Why Did the Once-King of Mobile Games ‘Clash of Clans’ Lose Its Popularity?

Clash of Clans (COC) was once considered the king of mobile gaming. However, like many other games, it has gradually lost much of its popularity over time. Although the game is now 13 years old, COC still retains a decent fanbase. Yet, in recent years, the number of active players has significantly declined.

Clash of Clans Gameplay Style:

Players build their own village, create defenses, train armies, and attack others’ villages. It is primarily a real-time strategy (RTS) game. The gameplay combines online multiplayer battles with building and resource management.

History of Clash of Clans:

The game was first released in 2012, developed by the Finland-based game company Supercell.

• August 2, 2012: Clash of Clans launched on iOS. It quickly gained massive popularity on the platform.

• October 7, 2013: The Android version was released, expanding the player base significantly.

Clan Wars Update (2014):
In 2014, the Clan Wars update was introduced. It became a major milestone, adding competitive clan-based battles that redefined the game’s community experience.

Town Hall 11 & Grand Warden (2015):
A new hero and Town Hall level brought fresh challenges for long-time players.

Builder Base (2017):
An alternate nighttime base called “Builder Base” was launched. Reviews were mixed—some players appreciated the novelty, while others preferred the classic base.

Town Hall 12 & Siege Machines (2018):
This update added deeper strategy and new combat elements, enhancing the game’s core dynamics.

Town Hall 13 and Beyond (2019–2022):
Regular updates continued with new Town Hall levels, hero pets, new troops, and the introduction of Clan Capital, maintaining interest among loyal fans.

Decline in Clash of Clans’ Popularity:

By 2023–2024, the popularity of Clash of Clans (COC) significantly declined due to the pressure of new and trending games. The game lost a large number of active players. However, developer Supercell continued pushing regular updates in an effort to retain its community. While its popularity has waned, by 2025 COC has managed to maintain a loyal and active user base. Today, it is regarded more as a “classic game.”

In 2023, COC had around 65 million monthly active users. By March 2024, this number had dropped to approximately 11.6 million—a loss of about 82% in less than a year. Daily active user numbers also dropped significantly during this period, falling to around 2.45 million by November 2024.

As active players declined, so did the game’s revenue. In 2023, COC generated $378 million USD in annual revenue, which was a 6% decrease compared to 2022. This dropped further in 2024, reaching $355 million.

However, in early 2025, COC showed signs of recovery. In March of this year, the number of active users increased slightly to around 11.25 million, indicating a modest rebound from the previous year.

Why Did Clash of Clans Lose Popularity?

Rise of New Games

In recent years, games like PUBG, Free Fire, Call of Duty Mobile, Clash Royale, and Brawl Stars have gained massive popularity. These titles offer faster-paced and more engaging gameplay, which appeal more to the preferences of today’s gamers—especially younger audiences who seek action-packed and quick competitive experiences.

Slow Gameplay

In Clash of Clans, upgrading buildings or training troops can take hours—or even days. This pace frustrates modern gamers who often lack patience or have tight schedules. Today’s generation craves instant excitement, but COC demands time and waiting. New players often say, “We don’t have time to sit and wait that long!”

Pay-to-Win Impression

Many players believe those who buy gems gain a significant advantage. This creates a pay-to-win perception, making free-to-play users feel discouraged or sidelined, leading them to lose interest.

Repetitive Experience

Despite regular updates, the core gameplay of COC has remained largely the same over the years. This causes long-time players to feel bored or fatigued, as they find the experience increasingly monotonous.

Clash of Clans is a game built on cycles—building bases, upgrading structures, launching raids, and using similar troops and strategies over and over. While the game rewards time investment, those who can’t dedicate enough time often feel left behind. Over time, it starts to feel more like a responsibility than entertainment. In other words, the fun gradually fades.

Though Supercell occasionally introduces new features—like Capital Raids, Clan Games, or fresh troops and heroes—it’s difficult to recapture the original magic that once made COC so addictive.

Clan Activity and Community Decline
Earlier, there were many large, active clans and lively chats. But as many veteran players left the game, the community weakened significantly.

Lack of Nostalgia
For the newer generation of gamers, Clash of Clans is seen as an “old game.” This perception is influenced by changing mindsets, trends, and advancements in technology.

For old gamers, Clash of Clans is a nostalgic game. But those who didn’t play COC in their childhood don’t feel that nostalgia. They think, “This game is old, I want to play something new!”

New games like PUBG Mobile, Free Fire, Genshin Impact offer 3D graphics, open worlds, fast reflex gameplay, and realistic, dynamic animations. In contrast, COC’s top-down view and cartoonish look feel old-fashioned to many now.

New games provide lots of free movement—players can rotate their characters and explore landscapes. But in COC, you only place buildings and drop troops by touch, which feels very limited to newcomers.

Nowadays, COC is rarely seen in YouTube, TikTok, or Facebook gaming content. The hype for new games is much higher, so people think, “No one plays this anymore.”