Gossip Harbour Expands to New Markets: Embraces Alternative App Stores

You've likely seen ads for Gossip Harbour, a surprisingly successful merge-and-story puzzle game. Developer Microfun has earned over $10 million on Google Play alone. However, instead of focusing on further Google Play promotion, Microfun has partnered with Flexion to distribute the game through "alternative app stores."

What are alternative app stores? Simply put, they're any app store besides Google Play and the iOS App Store. Even major players like the Samsung Store are dwarfed by these two giants.

The Appeal of Alternative Stores

The move to alternative app stores is driven by profitability. Recent legal challenges against Google and Apple are forcing a re-evaluation of alternative app stores, leading to increased pressure to make them more accessible. This presents a significant opportunity for growth. Companies like Huawei, with its AppGallery, are capitalizing on this shift through promotions and sales. Established titles, such as Candy Crush Saga, have already successfully transitioned to these alternative platforms.

Microfun and Flexion are betting on the rising prominence of alternative app stores. Whether this strategy will prove universally successful remains to be seen.

For those seeking high-quality puzzle games, explore our curated list of the top 25 best puzzle games for iOS and Android.