Gamepad: My Favorite Mobile Games

 

Yay, another post about mobile games. But hear me out (or see, or whatever): mobile games are feckin fun!! Just try to remember the last time you had to think about something while on the toilet, or stare at nothing in class, or try to avoid contact with strangers in public transport? No, really think about it. We take our phones for granted, So I decided to make a list of my favorite mobile games ever.

10. Beast Quest 

Even though not all of us are Nintendo fans, I think we can all agree that the Legend of Zelda is a pretty sweet game series. Beast Quest is the closest thing to that, and it’s on mobile! How cool is that?!? It offers a pretty unique approach to fighting monsters and has some cool RPG mechanics built in.

Download here (Android) (iOS)

9. Fallout Shelter

Fallout Shelter is what you get when Bethesda puts their mind into something pretty abstract. It gives you control of your own vault, and you can even choose the number ( Vault 420 AYYYY). You’re tasked with taking care of your subjects and building additional rooms. There was a big content update about two weeks ago, so it’s worth giving a shot, even if you’re not playing it anymore.

Download here (Android) (iOS)

8. Clash of Clans

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, there’s a pretty good chance you already know about Clash of Clans, the online strategy mobile game, that’s all about upgrading stuff and conquering people, by destroying their stuff. Many people really can’t understand just how addictive Clash of Clans can get, and there’s a good reason for that.

Download here (Android) (iOS)

7. Major Mayhem

Major Mayhem is a cool shoot-em-up game from Adult Swim, the network that gave us gems like Cartoon Network itself, The Eric Andre show, Black Jesus and many more weird shows. So it’s no surprise that a mobile game made by them is a lighthearted comedy mess, poking fun at classic action movies.

Download here (Android) (iOS)

 

6. N.O.V.A. 3

Smartphones and tablets were clearly not designed with FPS games in mind, and most of the time said games run terribly on pocket devices, however N.O.V.A. 3 is an exception to that rule. The aim assist in this game is incredibly polished, and for once it actually feels fun to play an FPS on mobile. The story is nothing special but is on the level of a AAA title in my book.

Download here (Android) (iOS)

5. Crossy Road

Crossy Road pretty much defined 11th grade for me. It’s also one of the reasons I’m bad at Spanish (that and my general lack of care for that subject). The game is so simple – it’s ridiculous, all you have to do is tap so you can cross the roads and not die from getting hit by cars or drowning. You also collect characters which is a pretty addictive feature as well.

Download here (Android) (iOS)

4. Star Wars Galaxy of Heroes

Star Wars Galaxy of heroes is a turn based strategy RPG that’s all about collecting characters and upgrading them. Now, if I was to remove the Star Wars part from the whole thing, the game becomes pretty dull, but that’s fine because all we need is more Star Wars games in our lives. It also has the best daily login reward system I’ve ever seen and I did an article on the game a few weeks ago, that you should definetely read!

Download here (Android) (iOS)

3. Injustice Gods Among Us

Like the videogame and comic book series of the same name, Injustice is a fighting game… brought to mobile. Don’t expect anything great, mechanic wise it’s all about swiping and blocking with two fingers, but the card collection is where this game shines very bright. It also has a pretty competitive Multiplayer mode and there’s new challenges every month. About a week ago, it got a new content update, so I advise you to try it out.

Download here (Android) (iOS)

2. Sword of Xolan

8 bit is best bit, and Sword of Xolan shows just how beautiful a pixelated game can be. It’s also the ultimate pocket-friend: a 2D, 8 bit, side-scroller game that requires no internet connection to run. It’s pretty damn fun as well.

Download here (Android) (iOS)

1. Plants vs. Zombies

The number one game on this list is technically not a mobile game (shocking I know). The original Plants vs. Zombies remains one of the most immaculately designed games I’ve ever played, and the interface of the game is just soo mobile friendly, it’s uncanny. Unlike its half-decent, half pay-to-win sequel, the original PvZ is a game you can enjoy without spending a dime.

Download here (Android) (iOS)

$1 Gaming: Blosics [iOS]

iOS games are becoming more and more popular as time goes on, and with Apple’s growth we are bound to continue seeing them. If you’ve been wondering what games are worth your money then look no further than Blosics. What starts off looking like a bit of an Angry Birds spin-off ends up turning into a unique enough experience for this title to be given some well-deserved love of its own.

The premise is similar to that of Angry Birds as your goal is to fire balls at a formation of blocks as you complete each of the 120 levels scattered over the 4 worlds; plains, underwater, underground and space. The main focus of this game is on points which act like a currency as well as your score. You start with 1 ball known as the Standard Ball and as you gain stars for moving on you begin to unlock the other 12. Of course, each ball has a different ability than the last and as they become more powerful the price begins to get steeper. In the latter half of your journey it becomes more crucial to keep an eye on your points and the prices of the balls you’re using since it won’t be so easy to advance unless you strategize and plan out your every move. This isn’t to say that there is a large spike in difficulty although some of the levels may frustrate you enough to take a break.

Most iOS titles don’t have very good replay value, but I found myself going to back to the earlier areas in Blosics with my newly unlocked balls to boost my scores and unlock newer balls faster. Once you have a brand new arsenal of weapons to wreak havoc upon the pleasantly designed world of Blosics you have already overcome it makes it feel like a brand new experience. One of the best parts about this title is that it is a great game for any type of gamer. The casual gamer will have fun messing around completing stages at their own pace, enjoying the atmosphere and music that draw the player in, making them a part of the adventure while the hardcore gamer like myself will have a blast trying to ace every level by achieving 3 stars and completing all of the 48 challenges to go along with them. However, the one disappointment I had was not being rewarded for 100% completion; the game doesn’t even acknowledge you for conquering each of the 4 worlds to the fullest extent. Even though it says in-game that more “episodes” will be added in the future I don’t expect to be rewarded for beating those either. I suppose it’s more of a feel-good accomplishment as you climb the leaderboards rather than earning something useful.

Some of the challenges are extremely easy while others are painstakingly difficult. With 12 per world they vary anywhere from completing a stage by only using a certain amount of shots to having to dominate and muster up a score worthy of 3 stars in a matter of seconds. It becomes evident that some of the harder challenges have to be completed using a more powerful ball once you have it at your disposal. Another challenge focuses on not destroying baby balls, which are white balls trapped in cages held prisoner to the blocks. They are already a common obstacle that is encountered throughout the game but they are hardest to avoid when a challenge surrounds them; as they should be. They are placed in such a way that you can not help but fire at them to make yourself an opening to strike the blocks, if not for your own pleasure of hearing them scream.

With an expansion update to be released in the future, there’s no reason why Blosics should be ignored. For only $0.99 you get a great game with 120+ levels and 48+ challenges and loads of fun to be had.