Mobile Games – A Global Phenomenon
The growth of mobile phones and the availability of mobile data services has facilitated a booming mobile gaming industry that is currently dominated by free-to-play games. Newzoo, a market research firm, estimates that 3.2 billion smartphone users played mobile games in 2022.
As technology has improved, mobile games have expanded from simple text-based titles on early mobile phones to complex, graphically rich and immersive experiences. Mobile gaming has become a global phenomenon that transcends cultural and geographical boundaries, making it accessible to billions of people.
Mobile games can be classified by the platform on which they are developed and published, the gaming device used to play them, and the genre they belong to. These categories allow us to better understand the evolution or decline of specific mobile game types, and the factors that are influencing their success or failure.
In general, mobile games are usually designed for free-to-play and monetized by in-game purchases or ads. This business model has been successful because it eliminates initial cost barriers for potential players and allows developers to earn revenue from their efforts. However, it can also create unbalanced “pay-to-win” scenarios in which spending money provides a competitive advantage.
A major part of the mobile gaming market is occupied by hyper casual games, which are often low-effort clones of popular games or genres. These games tend to get a bad reputation and discourage gamers looking for a deeper experience from exploring the genre further. In contrast, mid and hard-core strategy games, MMORPGs and casino titles are characterized by high levels of player engagement and monetization.
Logic games challenge players’ problem-solving skills and require high situational awareness to overcome challenges. These games include puzzles, brain teasers and other titles that test the limits of the player’s ability to think fast and come up with new strategies. Moreover, they can boost cognitive functions such as working memory and executive functions (responsible for planning, focusing attention and multi-tasking), which can have real-world applications in the workplace and beyond.
Sports games are another genre of mobile games that is gaining popularity. These games enable gamers to participate in virtual sporting events and compete against other players. Popular examples include football, basketball and baseball simulators. In addition to being a fun way to pass the time, these games can also improve motor skills and coordination.
According to recent studies, playing mobile games for an appropriate amount of time can enhance cognitive functions and support learning and skill acquisition. This may have significant implications for the future of mobile gaming, opening up new avenues for personal development and education. For example, the popular mobile game Lumosity was specifically designed by neuroscientists to target particular cognitive functions. In fact, a growing number of cognitive training apps are being released to help people increase their mental agility. In the long run, mobile games can provide a positive impact on people’s life satisfaction and well-being. But excessive playing of mobile games can lead to distraction, deterioration in social relationships and even psychological disorders such as depression and ADHD (Bulduklu, 2017). The key is to find the right balance and to choose a type of game that will bring you the most value.