How to discover new apps and games (and how players find yours)
Where people discover new Android and iOS apps and mobile games beyond the store charts, and what that means for developers who want their app to be found.
· 3 min read
Short answer: most people discover new apps through store search and charts, friends, social video and curated sites. The store charts mostly show apps that are already big, so new and indie apps are easier to find on curated discovery sites (such as TrueLaunch's newest and launches pages), in communities about a topic, and on short-video platforms. For developers, that means being present where people browse before they search for you by name.
Where do people discover new apps and games?
App store search and charts
Google Play and the App Store are still where most installs happen. Search works when people know what they want ("budget tracker"). Charts and featured lists favor apps that already have many downloads or editorial picks, so a brand-new app rarely shows up there.
Curated discovery sites
Sites that list new apps every day, sorted by something other than download counts.
- TrueLaunch shows new apps and games the day they're published, a daily launches board, categories ranked by honest reviews from real people, and a "needs feedback" list of apps waiting for their first reviews. It's free to browse without an account. Start at the newest apps and games.
- General launch boards such as Product Hunt cover new tech products, with fewer games and consumer apps.
Friends, social video and creators
A friend's recommendation is still the strongest reason to try something. Short videos on TikTok, YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels now play the same role at scale, especially for games.
Communities
Subreddits, Discord servers and forums about a hobby or job ("productivity", "Android gaming", "language learning") regularly share new apps in their niche, often from the developers themselves.
How do I find new Android and iOS apps worth trying?
- Browse by category, not by chart. Category pages sorted by reviews show smaller apps that fit what you need.
- Check the newest listings once a week. New apps often improve quickly in their first months, and early users get heard by the developer.
- Read reviews that explain why. A review that says what worked and what didn't is worth more than a star count.
- Follow a few developers you like. Indie developers often make more than one good app.
- Leave honest feedback. Developers of new apps read every review and fix what people report.
How do I find new mobile games?
Look beyond the top-grossing charts: browse game categories sorted by community reviews, watch short gameplay clips from small developers, and follow genre communities. On TrueLaunch you can browse games by category and see which ones are launching today.
What does this mean for developers?
If people discover apps by browsing, your job is to be in the places they browse:
- List your app where new apps are shown, not only in the store. Submit it to TrueLaunch for free; it goes live the moment you publish, with no waiting queue.
- Pick the right category and write a description that says who it's for.
- Show it working in short videos; see how to promote your indie game with short videos.
- Join the communities your users are in and contribute before you promote.
For a full plan, read how to get your first 100 users.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to discover new apps?
Browse curated sites that list new apps by category and reviews, such as TrueLaunch, follow communities about your interests, and read reviews that explain what works rather than relying only on store charts.
Where can I find new indie games to play?
Game categories on discovery sites like TrueLaunch, short gameplay videos from small developers, and genre communities on Reddit and Discord are the best places to find new indie games.
How do people find new apps?
Mostly through app store search, recommendations from friends, short social videos, communities and curated discovery sites. Store charts mostly show apps that are already popular.