Mobile games have come a long way since Tetris was introduced on Hagenuk MT-2000 in 1994. Today, mobile gaming is as close to computer gaming as ever, as mobile game developers keep impressing us with their visual and mechanical innovations.
The phones themselves have got to a point where we see them as small computers that can fit in our pockets, so it’s only natural that games are more advanced as well.
In this article, we are going to explore what makes mobile games so great, but we will also talk about some downsides.
Pro – Portable Gaming
While no mobile phone can match a device like Nintendo Switch, for example, it’s still a decent second-best choice when it comes to portable gaming. It’s a perfect way to kill time and play a round of your favorite title while waiting in line or commuting to work.
You carry your smartphone everywhere you go anyway, which means you can power up a game whenever you feel like it. Neat!
Con – Small Screen
Although mobile games have gotten better over the years when it comes to graphics, they will never match computer and console games for one very simple reason. The whole point of mobile phones is that we can carry them everywhere we go, so they must be small and portable.
This means mobile phone screens are never going to be big enough for games to be as visually impressive as on computer screens and TVs.
Pro – Plenty of Free Games
Video games are awesome but they sometimes cost a lot of money. Most computer games and almost all console games must be purchased. However, when it comes to mobile games, most of them are free; even the ones that cost something are usually cheap.
Of course, free games are filled with all sorts of advertisements, but that’s a small price to pay. In fact, you can sometimes literally pay a small price so ads don’t show up anymore.
Con – Battery Life
There’s nothing worse than playing an intense mobile game and getting a warning that your battery is running low. Your battery will be drained if you play for more than one hour straight, and some batteries can’t even make it that long.
If you plan on playing a mobile game outside your home, make sure to bring a charger with you or at least an external battery.
Pro – Gambling on Mobile
Did you know that you can gamble using your mobile phone? Plenty of online casinos have dedicated mobile apps or mobile-friendly websites where you can make an account and play roulette, poker, blackjack, or video slots.
Video slots are best-optimized for smaller screens, so you can try some of those. They are easy to learn and the jackpots can be huge. There is an abundance of video slots you can play on your mobile device and some of the best ones can be found here. You can also play slots on tablets, which is a great option since you will have a little more space to work with.
Con – Limited Controls
Being able to tap and swipe on your screen works really well in some games but is very limiting in others. Nothing can replace buttons on a keyboard or joystick, at least not when it comes to games that heavily depend on multiple keys.
For example, point and click games and platformers work really well on mobile devices, but first-person shooters are not as comfortable to play without a keyboard and mouse.