If you’ve ever read any of my posts around mobile gaming then you know I usually start off by justifying exactly why mobile games aren’t really my thing, while at the same time working on getting that high-score playing Tetris on my phone. Double standards, I have them. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve never had anything against mobile gaming per say, I was just utterly convinced that they would never be for me. My iPhone and iPad were reserved for much more ‘important’ things… like social media and memes.
Then I got the flu. There is nothing quite like being in bed and feeling too sleepy to sit and do anything constructive, yet not sleepy enough to actually sleep, to make you discover how entertaining playing games on your phone can really be, and once you’ve caught that bug? Good luck getting over it.
According to my research, the gaming bug is just the same as regular flu and you can only start getting better once you’ve passed the bug onto other people (it’s science – don’t question it) so without further ado, here are the 4 games that I just can not stop playing:
Life Is Strange
Life is Strange is probably the game I’ve written and spoken about the most, so I’m going to try and keep this short and sweet. Life Is Strange is an episodic adventure game that follows the story and life of Max, who discovers she has the ability to rewind time and affect the past, present, and future. It’s a game that’s all about making the difficult choices in life and how they affect everything around us.
Why I love it:
The first time I ever started up Life Is Strange on my PC I started telling everyone who would listen (and pretend to be interested) that it would be AMAZING on my iPad, that way I didn’t have to stop playing and I could just take it with me. So to see that actually happen makes me feel insanely happy and has me telling everyone that I called it. Like I just did now.
Episode 1 is free to download for IOS and Android
The Sims Mobile
The Sims mobile is another game that you’ve probably seen me write about before. I downloaded it and played it back in July 2017 when a beta version launched on Brazil’s App Store, but after playing it for a month or so I ended up deleting it so that I could wait for the full game to launch, and now it has. The full game took everything I loved from the beta and polished it. The Sims Mobile is exactly what the name says, a mobile version of The Sims – and it ROCKS.
Why I love it:
This is, in my opinion, the first time ever that the feeling you get while playing The Sims has been successfully transferred to mobile. I find myself drawn into my Sims lives and stories and oddly excited every time I get to open the app. The game is structured so that you never have to spend more than a few minutes at a time in game in order to make progress and it really helps to keep you coming back time and time again without getting tired of it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcDy1CCd-F8
Free for download on IOS and Android
My Tamagotchi Forever
Brand new to my phone and my life, we have My Tamagotchi Forever. Everyone remembers Tamagotchis right? Those little plastic egg shaped things that used to drive your parents, teachers, and relatives mad while simultaneously making you one of the coolest kids around? Well, they’re back, only this time they’re on your phone. It’s brightly colored, irritating, entertaining and infuriating – it’s a Tamagotchi.
Why I love it:
I literally don’t even know why I can’t stop playing this. I guess it’s the same way any of us loved having a Tamagotchi as a child, we kinda hated it and kinda loved it at the same time… and that feeling of nostalgic confusion is exactly how I feel about this. Oh, and the mini-games are actually really addictive, you can find me playing ‘Match 3’ until the early hours of most mornings now.
Free for download on IOS and Android
Armello
If you’re anything like my mother and carry around with you a deep-seeded hatred for board games then this one is probably not going to be for you. If you’re like me though, you’ll love it. Armello is a board game/card-game that allows you to come to life, play as different factions, use strategy to take over the board and master different character builds while you quest for the throne.
Why I love it:
I really REALLY love playing Tabletop/Board games with my friends, but all too often life gets in the way and it ends up being weeks before we can actually all get together and play. But with Armello I can still get that transitional gaming ‘fix’ I crave and it’s a perfect game to tide me over between gaming nights. It also perfectly walks the line between sleek and simple to pick up and yet is still challenging enough to make you actually think when you play.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJOYKhygA2c
Free for download on IOS
These 4 games are as diverse as they come, but that’s why I love them. There is always something that fits perfectly with whichever type of mood I’m possibly in and that will work with the amount of time I have to play, which can be all night if I just sacrifice sleep and invest in a few more power banks. But now I want to know from you, what do you think of my picks? Are any of these on your phone as well? Let me know, and also tell me which mobile games you find yourself spending just way too much time on – I’ve caught the bug now and I need to feed it.
I need to!
