You've likely seen ads for Gossip Harbour, the surprisingly successful merge-and-story puzzle game from Microfun. Despite earning over $10 million on Google Play alone, the developer is taking an unusual step: partnering with Flexion to launch on alternative app stores.

But what are alternative app stores? Simply put, they're any app store besides Google Play and the iOS App Store. Even major players like the Samsung Galaxy Store are dwarfed by these two giants.

The Allure of Alternative Stores

The move to alternative app stores is driven by increased profitability and the growing potential of this market segment. Recent legal challenges to Google and Apple's app store dominance are forcing a reevaluation of alternative options. This is leading to increased promotion and sales on stores like Huawei's AppGallery, and big-name games like Candy Crush Saga have already made the switch.

Microfun and Flexion are betting on alternative app stores becoming the next big thing in mobile gaming. Whether this gamble pays off remains to be seen.

In the meantime, if you're looking for great puzzle games, check out our list of the top 25 best puzzle games for iOS and Android!