These are the phone games I keep coming back to
I get bored easily so finding addictive mobile games that make me want to keep playing isn’t easy. I find that I regularly install and uninstall games because I get bored, there’s not enough to do, or they just aren’t relaxing enough. Really…what’s the point of playing a game on your phone if it isn’t relaxing?
So, I thought I’d share my favorite addictive mobile phone games with you today.
What Makes Them Addictive Mobile Games?
I think that what makes mobile phone games addictive to one person may not make them appealing to another. With that in mind, here’s some of the qualities I look for in a game that makes me want to come back to it again and again.
- They have good graphics. I’m not into the pixelated games (my sister and I have discussed this and I think it is because we come from a generation when all the games where pixelated and we’re just over it). I want clear and easy to see graphics.
- They have things to do – but not so many things to do that if I don’t play for a week I’ve forgotten what it was I was supposed to be doing.
- It’s easily played without a controller (I have one but I don’t always have it with me).
- There is not a million ads (some are ok but I don’t want to spend my whole day watching ads; there’s one game in here that is the exception to the rule)
- I can play in short bursts of time; sometimes I’m just sitting in my car and want to play for five minutes.
- They are free or less than $10 to buy the full version
What makes a mobile game playable for you in the long-term?
Here are the addictive mobile games on my phone that I’ve kept coming back to.
#1 Atlas Earth
This is the game that I’ve played the most in the past year. It’s really only barely a game but it is a game. You buy plots of land and watch the income from your land increase. You can’t play it for long periods of time. I spend maybe 20 minutes a day on it.
Unless I’m going for a walk. Then, I have the game open so I can collect diamonds. Diamonds are randomly scattered around the map (a virtual real-life map, similar to Pokemon Go). Collect them to be able to spin the wheel up to 5 times a day (two are with ads) and collect Atlas Bucks, which can then be used to purchase more parcels of land.
It’s a simple game and I like watching my rental income grow. You can see more about Atlas Earth here.
#Shoppin’ Drop
This is a “hole” game and it’s the very first one I played. “Swallow” the various items with your hole to get bigger and swallow even more items. You have a certain number of specific items to swallow in each game. That’s it. Sounds easy, right?
It is easy – but it isn’t. There’s a time clock and there are bombs that get in the way. Don’t swallow the bombs! And sometimes, in order to swallow the assigned items you need to get your hole bigger.
I don’t know what it is about hole games but I’m obsessed with them. Yes, I’ve played others (including Hole.io but there’s so many ads) but I keep coming back to this one. The ads are minimal and short and I just like the predictability of Shoppin’ Drop.
#3 Very Little Nightmares
If you like the Little Nightmares games on consoles (1, 2, and 3), you have to play the mobile version. There is a cost to it (I think it was $10 CAD in the Google Play store) but it’s worth it. The graphics are amazing and the challenges are fun. And yes, there are some jump scares.
I especially like the post-apocalyptic/scary visuals. They are very creative and unlike anything I’ve come across in other games. I played Little Nightmares 1 first on Playstation 5 and loved it, so I was thrilled to find out that there was a mobile version. And the mobile version is completely different from the console games.
I highly recommend this one.
#4 Tiny Bookshop
I played Tiny Bookshop on Switch first and loved it. But I had other games to play on my Switch so I got distracted.
Then it came out on mobile.
It’s exactly the same as the console versions of the game but it’s great to start over and be able to play it when I’m running around doing errands or when I don’t feel like playing on Switch (mostly because I’m too lazy to get up and get my Switch from the other room).
And the bonus is that it is way cheaper on mobile than on console/PC. It was only $10 CAD on my phone. I’ve even streamed this game from my phone a few times using Prism.
#5 Fortnite
Yes, I play Fornite on my phone! It’s actually way easier on my phone because you get loaded into mobile lobbies so you’re not likely playing with a bunch of sweats. Playing Fornite on mobile also gives you auto pickup of weapons and auto open of chests (just stand near one) and auto fire on enemies.
I normally play a quick Blitz game or two when I’m sitting in the car before/after work (yes, I do a lot of car sitting; it’s my safe place). Sometimes I’ll play Zero Builds. More often, I’ll log into a creator map to just do some chill gaming. Maybe I need to level up and I’ll jump into a 99 Bots Royale game and just zoom around on the rails.
I’ve been using the phone controls for the most part and that took some getting used to. I’m not fond of them to be honest but they do the trick. But…
GameSir G8 Fortnite Edition!
GameSir just dropped the pre-order of G8 Plus Fortnite Edition controller for mobile gamers! And you can bet I ordered that immediately!
This controller connects to both Android and iPhone devices and it connects to Switch 1 & 2 and tablets via blue tooth so you can use it for all sorts of gaming. I’m thinking it will be great for Fornite gaming on my phone but I can use it to play on Luna (Amazon), too. I’ve been meaning to play some of those games that come with the Prime subscription (just another reason to get Prime besides the fact that you get all those movies/TV shows, music, and a free Twitch subscription).
And the designs! You can bet I’ve got a Cuddle Team GameSir Fornite controller on the way.
