Measure a game’s monthly active users (MAU) by counting distinct player identities that performed a clearly defined activity during a precisely bounded period. The number is only meaningful when you state what counts as activity, which identity is counted, the time window and timezone, the platforms included, and how you handle offline or late-arriving events.
Define the MAU window
Choose the window to match how you plan to report the metric. A calendar month is useful for month-over-month reporting; a rolling 30-day window updates daily and always covers the 30 days immediately before the reporting time. Name the choice in charts and exports rather than labeling both simply “MAU.”
- Calendar month: Count activity between the start of the first day and the start of the first day of the next month, using one stated timezone.
- Rolling 30 days: Count activity during the 30 days immediately preceding the report’s cutoff. State the cutoff and timezone.
These definitions are not interchangeable. GameAnalytics documents both calendar-month unique users and rolling-30-day unique users, while PlayFab distinguishes rolling 30-day reports from totals for a calendar month. Google Play Console uses a rolling 28-day MAU definition, so its figure will not necessarily match a 30-day count. See GameAnalytics’ event metrics documentation, PlayFab’s segmentation documentation, and Google Play Console’s metric definitions.
Choose what qualifies as activity
For a game audience metric, use an event that indicates playing the game, such as a recorded gameplay session or a specified play event. Do not silently count installs, store-page views, or registrations as active players; those describe different stages of the player journey.
#1 Best Overall
- CLASSIC BEGINNER GAME: Do you remember playing Candy Land when you were a kid. Introduce new generations to this sweet kids' board game
- RACE TO THE CASTLE: Players encounter all kinds of "delicious" surprises as they move their cute gingerbread man pawn around the path in a race to the castle
- NO READING REQUIRED TO PLAY: For kids ages 3 and up, Candy Land can be a great game for kids who haven't learned how to read yet
- GREAT GAME FOR LITTLE ONES: The Candy Land board game features colored cards, sweet destinations, and fun illustrations that kids love
Analytics products use different operational signals. Google Play Console describes an app open, PlayFab’s rolling report definition uses a login, and Unity Analytics uses a session. Pick the event that best represents the question your team is answering, instrument it consistently, and disclose the definition. A dashboard’s label does not guarantee that its activity rule matches another dashboard’s.
Decide how to identify a unique player
Count each player identity once within the chosen window. A stable account or player ID is usually the clearest key when it is available. If the game also supports guest play, define how anonymous IDs are handled when a guest later signs in or changes devices. Until two IDs can be reliably linked, counting them as one person would be an assumption rather than a deduplication rule.
Cross-device and cross-platform counting depends on your identity system. Deduplicate a player across platforms only when your account links support it. Otherwise, explain that the same person may contribute more than one identity. A Zynga filing from 2012 described this limitation for its own metrics: players using multiple games or platforms could be counted more than once when the metric or available identity links did not deduplicate them. It is a dated, company-specific example, not a universal standard; see the Zynga SEC filing.
Rank #2
- GAME OF SWEET REVENGE: Enjoy classic Sorry! gameplay with this Sorry! board game for kids. It's an edge-of-your-seat race to home, so hurry up and get there first
- FIRST ONE HOME WINS: Who will be the first player to get all 3 of their pawns to the home space? But watch out! Players can get "sweet revenge" by sending each other's pawns back to the starting point
- SO MANY POSSIBILITIES: Slide, collide, and score to win the Sorry! game. This family game for kids and adults features so many possibilities depending on the card picked up and strategy chosen
- CLASSIC SORRY! GAMEPLAY: Remember playing the original Sorry! game as a kid? Bring back memories of playing the Sorry! game with family members and introduce it to a new generation
- FAMILY GAME NIGHT FAVORITE: A go-to game for family time or anytime indoor fun, the Sorry! game for kids is one of the best family games for game night
Filter events and count distinct identities
After deciding the window, event rule, title scope, and identity key, filter the event data and count distinct player IDs. This SQL illustrates the calculation; replace the example fields and event names with those in your data model:
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SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT player_id)
FROM events
WHERE game_id = :game
AND event_name IN (:qualifying_events)
AND event_time >= :window_start
AND event_time < :window_end;
The inclusive start and exclusive end form a half-open interval. An event exactly at the end boundary belongs to the next window, avoiding double-counting that boundary event in adjacent calendar periods. Apply the same game, platform, and event filters each time you produce the metric, and document any exclusions.
