Are there actually any good mobile games?
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Mobile games usually get a bad rep as they're usually asset flips and/or MTX-ridden and/or ad-filled, etc., and I'm sure this is actually the case for most games on the app/play store. But are there any ones that are actually good, maybe just something to pass the time with?
A dream of mine is to make good mobile games, no ads, just a single low purchase. Realistically it just wouldn't be economically viable at all unless there is a free version with ads. But also realistically most mobile gamers aren't using a controller and touchscreens suck.
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Free, ad-free, open source phone games
Unciv: Civilization V clone that runs on a potato; a grand 4x strategy game. It seems pretty mechanically complete and has a lot of content. Easily modded. (Graphics may not be to everyone's taste)
Simon Tatham's portable puzzle collection: Mathematically inspired Puzzle games with a lot of customization and reasonable interface. This includes classics like untangle (graph planarity) and solo (sudoku, but generalized). I personally really enjoy Tower, and hadn't seen it elsewhere (and like 15 more games besides).
Chip defense: computer science themed tower defense. By the power of Turing, Noether, and Knuth you can strike down malicious packets attempting to corrupt your CPU. Good content, fun towers and educational bonus material, and I think it looks rather good. (Minor gripe/warning: early levels are optimally played with a lot of tapping that is not very ergonomic; this drops off after the first few levels.)
Honorable mentions (not FOSS, but still free, MTX free, and no ads beyond fishing for a rating).
Higgster's game compendium: collection of games in a consistent and pleasing artstyle. Includes things like solitaire, wordle, binaro, and mastermind (20+ games total, several more have been added in the last year). This is really very well done, give it a look!Flocks: Sliding puzzle game with excellent graphics and animations. Lots of levels, introduces new mechanics regularly, and easy to pickup or put down. I quite enjoy everything Robert has made, recommended!
Piggybacking onto this (all of these are FOSS):
Endless Sky is a 2D sandbox space sim. It's a spiritual sequel to the old Escape Velocity: Nova, and has very active development.
Feudal Tactics is an extremely simple strategy game that can nonetheless be quite hard.
Battle For Wesnoth is a whole-ass fantasy campaign turn-based strategy game that has been ported to mobile. Think Warcraft but turn-based.
Arx Libertatis is a port of Arx Fatalis, a first-person RPG. This one is still on my list to try out, but it looks interesting.
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Mobile games usually get a bad rep as they're usually asset flips and/or MTX-ridden and/or ad-filled, etc., and I'm sure this is actually the case for most games on the app/play store. But are there any ones that are actually good, maybe just something to pass the time with?
Into the Breach
You'll just need to find a patched .APK to play without a Netflix account. -
Upvote for Slice and Dice
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Mobile games usually get a bad rep as they're usually asset flips and/or MTX-ridden and/or ad-filled, etc., and I'm sure this is actually the case for most games on the app/play store. But are there any ones that are actually good, maybe just something to pass the time with?
Some PC ports that handle touch controls well, like Xcom 2. And emulators.
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Plenty of bots to get my buttons kicked in chess.
Any reason why you prefer bots when there's always a random human available?
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Mobile games usually get a bad rep as they're usually asset flips and/or MTX-ridden and/or ad-filled, etc., and I'm sure this is actually the case for most games on the app/play store. But are there any ones that are actually good, maybe just something to pass the time with?
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Into the Breach
You'll just need to find a patched .APK to play without a Netflix account.Wish I could find one. Never trust the sites I see it on
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Some PC ports that handle touch controls well, like Xcom 2. And emulators.
Yes yes there's been some incredible Android ports for PC games recently, other than XCOM 2, there was also GRID Autosport and more recently GRID Legends. And recently the original Subnautica also got ported. There was also Alien Isolation if you're into horror games lol
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Mobile games usually get a bad rep as they're usually asset flips and/or MTX-ridden and/or ad-filled, etc., and I'm sure this is actually the case for most games on the app/play store. But are there any ones that are actually good, maybe just something to pass the time with?
I think no one mentioned these yet: My favorite tablet games are the ports of old BioWare classics like Baldur's Gate 1+2, Icewind Dale, ... Excellent ports imo, bur I did play them on a 10" tablet, I wouldn't try to play them on a phone. https://www.beamdog.com/games/
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Some PC ports that handle touch controls well, like Xcom 2. And emulators.
Yeah, plenty of indie games do really well on mobile formats. Slay the Spire, Balatro, Vampire Survivors, etc… All of those have really basic click-and-drag controls, which means they translate to touchscreen really well. Or if you’re willing to use a Bluetooth controller, (I keep one in my bag), then games like Dead Cells or emulators.
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I prefer lichess.org
- Free game analysis.
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10€ for card game?! Are you real??
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A dream of mine is to make good mobile games, no ads, just a single low purchase. Realistically it just wouldn't be economically viable at all unless there is a free version with ads. But also realistically most mobile gamers aren't using a controller and touchscreens suck.
People on iphone dont have a problem with paying a couple of bucks for a good game so you could make a lot of money if game is realy good..
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Mobile games usually get a bad rep as they're usually asset flips and/or MTX-ridden and/or ad-filled, etc., and I'm sure this is actually the case for most games on the app/play store. But are there any ones that are actually good, maybe just something to pass the time with?
Infinitode - a tower defense game with a lot of meta progression
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People on iphone dont have a problem with paying a couple of bucks for a good game so you could make a lot of money if game is realy good..
Yeah but I would have to bootstrap myself on Android first to get an ios devkit
Although I have also considered cornering the Mac gaming market for basically the same reasons
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10€ for card game?! Are you real??
Not €10 10 $
I’m just giving you shit but yes, how have you not heard about this game yet, watch some Youtubers play it and see why it’s so fucking great holy shit do you like ads in your face every three minutes and micro transactions and no free updates, you do you hon I pay for quality. The soundtrack the visual design the fucking game itself, there’s so much good going on in this game. I support it 1,000,000%.
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Mobile games usually get a bad rep as they're usually asset flips and/or MTX-ridden and/or ad-filled, etc., and I'm sure this is actually the case for most games on the app/play store. But are there any ones that are actually good, maybe just something to pass the time with?
I found Gorogoa pretty interesting.
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Not €10 10 $
I’m just giving you shit but yes, how have you not heard about this game yet, watch some Youtubers play it and see why it’s so fucking great holy shit do you like ads in your face every three minutes and micro transactions and no free updates, you do you hon I pay for quality. The soundtrack the visual design the fucking game itself, there’s so much good going on in this game. I support it 1,000,000%.
I payed for most of my games but 10€ is to much for a game like this. Im from Europe so my prices are in € not $. Often for 1€ higher than $ prices. Like its not enough that 10€ is more than 10$ alredy…
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Mobile games usually get a bad rep as they're usually asset flips and/or MTX-ridden and/or ad-filled, etc., and I'm sure this is actually the case for most games on the app/play store. But are there any ones that are actually good, maybe just something to pass the time with?
wrote last edited by [email protected]there are a couple, a lot of them are ports of PC Rogue-like Games.
alphabetically, these are the ones installed on my phone that I actually play.
Balatro
Bloons TD 6
Luck be a Landlord
Mindustry
Mini Metro / Mini Motorways
Monument Valley 1+2
Peglin
Shapez
Super Auto Pets
Turmoil
