The African gaming industry is witnessing record annual revenue growth, recently surging to over $1.8 billion. One of the driving factors behind its unprecedented growth is the mobile gaming sector.
Let’s dive straight in and take a closer look at where Nigeria’s mobile gaming industry ranks across the continent compared to four other market-leading African nations.
Where does the Nigerian mobile gaming market rank among other African markets?
The five leading African nations with the biggest markets that continue to show solid growth signs and the most consistent annual revenue figures are the following:
- South Africa
- Egypt
- Nigeria
- Algeria
- Tunisia
These top five African mobile gaming markets generated the most revenue from in-app purchases in Android and iOS mobile games.
Compared to its South African, Egyptian, Algerian, and Tunisian rivals, Nigeria exhibited the most significant revenue growth, which climbed from around $11.00 million in 2019 to an incredible $60.90 million by the end of last year (2024).
Nigeria has stood out among its peers for its rapid growth in such a short period. This astonishing increase shows how Nigeria’s mobile gaming sector has changed in just five years, which is mainly driven by a constantly evolving digital infrastructure.
In comparison, South Africa, which has a more established and mature mobile gaming market, only showed gradual but steady growth. Tunisia and Algeria’s markets displayed fluctuating growth revenue trends, which highlights shifts in consumer behaviours and other transformative economic pressures.
Is the iGaming industry also showing signs of growth in Nigeria?
The Nigerian iGaming industry is home to a growing number of world-class online casinos, which typically have thousands of computer-generated and live dealer online slots UK players and players in many other major markets also have access to.
More people in Nigeria play at legally permitted online casinos, and many of those players prefer playing on these sites from their iOS or Android smartphones rather than from a desktop computer or laptop.
What are the biggest game development studios in Nigeria?
Nigeria is now home to several major game development studios, some of which include Maliyo Games, Gamsole, and Kuluya. These market-leading companies specialise in the mobile gaming sector and are the biggest players in helping Nigeria grow its gaming scene.
Other notable game development studios that call Nigeria home in 2025 are Evanic Freelancing Studios, Magic Carpet Studios, ChipUp, Kuzcheza, Dimension 11, and SData West Africa Ltd.
What are the most popular mobile games to play in Nigeria in 2025?
The most popular mobile games currently being played across Nigeria in 2025 in the traditional mobile gaming sector are hit titles such as Candy Crush, PUBG Mobile, 8 Ball Pool, Roblox, eFootball, Yalla Ludo, Royal Match, Free Firem EA Sports FC, and Lords Mobile, to name just ten.
In the iGaming sector, some of the most popular computer-generated online slots with high or above-average RTP% (return to player) payout percentage rates are Book of Dead from Play’n GO, Robocop: Cash Collect from Playtech, Big Bass Bonanza from Pragmatic Play and Reel Kingdom, Narcos from NetEnt, and Ancient Fortunes Poseidon: Wow Pot Megaways from Games Global.
To play any of these iGaming titles in Nigeria, you must be at least 18 years old.
Final thoughts
Over the coming years, experts project the gaming market in Nigeria will continue to grow, provided money keeps being spent in all the right places and that it continues to receive foreign investment and local government support.
The gaming industry infrastructure and ecosystem will also rapidly evolve thanks to the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy 2020-30, which aims to assert Nigeria’s position as a major tech hub on the global stage, and key sectors of the digital entertainment industry, including the gaming industry, will massively benefit from initiatives like this.
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