Rank #3
- FUN FAMILY GAME FOR KIDS: Remember playing the original Trouble board game as a kid? Introduce a new generation to classic Trouble gameplay with this Trouble game for kids
- EASY TO LEARN AND SET UP: The Trouble game is easy to play and quick set up. The object of the game is simple: the first player to get all of their game pieces around the board wins
- POWER UP SPACES: The game instructions include options for classic Trouble gameplay or a version with Power Up Spaces for a more challenging game
- POP-O-MATIC BUBBLE: In this beloved children's board game, players press and pop the plastic bubble to roll the die. The iconic Pop-o-Matic die roller is fun to press, and it keeps the die from getting lost
- BOARD GAMES FOR FAMILY: Adults and kids can play this family board game together. It's a fun indoor game for playdates and a great choice for Family Game Night
Standardize timezone and event arrival
Use one timezone and boundary convention across reports. GameAnalytics says its metrics are calculated within UTC dates and hours, and PlayFab says its reporting timestamps use UTC. UTC is a practical choice for a cross-region service, but the important requirement is to state and apply the chosen convention consistently.
Offline play and delayed uploads can change a previously reported count: Unity documents local event caching and later transmission. Decide whether a report is provisional or allows a defined period for late events, and validate how your own pipeline handles reconnection, backfills, and corrections. Do not assume every event arrives before the reporting cutoff. See Unity Analytics’ FAQ.
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Attach the measurement choices to the figure so readers can interpret or reproduce it. For example, a fully specified label could read:
Rank #4
- Our Let's Go Fishin' game is the original version of a well-known and well-loved fishing game that parents will remember playing as kids
- Gameplay helps develop hand-eye coordination
- Players use mini fishing poles to try to catch the most fish
- Features a rotating pond and fish that open and close their mouths
- For 1-4 players, ages 4 and up
Rolling 30-day active players for Game A: distinct player IDs with at least one
session_startfrom 00:00 UTC on [start date] through, but not including, 00:00 UTC on [end date]. Cross-platform players are deduplicated by account ID; guest IDs are counted separately until linked.
Replace the bracketed dates and example event with the actual reporting window and instrumentation. A useful reporting template is: “MAU ([calendar month / rolling 30 days]) for [game/title] = distinct [account/player/analytics IDs] with at least one [qualifying activity event] during [window start, inclusive] to [window end, exclusive], using [timezone]. [Cross-platform/device deduplication rule]. [Offline/late-event policy].”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Compare reports only after aligning definitions
Before comparing an internal count with a platform or analytics dashboard, check that both figures use the same:
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- FUN KIDS GAME: This Don’t Break the Ice game is an exciting preschool game that has players tapping out ice blocks one by one, as they imagine helping Phillip the Penguin make a new igloo
- INDOOR GAME FOR AGES 3+: The object of this game for kids is to keep Phillip the Penguin on top of the ice, but as the game goes on, the ice blocks start falling. One wrong block and he'll go ker-plop.
- FAMILY GAMES FOR KIDS: Get everyone together for family game night with the Don't Break the Ice game. Players will be on the edge of their seats just waiting for the moment that the penguin falls through
- CHILDRENS GAMES MAKE GREAT GIFTS: If you're looking for family gifts or gifts for kids, board games are a great choice
- HAVE FUN WITH CLASSIC GAMES: From classic tabletop board games to up-and-active toddler games, to party games, Hasbro Gaming is a one-stop-shop for filling your games closet
- Window length and boundaries: calendar month, rolling 28 days, or rolling 30 days.
- Activity signal: app open, login, session, or a game-specific play event.
- Identity key: account, player, device, or analytics ID.
- Deduplication scope across devices, platforms, and titles.
- Timezone and treatment of late or offline events.
If definitions differ, recalculate from compatible event-level data where possible. If that is not possible, label the figures with their distinct definitions rather than presenting them as directly equivalent.
Use MAU alongside engagement measures
MAU describes how many distinct identities were active during the window; it does not show how frequently each player returned. Pair it with DAU and a clearly defined DAU/MAU ratio when discussing activity frequency. For retention after acquisition, use cohort measures such as D1, D7, or D30 retention. Google Analytics defines a DAU/MAU comparison using activity in the last 24 hours against the last 30 days; GameAnalytics describes its ratio as today’s users divided by the rolling 30-day population. Make sure the numerator and denominator match the definitions you intend to compare. MAU by itself does not establish retention, revenue, or game quality. See Google Analytics’ active-user metric definitions and Roblox Creator Docs’ retention guidance.
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