10 Foreign Games That Make Money (2026 Edition)

Why This List Matters in 2026

I’ve refreshed this guide for 2026 to spotlight ten overseas hits whose monetization still performs under shifting privacy rules, platform fees, and live-ops fatigue. I unpack how they earn, why it works, and what you can borrow—whether you’re optimizing a small studio roadmap or exploring legit ways to earn around games without skirting TOS.

1. Genshin Impact (HoYoverse, China)

• Core loop: Open-world exploration, character collection, elemental team-building.
• Monetization: Character/weapon gacha, battle pass, cosmetics, rerun banners.
• Why it works: Relentless content cadence, limited banners driving FOMO, attachment to characters, strong cross-media fandom.
• Takeaway: If you lack HoYoverse scale, ship on a predictable cadence and be generous early; build rituals around patch cycles.

2. Honor of Kings / Arena of Valor (TiMi, China)

• Core loop: Mobile-first 5v5 MOBA with short sessions and high clarity.
• Monetization: Skins, seasonal passes, event loot, esports tie-ins.
• Why it works: Massive social graph, fair-feeling cosmetics, watch-to-play loops.
• Takeaway: Protect competitive integrity. Cosmetic-first spending thrives when balance is sacred.

3. PUBG Mobile (Tencent Lightspeed & Quantum, China)

• Core loop: Battle royale survival, progression via seasons and ranked.
• Monetization: Royale Pass, crates, collaboration skins, LTMs.
• Why it works: Dense live-ops calendar, frequent collabs, mode variety that resets habits.
• Takeaway: Treat your calendar as a revenue engine: tentpoles, micro-events, reruns with twists.

4) Fate/Grand Order (Aniplex/Lasengle, Japan)

• Core loop: Turn-based RPG with collectible Servants and long-form narrative.
• Monetization: Limited-time gacha, event shops, paid packs.
• Why it works: Story-first design with deep lore and character attachment.
• Takeaway: If you own strong IP or worldbuilding, monetize around narrative beats and anniversaries.

5. League of Legends (Riot, USA; global)

• Core loop: 5v5 PC MOBA with ranked and esports metagame.
• Monetization: Skins, battle passes, event loot, prestige variants.
• Why it works: Competitive integrity, constant champion/skin pipeline, creator ecosystem.
• Takeaway: Cosmetics flourish when skill—and only skill—wins matches.

6. Call of Duty: Warzone / Warzone Mobile (Activision, USA)

• Core loop: Fast BR and Resurgence loops with tight gunplay.
• Monetization: Operator bundles, weapon blueprints, battle pass, cross-brand collabs.
• Why it works: Seasons refresh the meta and justify new cosmetics; collabs extend reach.
• Takeaway: Seasonal narratives and mechanical refreshes create permission to sell new looks.

7. Roblox (USA; UGC platform)

• Core loop: Massive catalog of UGC experiences with social presence and identity.
• Monetization: Robux, game passes, dev products, avatar items, subscriptions.
• Why it works: Creator economy flywheel—players become makers; discovery feeds spend.
• Takeaway (for devs): Short, repeatable goals sell convenience and status without breaking fairness.

8. Crossfire (Smilegate, South Korea)

• Core loop: Tactical FPS modes with clan/social retention.
• Monetization: Weapon skins, premium bundles, season passes.
• Why it works: Lightweight client for low-spec hardware, regional familiarity, PC café culture.
• Takeaway: Optimize for low-end devices to expand TAM in growth markets.

9. Clash of Clans / Clash Royale (Supercell, Finland)

• Core loop: Strategic base-building or card-driven arena battles.
• Monetization: Time-skips, season passes, cosmetics, progression boosts.
• Why it works: Transparent economies and clear upgrade paths foster trust.
• Takeaway: Show the impact of each purchase. Clarity converts.

10. Candy Crush Saga (King, Sweden/UK)

• Core loop: Match-3 with power-ups and long-tail level design.
• Monetization: Lives, boosters, bundles, seasonal events.
• Why it works: Habit loops, gentle pressure, and fine-tuned difficulty keep ARPDAU steady.
• Takeaway: Nurture daily rituals; avoid hard paywalls that spike churn.

Monetization Patterns I’d Copy in 2026

• Season passes: Predictable value and recurring revenue with themed tracks.
• Limited-time cosmetics: Scarcity without power creep; enable tasteful reruns.
• Gacha with pity and clarity: Guarantees, posted odds, duplicate protection.
• Cosmetic mastery tracks: Reward time with prestige-only visuals.
• Creator economies: UGC tools, revenue share, and a safe marketplace you tax.
• Event reruns with remixes: Cheaper to produce, familiar to players, still fresh.

Ethical Guardrails

• Offer parental controls, playtime tools, and spending caps.
• Publish drop rates and pity mechanics clearly.
• Separate power from cosmetics where possible; avoid stealth advantage.
• Respect regional regulations and age ratings; localize age-appropriate bundles.

Quick Start for Devs

• Lock a clear core loop and 2–3 monetization levers.
• Ship a 90-day live-ops calendar with one monthly tentpole and weekly micro-beats.
• Prototype a cosmetic pipeline (themes, rarities, variants, recolors).
• Front-load generosity; tune progression for fairness.
• Instrument analytics early; iterate on price, bundles, and cadence.

Quick Start for Gamers (Earning Mindset)

• Favor official creator programs and marketplaces (Roblox, Fortnite Creative, sanctioned mod markets).
• Avoid gray-market RMT; stick to TOS-compliant income streams.
• Build a niche: guides, coaching, templates, or in-experience services where permitted.

Final Thought

Sustainable game revenue aligns delight with optional spending. When players buy because they’re proud, not pressured, you’ve built a flywheel that lasts.