Each and every day, millions of us play mobile games on our smartphones and tablets. In fact, according to the latest Global Games Market Report published by market intelligence firm Newzoo, the amount of revenue brought in by mobile games will reach $70.3 billion in 2018. That whopping figure means that it is even more lucrative than ever for video game developers to enter the mobile gaming space. They all want to cut themselves a significant chunk of the pie and in order to do this, this means figuring out what the most lucrative game genres and themes are. By far, one of the most significant themes of games that we see are games related to animals. Animals are lovable, many of them are cute enough to cuddle and remind us of our own pets and they are also incredibly family friendly. Here are five games that embrace the animal themes incredibly well.

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp

Town-living series Animal Crossing is one of the most popular console franchises around, which is why fans were positively giddy when Nintendo released Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp on smartphones and tablets last year. Pocket Camp is the mobile game spin-off of that main series and sees players (as a human character) run their very own campsites. The aim of the game is to collect the appropriate materials in order to craft more furniture; furniture that will entice anthropomorphic NPCs (non-player characters) into visiting for a while. There are all kinds of different genres of decor and each will appeal to the game's animal characters differently. For example, some characters may want you to build a skate ramp or a drum kit, while others may want you to place pink lamps and rugs with floral patterns. You can also befriend these various animals by fulfilling their requests and talking to them, allowing you to say you've become BFFs with an eagle!

Mega Moolah

The Mega Moolah slot game is one of the most well-known slots on mobile devices and it is, in fact, one of the most well-known slots created by developer Microgaming. What sets this game apart from the rest is the way that it (virtually) transports players across the Serengeti with its African safari theme. In this game, the symbols on the slots will feature all of your safari favourites, including a lion with a fabulous mane, some towering giraffes, and you can even the impressive stripes of a zebra. Playable here, Mega Moolah also has safari-themed jackpots, with the free spin, scatter and wild rewards also embracing the African safari theme. Playing this smartphone game is just about the closest you'll get to the Serengeti without actually purchasing a plane ticket to go there.

Sonic Runners Adventure

Like Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, Sonic Runners Adventure is another mobile spin-off of a major series that has found huge success on consoles. Titular character Sonic The Hedgehog is known for his super speed and his ability to sprint as a bright blue blur is what has made him famous, so it's only natural that this mobile game embraces that to the fullest.

Sonic Runners Adventure is an endless runner platforming game that sees you sprint through levels based on locations from Sonic World and Sonic Lost Generations. Although your character will automatically move forward, you do have to guide them past obstacles and enemies such as floor spike traps and some floating ladybugs that look especially menacing. Moreover, there are golden rings to collect along the way and you can also unlock additional characters from the Sonic universe, including Knuckle the Echidna. Angry Birds Angry Birds is one of the most successful mobile games of all time and its performance is one of the games that really saw people sit up and take notice of the mobile gaming market. In it, you control a troop of very angry avians who want to get revenge against the pigs who have stolen their eggs. The pigs have put together several imposing structures; some made of brick, stone, glass and wooden crates and you must use a slingshot in order to take these structures down and take down the pigs with them. Different birds have different skills too (some can split into three projectiles), making Angry Birds as tactical as it is fun.

Cat Sim Online

In mobile RPG Cat Sim Online, you don't just raise a kitten, you can actively go on adventures with it. All of the cat breeder staples are here: you can customize your cat, discover new breeds, grow your feline family. However, there are also plenty of RPG elements mixed in as well, as you can travel to various 3D locations (including places in the city and in the countryside) and experience simulated weather conditions too.

There are also some more traditional online multiplayer gameplay elements, including battles with enemies as you protect your family. You can also take part in online adventure games and Clan Wars as you battle to get to the top of the online leaderboards, proving yourself as the very best cat battler that Cat Sim Online has ever seen. While the popularity of many game genres comes and goes, the popularity of animals seems here to stay. So many of us say that we are animal lovers meaning that there is a crop of players ready to play animal-themed games on their mobile devices.