleo is committed to delivering realistic and engaging gaming experiences.
By integrating stunning graphics, precise vehicle models, and meticulously detailed environments, they offer players a genuine bus-driving simulation. Furthermore, Maleo consistently breathes new life into their game by rolling out fresh features, vehicles, routes, and challenges, ensuring the gameplay remains exciting and appealing.
Maleo is the creator behind the popular titles Bus Simulator Indonesia and Bus Telolet Maker. Together, these two mobile games have racked up over 139.49 million downloads.
Bus Simulator Indonesia (BUSSID)
Maleo’s BUSSID is not the pioneer nor the sole contender in the bus-driving simulation game genre. Searching for "bus simulation" in the Play Store or App Store will reveal a host of similar games. Yet, out of the sea of bus simulator games on Google Play Store, Bus Simulator Indonesia, or BUSSID, stands out as the top pick and has captured the hearts of bus simulator fans far and wide.
To secure its place as the top choice among Indonesian bus enthusiasts, this app ensures it incorporates authentic Indonesian bus routes and terminals. This not only enhances players' familiarity with local routes and buses but also boosts their knowledge of the Indonesian transit system.
Furthermore, the game's high-quality graphics and absence of intrusive ads contribute to its widespread popularity. Additionally, players can enjoy the convenience of online and automatic game data saving within the app.
Owing to its massive appeal among millions of players from around the globe, the game boasts a stellar 4 out of 5 stars on both Google Play Store and App Store, with over 100 million downloads.
Bus Telolet Maker
Are you familiar with the "Om Telolet Om" craze, where kids shout at bus drivers to sound their horns when they drive by? This trend caught the world's attention in 2016 and has made a comeback on social media platforms.
Tied to this trend is Maleo's Bus Telolet Maker, an exceptional tool crafted for BUSSID game enthusiasts. The application enables users to craft their distinctive telolet sounds, which they can integrate and use in virtual buses.
2. Tazkan Games, an Indie Mobile Game Publisher in Indonesia
Source: Youtube / Pct Gaming iOS Android Gameplays
Tazkan Games is an independent game developer located in Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia which was founded in 2015. Their Android games have garnered an estimated 100 million downloads collectively. Among their releases on Google Play, Drop Stack Ball - Helix Crash boasts 100 million downloads, while Ring Pipe - Slice Shape Corn follows closely with 1 million downloads. Collectively, their portfolio comprises 9 mobile games that have amassed over 115.09 million downloads.
3. LOCOS, a Mobile Game Publisher in Indonesia Specializes in Simulation Games
Source: Youtube / Easy Time
In a bid to seize the moment, Locos Creative developers have also unleashed several simulator games, including:
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Telolet Bus Driving 3D: A game falling under the endless arcade driving category, boasting 3D graphics and lifelike steering controls. It not only indulges telolet enthusiasts with its delightful honking but also its immersive simulation elements.
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Mobile Bus Simulator: Among Indonesia's most popular bus simulator games alongside BUSSID, with over 50 million downloads on the Google Play Store, this game offers a virtual bus driver experience with a variety of vehicles, realistic maps, bus customization options, passenger animations, and other amazing features.
Combined, these two mobile games have been downloaded over 105.84 million times, solidifying Locos Creative as the fifth most downloaded mobile game publisher in Indonesia.
4. IDBS Studio, Indonesian Simulation Game Developer
Youtube / eDroid Gaming Not everyone has access to do what they play in the real world. Additionally, some simply want to experience being someone else (in simulation) without facing the consequences of any mistakes made. Recognizing this phenomenon, numerous mobile game developers in Indonesia have crafted simulation games infused with Indonesian essence, and IDBS Studio is among them. With a lineup of 12 mobile games, they've collectively amassed over 99.15 million downloads. Notably, some of their most favored titles include:
IDBS Truck Simulator
As of the time of writing this article, IDBS Truck Simulator has been downloaded more than 10 million times, indicating its significant popularity. Additionally, users have the option to customize the appearance of the IDBS Truck Simulator to resemble the trucks commonly seen on the streets.
