For a long time, mobile games were limited to simple games likeBejeweled,Candy CrushSaga,Angry Birds, andDoodle Jump. Many would also be considered a fad, being played for about a month as a result of hype, likeTrivia CrackandFlappy Bird. Games played on mobile devices used to be simpler because phones and tablets couldn’t handle high-powered games, but this isn’t quite the case anymore.
Because the hardware onmobile devicesisn’t typically—or at least, in the past—able to keep up with consoles, many strongly feel that phone apps shouldn’t be considered video games and the people who play them are not necessarily gamers (which is, by definition, gatekeeping). But with the advancement of smartphone technology, the push of porting games likeFortniteonto mobile devices, and multiplayer mobile games without paying a premium for internet services, perhaps it’s time to re-assess whether or not mobile gaming should be taken as seriously as console gaming.
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Mobile Game Design
Mobile games often have a specific design that is geared towards getting the user back to the device on a habitual level because with phones as opposed to consoles, people are using them on and off throughout their day. This can be seen withPokemon GO, where players can pull out their phones and catch Pokemon wherever they’re currently located, andGenshin Impact, with the implementation of daily tasksthat can earn the player in-game currency.
The unfortunate result of this common design is the viewpoint that mobile games are meant to “waste time,” which begs the question: why is playingAmong Usconsidered more “time-wasteful” thanThe Last of Us Part 2, for example, if the goal is to have a fun, meaningful experience?
Major Franchises on Mobile Devices
When people use the term mobile game, oftentimes, they’ll be thinking of titles like the previously mentionedCandy Crush, because that’s largely what mobile games used to be. But now, many mainstream franchises have either ported their titles to smartphones, likeFortnite, League of Legends,orMinecraft.Some franchises have made spinoffs exclusively for phones and tablets, likeAnimal Crossing: Pocket CampandPokemon GO.
But why isPocket Campconsidered less “legitimate” thanNew Horizons? In the past, many players have comparedNew Horizons' lacking number of furniture sets toPocket Camp’s extensive array of themes. Both games are meant to be played habitually—that’s what theAnimal Crossingfranchise has always been about—and both games allow players to visit their friends.
There’s also the argument that gameplay mechanics and strategizing get lost in mobile gaming.Animal Crossinghas never been about tactics, but looking towards titles likeHearthstoneorFire Emblem Heroes, tactics play a major rolein overcoming the enemy and advancing, much like with mainstream RPGs and adventure games.
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Convenience and Pricing
For some people, it’s not just convenience, but the price model of mobile gaming is more affordable. Again, looking at games likeGenshin Impact, it’s a fully-fledged RPG but is also completely free. Sure, there are some in-game perks that come as a reward to those who put down the cash, but it still serves the player dozens, if not hundreds, of hours of free gameplay.Genshin Impactgot 17 million downloads at launch on just mobile devices.
But the convenience of not lugging around an entire console is a huge factor as well. PlayStation has moved away from handheld consoles altogether and Xbox never manufactured any. This left Nintendo as the monopolizer for games that can be played this way, leading the brand to heavily invest in indie games. Indie games are considered “legitimate gaming” by most of the community, and whilenot all popularized titles, likeHades, are found on mobile devices, and others, likeStardew Valley, are, this direction could find a successful future in the gaming industry.
Microsoft has caught wind of this and brought Xbox Game Pass to mobile devices this year, allowing players to dive into AAA titles on their Android phone or tablet. This includes action-packed shooters likeDestiny 2andnarrative-driven stories likeTell Me Whyvia a cloud. Paired with gamepad controllers that the phone can be slotted into for an enhanced experience, such as the Razer Kishi, which Microsoft teamed up with for the launch of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, the full gaming experience is moving onto mobile devices as technology advances.
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