Every six months, Neon River publishes an updated edition of our Mobile Games Talent Intelligence report - providing a clear view into how talent is growing and moving across the Europe, the Middle East and Africa, mobile games ecosystem. Based on LinkedIn workforce data, the report highlights where headcount is rising most quickly, which studios are retaining their people most effectively, and how these trends will influence senior hiring needs over the next 12–24 months.
To download the full report in PDF form – please click here .
We have only used data on employees based in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and candidates based outside of these geographies are not counted as part of our statistics.
The data in this report is based on data from LinkedIn and it is worth noting that whilst many people have a LinkedIn profile, not every employee of every mobile games company has an accurate, up to date profile. It is best therefore to view the statistics within this report as being indicative of patterns and trends rather than being wholly accurate and complete statistics to be taken as fact.
The data used in this report has been collated during December 2025, and we will provide updated reports every six months.
Fastest Growing Companies by Headcount
Employee Retention Top 5 Companies
Analysing Employee Growth and Attrition
Top 20 Companies by Headcount
The talent data points to a mobile games market that is no longer expanding uniformly, but instead concentrating growth around a small group of exceptionally disciplined operators. Supercell, Dream Games, Metacore and Voodoo stand out not just for headline employee growth, but for their ability to combine growth with comparatively low attrition. In a year where many studios have struggled to maintain stability, this balance has become a clear marker of organisational health rather than sheer ambition.
Supercell’s continued outperformance is particularly instructive. Its strong growth and industry-leading retention are closely aligned with CEO Ilkka Paananen’s long-standing philosophy of small, independent, high-trust teams. That operating model, combined with competitive compensation and a deeply embedded culture of autonomy, appears to translate directly into employee loyalty. In a market where senior talent has more choice than ever, Supercell continues to demonstrate how structure and culture can be powerful retention tools.
Elsewhere, the data highlights growing pressure within more mature segments of the market. Social casino companies, in particular, are facing tougher conditions as the category matures and competition intensifies. Several studios show solid hiring activity but comparatively higher attrition, suggesting that growth in this segment is becoming harder to sustain without clear differentiation or new product momentum.
The report also reflects the uneven recovery across the broader sector. Historically dominant publishers such as Playrix show weaker retention and net headcount decline. In Playrix’s case, this is likely influenced by large-scale relocations following the war in Ukraine, which have understandably disrupted teams and increased attrition. These dynamics underline how external factors, rather than execution alone, continue to shape talent outcomes across parts of the industry.
Despite these challenges, one encouraging signal is that overall headcount growth across many leading studios has resumed. In a tough post-Covid market characterised by funding caution and efficiency drives, the fact that multiple companies are once again growing teams suggests renewed confidence in product pipelines and long-term prospects. Growth may be more selective than in previous cycles, but it is increasingly deliberate and role-critical.
At Neon River, we work closely with mobile games companies navigating exactly these conditions. With deep experience hiring senior leaders for studios including King, Miniclip, Wooga, Ten Square Games and Metacore, we support teams as they balance growth, retention and leadership quality - helping them build organisations that can scale sustainably even in more demanding market environments.
To download the full report in PDF form - please click here .