15 Top Chinese Mobile Games Played In China

Top Chinese mobile games

China commands quite a large population that is interested in all the top Chinese mobile games. It is also among the biggest manufacturers of mobile phones and games. The interest in gaming is hence mutual. It has published a large number of mobile games that are played in and out of China. The market for these games is celebrated largely in the country by the citizens. I spent half a year traveling in China during 2018 and was lucky enough to meet other gamers in the country. I had visited some Chinese internet cafes and brought along a China interpreter friend to help with any language barriers with players. Computer games were very popular, but what I noticed is an addiction to mobile games being played. After being introduced to some of the games I became addicted to them. I put together this list of 15 of the top Chinese mobile games being played in China.

#1 - Honor of Kings

Honor of Kings is a highly popular mobile MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) game developed by Tencent Games. Released in 2015, it is one of the top-grossing and most-played mobile games in China. In Honor of Kings, players form teams and compete in 5v5 battles on a map divided into lanes. The objective is to destroy the enemy’s base while defending your own. Each player selects a hero with unique abilities and roles, such as tank, assassin, or mage, and collaborates with teammates to achieve strategic goals, secure objectives, and defeat opponents. The game is known for its deep strategic gameplay, diverse hero roster, and frequent updates that introduce new content and balance adjustments. The scale is hard to overstate: it has been the world’s highest-grossing mobile game for four years running, clearing $1.68 billion in 2025 alone. Since June 2024 Tencent has published Honor of Kings itself worldwide; its older international cousin, Arena of Valor, now runs separately in Southeast Asia.

#2 - PUBG Mobile

Also known as “Game for Peace” in China, PUBG Mobile is a popular battle royale mobile game developed and published by Tencent Games. Launched in 2019 as a rebranded version of the global hit PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), the game is designed to comply with Chinese government regulations. In PUBG Mobile, players are dropped onto a large island where they must scavenge for weapons, equipment, and supplies while eliminating other players. The goal is to be the last person or team standing. The game is known for its intense, fast-paced gameplay, realistic graphics, and a variety of game modes that keep players engaged. Game for Peace maintains the core mechanics of the original PUBG but with toned-down violence and patriotic elements, making it more suitable for the Chinese market. Since its release, it has become one of the top-grossing mobile games in China, with a massive player base and regular updates that introduce new content and features.

#3 - Genshin Impact

Genshin Impact is an open-world action RPG developed by the Chinese company miHoYo, released in September 2020. The game quickly gained global popularity for its expansive, beautifully crafted world of Teyvat, which players can explore freely. In Genshin Impact, players assume the role of the “Traveler,” who embarks on a quest to find their lost sibling while unraveling the mysteries of Teyvat. The game features a diverse cast of characters, each with unique elemental abilities and weapons. Combat involves a dynamic system where players can switch between characters and combine different elemental attacks to defeat enemies. The game’s gacha system allows players to obtain new characters and weapons. With its rich storyline and free-to-play model, Genshin Impact became a global success and proved a Chinese studio could set the technical bar for the whole genre. Its revenue has cooled from the 2022 peak as players spread across the studio’s newer titles, but 15 million people were still playing every month in mid-2025.

#4 - Crossfire

Crossfire is a popular first-person shooter (FPS) game developed by South Korean company Smilegate and published in China by Tencent Games. Originally launched in 2007, Crossfire has become one of the most played online FPS games in the world, particularly in China, where it has a massive player base. The game features two mercenary factions, the Black List and Global Risk, who battle each other in various game modes, including Team Deathmatch, Search and Destroy, and Free-for-All. Crossfire is known for its fast-paced gameplay, wide variety of weapons, and diverse maps that offer different tactical challenges. One of the game’s standout features is its “Ghost Mode,” where one team is invisible and armed only with melee weapons, adding a unique twist to traditional FPS gameplay. Crossfire has also spawned a mobile version, Crossfire: Legends, and inspired a range of media adaptations, including a television series and an upcoming film. Despite its age, Crossfire remains a staple in the FPS genre, especially in the Asian gaming market, where it continues to enjoy significant popularity and competitive play.

