Gossip Harbour is a massively-successful game making the leap to alternative app stores, but why?

Gossip Harbour: A Casual Game's Unexpected Move to Alternative App Stores

You've likely seen the ads, even if you don't play it. Gossip Harbour, a merge and story puzzle game, is a quiet success story, generating over $10 million for developer Microfun on Google Play alone. However, its next move is surprising: a partnership with Flexion to launch on alternative app stores.

For those unfamiliar, alternative app stores are any marketplace outside of Google Play and the iOS App Store. Even prominent options like the Samsung Galaxy Store are dwarfed by these two giants.

The Allure of Alternative App Stores

The reason behind Gossip Harbour's shift is simple: profitability. Alternative app stores are poised for significant growth, fueled by recent legal challenges against Google and Apple. This pressure is encouraging the adoption of alternative stores, with companies like Huawei (with its AppGallery) offering attractive promotions. Established titles like Candy Crush Saga have already made the transition.

Microfun and Flexion are betting on this trend, anticipating alternative app stores becoming a major player in the mobile gaming landscape. Whether this gamble pays off remains to be seen.

While we don't comment on game quality, if you're searching for excellent puzzle games, explore our curated list of the top 25 best puzzle games for iOS and Android.