Mental Health and Well-Being Benefits of Mobile Games
Mobile games are one of the most popular pastimes on the planet. Almost everyone has access to a smartphone and most have at least a little bit of time to kill by playing a game or two. The mobile gaming industry is huge, generating billions of dollars annually and attracting players from all walks of life. It’s also a great way to keep in touch with your friends and family, who can join in the fun on a variety of devices.
Some of the most popular games are hyper-casual titles that hook you with easy-to-learn but hard-to-master gameplay loops, offering quick, satisfying rewards that make it tough to stop playing. Others offer a more immersive and complex experience with more story, characters, and worlds to explore. Still others are incredibly competitive, providing a high-octane racing or shooting experience that can burn through battery life and nerves.
All of these factors contribute to mobile gaming’s massive popularity. However, what might be less apparent is the significant benefits that mobile gaming can provide to your mental health and well-being. It can help improve mood, increase creativity, and promote determination and focus. Plus, it’s a great way to stay in touch with your friends and family if they live far away.
It’s been over 20 years since Nokia launched the first mobile phone-compatible game, Snake. That simple gimmick helped launch the mobile gaming industry as we know it and set a precedent for how people use their smartphones. These days, you can find games for every device from tablets to wearables to the latest smartwatches.
The big mobile game companies have made their names with huge hits that have gone viral from the Angry Birds franchise to Crash Bandicoot and Call of Duty by Activision Blizzard. But even smaller developers have found a niche on the platform with games like Alto’s Odyssey, which combines a side-scrolling endless snowboarding game with an excellent soundtrack and beautiful setting.
Some games are even educational, with titles like Lightbot bringing coding to kids and helping them learn how to program. But many simply bring people together, with the likes of Words with Friends and Scrabble allowing people to maintain connections over long distances. Even a simple game of swiping on your phone can be social, informing you who your friends are while you’re playing.
The top games on both Android and iOS are based on a combination of downloads and revenue, with the latter weighted twice as much as the former. Not surprisingly, the most popular game on each list is the same – Candy Crush Saga. Other notable titles include Honor of Kings, PUBG Mobile, and Clash Royale from Supercell. Then there are more ambitious games like Genshin Impact, a sprawling open-world action RPG with gacha mechanics from miHoYo and a science fantasy setting populated by godlike dimensional beings that can power your warriors. And of course, you can’t talk about mobile gaming without mentioning the biggest battle royale to ever hit the platform, Apex Legends Mobile.