#5 - Fantasy Westward Journey

Fantasy Westward Journey is a popular MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) developed and published by NetEase, one of China’s leading gaming companies. The game, first released in 2004, is inspired by the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, and it has since become one of China’s most enduring and beloved online games. Set in a richly detailed world rooted in Chinese mythology, Fantasy Westward Journey allows players to choose from various character classes and races, each with unique abilities. The game features turn-based combat, where players can team up with others to complete quests, battle monsters, and engage in large-scale PvP (Player vs. Player) battles. Fantasy Westward Journey is particularly known for its vibrant art style, deep social systems, and extensive customization options. Over the years, it has consistently ranked among the top MMORPGs in China, maintaining a loyal player base. The game has also spawned a successful mobile version, which continues to attract new players with its nostalgic appeal and engaging gameplay.

#6 - Identity V

Identity V (第五人格) is an asymmetrical horror mobile game developed by NetEase Games. Released in 2018, the game quickly gained popularity for its unique blend of survival horror and Gothic aesthetics. In Identity V, players are divided into two roles: one Hunter and four Survivors. The Hunter’s goal is to capture and eliminate the Survivors, while the Survivors must work together to decode cipher machines, open the exit gates, and escape. Each role offers a different gameplay experience, with Survivors relying on teamwork and stealth, and the Hunter using powers to track and capture them. The game is set in a dark, Victorian-inspired world, with a storyline that unfolds through various characters and events. Identity V is praised for its strategic depth, immersive atmosphere, and a rich backstory that enhances the horror experience. It’s one of the leading titles in the Chinese mobile gaming scene and has a strong fanbase globally, particularly in the eSports community.

#7 - Eggy Party

Eggy Party (蛋仔派对) is NetEase’s candy-colored party royale, released at the end of 2022 and quickly one of the most-downloaded games in China. Rounds play like a game show: up to 32 wobbling egg characters bounce through obstacle courses and the last egg standing wins. The real engine of its success is user-generated content. Players build and share their own maps by the million, so the game never runs dry, and a round is short enough to fit a subway ride. It has passed 500 million registered players, with lifetime spending beyond $750 million by the end of 2025, and among younger Chinese players it works less like a hardcore game and more like a place to hang out.

#8 - Honkai: Star Rail

Honkai: Star Rail is the turn-based space-fantasy RPG from HoYoverse, the studio behind Genshin Impact, released in April 2023. Players ride the Astral Express between worlds, collecting characters and slotting them into four-person teams for battles that reward elemental combos and careful sequencing rather than reflexes. It shares Genshin’s gacha model and production polish but respects your time more: fights can be automated, and the content is built for shorter sessions. That balance made it an immediate hit in China and abroad, earning around $423 million in 2025, and its writing, which swings between space opera melodrama and genuinely funny detours, has built one of the most active fan communities in Chinese gaming.

#9 - Onmyoji

Onmyoji is a popular mobile RPG developed by NetEase Games, first released in 2016. Set in a mythical world inspired by Japanese folklore, the game combines elements of strategy, adventure, and fantasy. In Onmyoji, players assume the role of an Onmyoji, a practitioner of traditional Japanese esoteric arts, who summons and commands Shikigami, powerful spirit beings, to battle enemies. The game features turn-based combat where players use these Shikigami to form strategic teams and participate in various game modes, including story-driven quests, PvP battles, and special events. The game is renowned for its beautiful art style, rich lore, and engaging gameplay. Its gacha system allows players to obtain new Shikigami and enhance their abilities, while the deep narrative and immersive world-building keep players engaged. Onmyoji’s cultural moment has passed, its crowds are a fraction of the 2017 peak, but it still runs, still gets events, and its art direction has aged better than most games of its era.

#10 - Wuthering Waves

Wuthering Waves is an open-world action RPG from Kuro Games, released in May 2024 and widely read as the first serious domestic challenger to Genshin Impact. Set on a post-apocalyptic world called Solaris-3, it leans harder into combat than its rival: dodges, parries and swappable “Echo” abilities harvested from defeated monsters give fights a faster, more technical feel. Exploration is smoother too, with grappling and wall-running that turn the map into a playground rather than a hike. The game crossed $100 million on mobile within months of launch and was still posting some of the strongest monthly revenue among Chinese mobile games into 2026. Where Genshin paces itself, Wuthering Waves plays faster and meaner, and a lot of lapsed Genshin players live here now.

