Top Genres of Mobile Games
Mobile games have come a long way in the past decade. Previously, only high-end devices could play them, but now, affordable devices can boast 4G/LTE connectivity, the latest Wifi standards, and faster hardware development. With these innovations, mobile gaming has become an accessible activity for more people. It has become a source of relaxation and entertainment for people who are stressed out, on the go, or looking for ways to kill time.
Action games are among the most popular genres of mobile games. These games require quick reflexes and will test your wits. Arcade games are never out of style and many mobile arcade games are simply remakes of old classics. These games also require simple controls and interaction. They can also be quite violent, but many people find them entertaining. These games are not for everyone, however, and many are not for young kids. Here are the top genres for people of all ages and backgrounds:
Before mobile devices, free-to-play games were popular on PCs. Games like Candy Crush Saga and Puzzle & Dragons made this possible. However, it wasn’t until the early 2000s that mobile games really became popular. The success of these games led to more advanced versions of classic games, including puzzle games and virtual pets. The first two-player version of Snake was released in the Nokia 6110 and was the first two-player mobile game.
Augmented reality games combine real-world environments with sophisticated computer graphics to create an illusion of augmented reality. Examples of these types of games include Pokemon Go, a game that requires players to travel to locations marked on their GPS map, and then use the game’s augmented reality mode to hunt down virtual Pokemon. Multiplayer games on mobile phones also include turn-based or live tournaments. The latter involves random players from all over the world, which is played via Facebook or Google+.
While Nokia’s N-Gage was the first dedicated mobile gaming platform, the game’s initial success was hampered by unpopular design decisions, poor software support, and increased competition from handheld consoles. Nonetheless, Nokia kept the N-Gage brand for a few years, as a games service on Nokia phones. But the App Store’s early successes helped to introduce millions of new players to the world of mobile games. While the smartphone industry continues to grow and evolve, mobile gaming will remain the best-selling form of entertainment.
A number of mobile games can be free to download. While they may be free for the average user, many are paid with ads in the game’s store. Examples include Flappy Bird and Candy Crush Saga, which follow the “freemium” model, wherein users can play a part of the game for free, and then purchase the full version to avoid ads. In addition to freemium games, many of the earliest games with in-app purchases followed the freemium model.
Although smartphone gaming is a popular form of entertainment, few studies have examined its psychosocial impact. Most of the available studies have examined PC and console-based gaming, while only one study of smartphone gaming has examined the role of smartphone-based games in societal well-being. However, this has not changed the fact that gaming is increasingly becoming a cross-platform and multiplatform activity. With a growing user base, the future is bright for mobile games, and the future of mobile gaming is bright.
