Summary
- Mobile games offer diverse experiences beyond just casual entertainment.
- Mobile platforms host renowned AAA games, indie titles, and unique mobile-first experiences that showcase the platform’s capability and potential.
- Despite criticism, mobile gaming’s rising popularity and accessibility make it an important part of the future of gaming.
There’s a corner of the gaming community that pours scorn on mobile players by saying they aren’t playing “real” games. These statements might have held water 15 years ago, but they’re looking pretty outdated right now. As it stands, mobile gaming is a legitimate way to enjoy gaming so the best thing to do about the naysayers is to ignore them.
“Mobile Games Are Just Casual Time Wasters” Is a Myth
Critics often point to hyper-casual games when arguing this point. While the platform is indeed riddled with them, one would think it would be hard to find something that offers more than a fleeting distraction. However, this overlooks that modern mobile gaming is incredibly diverse.
If you’re into sports, you can play NBA 2K Mobile and FC Mobile right on your phone. For fighting game aficionados, there is Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter IV CE. Those who love racing can dive into Asphalt 9: Legends or Need for Speed No Limits. There are even complex and narrative-driven RPGs like Genshin Impact and single-player first-person shooters like the Modern Combat series. You’ll find almost every genre available on PC and console.
Furthermore, some mobile games require real skill to play, especially if they’re competitive. Battle royales and MOBAs, even on mobile, require strategic thinking, reflexes, and teamwork to make it through the ranks. There are even entire esports scenes dedicated to these mobile games, challenging the “time waster” stereotype.
Certain Gaming Experiences Are Better on Mobile
Mobile also has games that are uniquely suited for it. A good example of this is location-based games like Pokémon GO and Monster Hunter Now. The combination of GPS, camera, portability, and augmented reality makes smartphones the perfect platform. These games create experiences that simply wouldn’t work the same way on console or PC.
Another example of a game that takes advantage of the mobile platform is Device 6. This is a narrative experience where the text on the screen works as a maze, requiring you to swipe and rotate your device to navigate the story. Although available on other platforms, A Normal Lost Phone turns your phone into a found smartphone. The experience feels remarkably more authentic when you tap and swipe to navigate the phone rather than using a mouse or controller.
These are but a few examples, but they should show you how the mobile platform has its own unique and innovative experiences.
Mobile Tech Is Legit for Gaming
Several popular AAA video games have been ported to mobile. Famous examples include Resident Evil 4, Diablo Immortal, and Diablo 2: Enhanced Edition, demonstrating that mobile hardware can handle complex games that were once exclusive to traditional gaming platforms. You will find many indie games too, including Balatro, Vampire Survivors, Stardew Valley, Dead Cells, and TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge.
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My Favorite Android Games Are Indie PC Ports and Here’s Why
Looking for a good mobile game? Check if it’s also on PC.
Some mobile games have impressive visual fidelity that makes them look like they belong on PC and console. Games like Alien: Isolation, GRID Autosport, and Honkai: Star Rail showcase these stunning graphics. They prove that mobile devices are capable gaming machines for people who love playing something pretty. Games like Assassin’s Creed Shadows launched day one on iPhone and iPad (though you’ll need something modern like an iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro to really make the most of them).
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Apple iPhone 16
Apple’s newest iPhone featuring a camera button, programmable action button, and artificial intelligence features.
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Apple iPhone 16 Pro
A version of Apple’s newest iPhone with a larger screen featuring a camera button, a programmable action button, and artificial intelligence features.
Even on the multiplayer front, gaming has evolved significantly, offering experiences that match their PC and console counterparts. Games like Call of Duty: Mobile and PUBG Mobile provide robust multiplayer features, including team-based modes, voice chat, and competitive ranking systems that create engaging social gaming experiences.
Microtransactions and Shovelware Are Not Unique to Mobile Platforms
A common criticism of mobile games are that they’re full of microtransactions and games made to get a quick buck (shovelware). However, these issues aren’t unique to mobile platforms—Steam, PlayStation Store, and the Xbox Store are filled with shovelware. The Wii arguably did more to legitimize shovelware than any mobile platform, and the popularity of the Switch has caused Nintendo’s eShop to bloat to a point where it’s almost unusable on original hardware.
Triple-A games on PC and console now regularly include battle passes, loot boxes, and other microtransactions, even in single-player games. According to GamesIndustry.biz, there was even a point where EA started including in-game ads in its full-priced games, which they had to remove after player backlash.
Right now, microtransactions and shovelware are simply a reality of the games industry. While they might be more prevalent on mobile, publishers are far from giving up on making them the norm on traditional gaming platforms.
Mobile Gaming Is the Future (Whether Anyone Likes It or Not)
Mobile gaming is growing and will continue to do so due to one simple fact: smartphones are ubiquitous. People need significant financial investment and dedicated space to enjoy PC and console gaming, but those who lack both typically still own a smartphone. You don’t even need the latest and greatest model to enjoy some of the best indie games of all time on the go.
According to a report by Newzoo, mobile gaming has now outpaced PC and console games in terms of revenue. And you’d better believe publishers have taken notice, with EA, Microsoft, Sony, and even Nintendo trying to gain a foothold in the market. Mobile gaming is particularly popular in developing nations, where smartphones make it possible for almost anyone to play games including competitive ones online.
Furthermore, as mobile hardware continues to improve and cloud gaming becomes more prevalent, mobile will likely become the default gaming platform for many people. You can already stream services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and GeForce NOW to your smartphone, and as internet connections get faster and latency is reduced this will only improve the experience.
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Don’t get me wrong—there are valid criticisms against playing games on mobile devices. My biggest gripes are the lack of input feedback, devices heating up when playing graphics-intensive games, and the sometimes intrusive advertisements.
Mobile gaming might not replace your Xbox, PC, or even Steam Deck; but you should not let anyone gaslight you into thinking that mobile gaming isn’t “real” gaming.
