Apple's List Of Top Apps Shows Significance Of Mobile Gaming

by Mike Futter on May 03, 2013 at 02:57 AM

The countdown to Apple's 50 billionth app sold is winding down quickly. In commemoration of this monumental milestone, the tech giant has released two lists showcasing the most downloading apps of all time. Unsurprisingly, entertainment options dominate.

All but four of the top twenty-five paid apps are (largely casual) games. The category also holds six places on the list of free programs. More specifically, the rosters demonstrate the power of the Angry Birds franchise, which holds the top paid spot and a total of five of the fifty slots.

Electronic Arts, who has been making motions to reduce its presence in the mobile and social spaces holds five of fifty spots, but three of those are digital versions of classic board games The Game of Life, Monopoly, and Scrabble. Another belongs to PopCap's Plants vs. Zombies, which was developed prior to EA's acquisition of the studio.

Zynga only holds four spots. Draw Something and Words with Friends appear on both lists. Neither of these titles was developed by Zynga, but instead were the impetus for acquisition of the studios responsible.

Notably missing are Jetpack Joyride from the entertainment side and outstanding memo app Evernote. Also interesting is the presence of Google Maps, which only recently emerged as a separate download after Apple replaced it with their own version.

Here are the lists:

Top Paid Apps: