According to Qimai Data's recent release of the April 2026 popular games rankings, which include the Top 30 most downloaded games and the Top 30 highest-grossing games, Tencent's new monster-taming open-world game "Roco Kingdom: World" has claimed the number one spot on the download chart. Since its launch in March, the game has maintained strong momentum, and this top ranking demonstrates its solid product strength. Among the Top 30 most downloaded games, six titles are new entries this month. These include "Honor of Kings World," "Echo Ring," and "Three Kingdoms: Hearts United," all of which are newly released mobile games this month.
Among these new games, "Honor of Kings World," a large-scale multiplayer adventure game developed by Tencent's TiMi Studio Group, secured a spot at number six on the chart due to its strong performance. As the first open-world derivative of the national hit mobile game "Honor of Kings," this title represents a significant step in expanding the "content universe" of the Honor of Kings IP. It is the first to present the Kings' Continent in an interactive format. The game launched on PC on April 10th, followed by its mobile release on April 17th, achieving cross-platform data synchronization across PC, iOS, and Android. It is reported that "Honor of Kings World" builds upon the story framework of the Honor of Kings IP, integrating and expanding previously scattered lore around the theme of "miracles." In the game, players assume the role of "Children of Primordial Flow," freely exploring the vast world, meeting heroes, and experiencing a variety of content including combat, puzzles, and cooperation. As an open-world RPG, "Honor of Kings World" emphasizes free exploration and strategic combat, catering to diverse player preferences. Players can explore various distinct regions, unlock hidden quests and treasures, and enjoy thrilling combat in dungeon challenges and boss hunts. Additionally, the game offers lighter lifestyle activities such as home building, fishing, and farming, providing a richer and more varied gaming experience. Notably, the game has moved away from a gacha system, focusing instead on cosmetic purchases, with all core resources affecting game balance available for free, offering players a clear progression path and a fair competitive environment. According to Qimai Data, the game quickly reached the top of the iOS free games chart upon release and maintained that position for multiple consecutive days.
Analyzing the genres of the charted games, action games were the most represented with seven entries, followed by adventure games with six, and role-playing games (RPGs) with four. Among the RPGs, the new title "Echo Ring" made a strong debut at number eleven on the chart this month. Developed by Perfect World's Hotta Studio, "Echo Ring" is a supernatural urban open-world RPG that began its open beta across all platforms on April 23rd, launching simultaneously on PC, Android, iOS, Mac, HarmonyOS, and PS5, with cross-platform account and data synchronization. The game breaks from traditional open-world fantasy or post-apocalyptic settings, instead creating a unique game world set in the near-future supernatural city of "Hetero City," which cleverly blends supernatural phenomena with urban daily life. In terms of gameplay, it combines open-world exploration, combat, and simulation management elements. A key distinguishing feature is its high degree of freedom in urban life simulation. Players can progress through the main story while building their own urban base, experiencing various activities like free driving and vehicle customization, home buying and decoration, and shop management. Thanks to its unique theme and diverse gameplay, the game quickly attracted significant player attention after its open beta. Qimai Data monitoring shows "Echo Ring" topped the iOS free games chart immediately upon release and held the position for several days, becoming a popular product in the April anime-style open-world segment.
Regarding the publishers of the charted games, Tencent has 12 products on the list, while NetEase has 4. On the highest-grossing games chart, the top four positions remained unchanged from the previous month: "Honor of Kings," "Peacekeeper Elite," "Delta Force: Hawk Ops," and "Endless Winter." Looking at new entries on the revenue chart, three games entered the Top 30 in April: "Goose Goose Duck," "BunBun Kingdom," and "Three Kingdoms: Ice Age." In terms of movement within the Top 30, miHoYo's "Honkai: Star Rail" saw a significant rise, jumping 17 places from March to land strongly at number thirteen. On April 22nd, the version 4.2 update "Thus, All Beings Rejoice" for "Honkai: Star Rail" was officially released. As a highly anticipated update for the game's third anniversary, this version introduced new five-star characters like "Silver Wolf LV.999" and "Feiying," along with generous anniversary rewards. Among the new five-star characters, "Silver Wolf LV.999," with its dazzling skill effects and powerful output, became a major focus of player discussion during the anniversary celebration. The update also launched a new storyline, "Dual-Phase Paradise," along with new outfits and scenes, creating a substantial anniversary feast for players. Further boosting the game's popularity, an official collaboration music video with Hatsune Miku was released on April 23rd, followed by a brand collaboration event with the bubble tea chain ChaPanda on April 25th. According to Qimai Data, the game topped the iOS game bestseller chart on the day the events launched, demonstrating its strong market appeal.
Anniversaries are often critical operational milestones for mobile game developers. Many games achieve both positive reputation and revenue growth by strategically planning around player needs during these periods. Another game that celebrated a major milestone and delivered excellent results in April is "I Am the Tycoon" from E-World Interactive. Launched in 2021, "I Am the Tycoon" carved a niche in the simulation management genre with its "ancient-style humorous business" theme. By vividly recreating trade culture, market life, and business wisdom, it quickly became a representative product in its category. Over its five-year run, the game has maintained an active player base and garnered widespread affection, fully demonstrating E-World's long-term operational capabilities. On April 29th this year, "I Am the Tycoon" kicked off its fifth-anniversary celebration, rolling out an anniversary version, massive rewards, and new gameplay features. On May 11th, the game further launched collaboration content with the popular domestic anime "The Great Ruler 2nd Season." This crossover features popular characters like Mu Chen, Luo Li, and the Flame Emperor, introducing limited-time story-based gameplay. Players can undertake adventures with these characters during their business management, experiencing a cross-genre narrative that blends "marketplace merchant" life with "Eastern fantasy" elements. As a flagship product in E-World's simulation management portfolio, "I Am the Tycoon" not only continuously refines its gameplay but also explores innovative ways to express Eastern cultural narratives, building a gaming experience that is both warm and culturally distinctive for players. Through collaborations with cultural institutions, intangible cultural heritage projects, and well-known Chinese-style IPs, the game integrates traditional cultural elements into the player experience in a lighter, more engaging manner. From the business acumen within trade civilizations, to the human relationships in bustling marketplaces, to the growth stories in Eastern fantasy worlds, diverse thematic content is connected under a unified narrative framework of "management and growth." This path, extending from "deep cultivation of product content" to "cultural innovation expression," not only extends the product's lifecycle but also offers new ideas for the long-term development of the simulation management genre.
In the highest-grossing games chart, action games were the most numerous genre with eight entries, followed by simulation and strategy games, each with five entries. Regarding the publishers of the revenue chart games, Tencent has 12 products on the list, while NetEase has 4.
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