Bus Simulator X
Released just last year, IDBS introduced a multiplayer bus simulator game. This game highlights its multiplayer feature, allowing fellow bus simulation enthusiasts to come together and drive buses collectively. Due to its widespread popularity, this IDBS Studio hit has successfully captivated the interest of simulator game enthusiasts in Indonesia, garnering over 1 million downloads and a 4.2 Google Play rating.
5. Minimo, the Top Mobile Racing Game Publisher in Indonesia
Located in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta, this mobile game publisher specializes in racing games. Their two offerings, Mini Racing Adventures and Extreme Racing Adventure have collectively garnered more than 46.32 million downloads, marking their strong presence in the gaming scene.
Mini Racing Adventures
Mini Racing Adventures is a 3D side-scrolling racing game that boasts over 10 million downloads on both the Play Store and App Store. It provides robust drag racing action along with challenging obstacle courses enriched with several engaging game modes.
The game exudes a high-end feel with its attention to small details, such as trees made of cardboard, hand-waving animations, and playful taunts directed at competitors passed during races, suggesting it might have been crafted by a major developer team. This makes Mini Racing Adventures stand out with its lively and colorful presentation.
Extreme Racing Adventure
As specialists in racing games, Minimo, a prominent mobile game publisher in Indonesia, has rolled out Extreme Racing Adventure, following the wildly successful Mini Racing Adventure. Designed for both Android and iOS, this game is ideal for enthusiasts of racing games who are looking for more immersive and engaging challenges.
6. Tebak Gambar, an Independent Game Publisher Based in Jakarta
"Tebak Gambar" stands out as a distinctive success story within Indonesia’s mobile gaming sector. Developed by Kardus Imajinasi, this puzzle game has achieved over 18 million downloads and has consistently been a top contender in the Google Play Store's puzzle category since its 2014 debut.
Its influence is so significant that it has prompted other game companies to produce similarly patterned content, largely due to its clean and straightforward interface that plays seamlessly without any hitches. Building on "Tebak Gambar's" popularity, Kardus Imajinasi, whose team is spread across Jakarta and Surabaya, unveiled another intriguing puzzle game in 2017 called DET: Solve the Mystery, which introduces an element of mystery, elevating the puzzle-solving experience with its engaging challenges.
7. Own Games, a Funniest Mobile Game Publisher in Indonesia
Based in Bandung, Own Games is a game development studio established by Eldwin Viriya, a graduate of UNPAR's Computer Science Engineering program. Own Games was selected by Google as one of the 24 indie game developers across Asia Pacific.
This enterprise isn't exactly a newcomer to Indonesia’s gaming scene. Active since 2013, they've become one of the foremost game development companies in the country, known for creating and releasing several successful mobile games that collectively boast millions of downloads. On the Android platform alone, they have 35 mobile games that have been downloaded more than 32.58 million times in total.
Among their hit games is Tahu Bulat, a straightforward business management simulator that features the popular Indonesian snack, round tofu, as its central theme. The game is tailored for Android smartphones and utilizes a clicker gameplay style, making it very accessible and easy to play.
Despite its simplicity, the game offers deep and addictive content, which has earned rave reviews and a robust following online, with over 11 million downloads. The game's design is simple and minimalistic but thoroughly engaging, with graphics that appeal particularly to children in Indonesia. Tahu Bulat's success is evident; it garners over 650,000 daily players and rapidly claimed the top spot in both the "Trending Game" and "Top Free Game" categories under Simulation Games on the Google Play Store in Indonesia.
A Nutshell
Based on the information provided, we can deduce that mobile game publishers in Indonesia have carved out significant popularity and influence in the gaming sector. They've crafted highly successful games that have attracted millions of downloads both locally and internationally. These games often weave in local cultural elements, adding a distinctive touch that not only bolsters cultural identity but also boosts local market appeal.
Well, if you're aiming to extend your company’s footprint sustainably into the Indonesian game market, seasoned Indonesian game localization services are essential. Consider using Digital Trans-Asia, a top-tier and authentic localization for Southeast Asia, including Indonesia.