#11 - Clash of Clans

Clash of Clans is a widely popular mobile strategy game developed and published by Supercell, the Finnish studio that has been majority-owned by China’s Tencent since 2016 (the headquarters stayed in Helsinki). Released in 2012, the game has garnered a large, dedicated player base worldwide. In Clash of Clans, players build and upgrade their own villages, train armies, and raid other players’ villages for resources. The gameplay revolves around strategic base-building, where players design their defenses to protect their resources from enemy attacks. Players can also join or form clans, participate in clan wars, and engage in cooperative gameplay. The game features various troops, spells, and defenses, allowing players to create diverse strategies for both offense and defense. Clash of Clans is known for its engaging gameplay, frequent updates, and the social aspects of clan interaction. Its success has led to the development of spin-offs and has cemented its place as a major title in the mobile gaming industry.

#12 - Mini World

Mini World is a sandbox game developed by Miniwan Tech, known for its creative and open-ended gameplay. Released in 2015, it offers a similar experience to Minecraft, allowing players to build and explore their own virtual worlds. In Mini World, players can gather resources, craft items, and create structures within a block-based environment. The game features a variety of modes, including survival, creative, and adventure, giving players the freedom to shape their worlds in imaginative ways. It supports multiplayer functionality, allowing players to collaborate or compete with friends in shared worlds. The game is praised for its simple controls, extensive building options, and vibrant graphics. Mini World also includes community features such as sharing creations and participating in events, and the formula keeps working: by mid-2025 it counted over a billion registered users and roughly 100 million monthly players, most of them young.

#13 - Knives Out

Knives Out is a battle royale game developed by NetEase Games, first released in 2017. Set in a vast, open world, the game challenges players to be the last one standing among numerous competitors. In Knives Out, players parachute onto an island where they must scavenge for weapons, gear, and supplies while avoiding deadly hazards and other players. The game features a shrinking play area, forcing players into closer proximity and intensifying the competition as the match progresses. Players can form teams or go solo, and the game includes various modes and events to keep the gameplay fresh. Knives Out is known for its large, detailed maps and diverse environments, which include urban areas, rural landscapes, and varied terrain. Its dynamic gameplay and strategic elements, combined with regular updates and events, contribute to its popularity in the battle royale genre.

#14 - Dungeon Fighter Online

Dungeon Fighter Online is an action RPG developed by Neople and published by Tencent in China. Originally released in 2005 as a PC game, it has been adapted to mobile platforms as well. In Dungeon Fighter Online, players explore dungeons, battle monsters, and complete quests in a side-scrolling beat ‘em up style. The game features a range of character classes, each with unique skills and abilities, allowing players to customize their playstyle. As they progress, players can level up their characters, acquire new equipment, and participate in various PvE and PvP modes. The mobile version of Dungeon Fighter Online retains the fast-paced, combo-driven combat of the original PC game, while offering improved graphics and touch controls. The game is well-regarded for its deep combat mechanics, extensive content, and engaging gameplay. Its pull in China is undimmed: when the rebuilt mobile version launched in May 2024, demand was so heavy that Tencent’s servers buckled within the first hour, and it has run near the top of the charts since.

#15 - Love and Deepspace

Love and Deepspace is the 3D romance game from Papergames that quietly became one of China’s biggest gaming exports. Released in January 2024, it casts the player as a “Deepspace Hunter” who splits her time between sci-fi combat and fully voiced relationships with a small cast of love interests rendered in unusually lavish 3D. The formula sounds niche; the numbers say otherwise. Within about a year it passed 50 million registered players and half a billion dollars in revenue, and its character birthdays get celebrated with billboard takeovers in real Chinese cities. It is the clearest sign yet that Chinese mobile gaming’s global reach now runs well beyond shooters and gacha RPGs, and the game most often named when people talk about where the industry’s money is moving.

Final Consideration

China is one of the world’s biggest producers of mobile games, and more of them ship worldwide in English every year. Tencent and NetEase still publish the lion’s share of these top Chinese mobile games, but the last few years belong to the challengers: HoYoverse, Kuro Games and Papergames all built global hits without either giant. Interested in learning more about traveling in China? Check out our China travel guide for helpful tips when touring the country.