Phone games worth a damn

[MajorTomServo]

The mobile game market is often described somewhere between "underwhelming" and "a barren wasteland of low-effort garbage built on microtransactions and unnecessary social aspects." I remember getting some awesome games back when smartphones first hit the market, like Jelly Blocks, Toybot, Fruit Ninja, and Labyrinth.

The whole "pay 99 cents for a complete game with a new and interesting mechanic" scene seems to have all but dried up lately. I've had my current smartphone (a Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note 2 before that) for quite a while, and all I really play on it is Flappy Bird, Trivia Crack, and One Piece: Treasure Cruise (I know, I'm part of the problem with that last one. It's pretty good for a f2p microtransaction-fest though, and I'm a One Piece nerd).

So I turn to you, Escapist. What are some decent smartphone games you like to play?

 

[DrownedAmmet]

80 days is a real fun game if you like text adventures. I've played the game through a few times just trying to see all the cities and try some different options

 

[SlumlordThanatos]

Blizzard just came out with a Hearthstone app for Android and iPhone, if you are desperate for something to eat all of your spare time.

 

[Alma Mare]

Monument Valley blew my mind when I played it on a friends's phone.

http://www.monumentvalleygame.com/

 

[go-10]

the Zenonia series is really good

 

[lechat]

Monument Valley blew my mind when I played it on a friends's phone.

http://www.monumentvalleygame.com/

Yup fantastic game but massively overpriced, too short, too slow and too easy. A testament to how good the game is (or how shit the market is) that even though i list those bad points it is still one of the best games on the market.

 

[Rack]

The Galaxy Trucker app is fantastic, but I've only played it on a tablet, don't know how well the phone version would work out. Clash of Heroes has a pretty good app, though it is slightly glitchy. I believe Dodonpachi is available for Android these days as well and that's possibly the best shooter on any platform. Apparently Ghost Trick made it over too. Then there's the classic adventures, Monkey Island and Broken Sword. Zookeeper is pretty fun, Framed is novel if nothing else. Ascension is a pretty nice time killer too.

Oh and the Humble Mobile Buundle is still on, that'll get you 80 days and Auro, both of which I've heard good things about (but not played).

 

[Twintix]

If you like card games, Fairway Solitaire for the iPhone is quite fun. It doesn't exactly play like normal solitaire, but it's quite addicting and doesn't require you to spend real money to complete it: Any in-game purchase is optional.

Also, it's free.

 

[Asita]

Terra Battle's fairly decent game by some recognizable Final Fantasy creators (notably Hironobu Sakaguchi and Nobuo Uematsu). The game itself is free though it does have an in-game store through which you can buy energy (which you want to spend on their "Pact of Truth" to get additional characters) and stamina (which you need to complete the missions). Neither are really an issue if you're the patient sort, as stamina regenerates over time and you get energy for completing each chapter (usually about 10 missions) and sporadically for login bonuses and dev gifts to celebrate events. If you're the impatient sort...probably not a good fit.

Plague Inc's a pretty good time sink, with quite a bit of variety in it (especially if you get their scenarios pack). Knights of the Old Republic...hit and miss, really. For the most part it actually plays better than my "Best of PC" version does (damn thing keeps crashing on my PC), but the swoop races are far more frustrating due to the way they implemented the mechanics[footnote]Swoop racing in all versions consist of timed gear shifts and a lot of dodging. Trying to accelerate at the wrong time is detrimental to your performance. This isn't an issue on the PC where you control the craft with the A and D keys and click to accelerate, but in the case of the iPhone, you tap the screen to accelerate...and control the craft by moving your finger across the screen. Translation: Dodging debris often entails deceleration, meaning that you have to be a LOT more precise on the IOS than you do on the PC[/footnote]. It's not impossible, by any stretch, but it is much more annoying.

On things I can't personally vouch for but have heard good things about, the 'main' Ace Attorney series[footnote]Ace Attorney, Trials and Tribulations, Justice for All, Dual Destinies[/footnote] is on there, as is the Dragon Quest franchise up to Dragon Quest 8 (Journey of the Cursed King), and supposedly Record of the Agarest War had a fairly decent IOS port, and the rumor mill I've been hearing is that Fate/Stay Night might hit the IOS in the next few months.

 

[baddude1337]

Battle for Wesnoth, a free hex based strategy game is available on IOS. It has an absolute mountain of content for it's price. Will keep you going for hours.

Plague Inc is utterly unique, with you playing as a disease trying to kill off everyone in the world. A nice little sim-styled game, has expansions to add zombies and apes from the film too.

The Quest is an old school inspired RPG that will also keep you very entertained if you don't mind it's dated gameplay.

Dungelot is a great little game, one designed to be played in short bursts or for a long haul.

The League of Evil series are great little platformers. Fun to play for short bursts.

The Organ Trail, a game based on The Oregon Trail game but in a zombie apocalypse is a good one. Hard and unfair at times though, but that's to be expected considering it's inspiration.

The Xcom ports to mobiles are also great. Being able to play the full game plus Enemy Within on my phone whilst looking good is pretty damn fantastic

 

[Elvis Starburst]

Robot Unicorn Attack 2 is one of my choice games. Fun, colorful, simple enough to get into, and rather enjoyable. Good improvement over the first~ Can even grab the first game's song for a buck to listen to that during gameplay (A microtransaction, yes. Worth it? Even more yes)

 

[Nuuu]

If you have at least one friend with a phone, Space Team soaks up a little time (Free too). All purchases are cosmetic or challenge modes that aren't too impressive.
To describe it quickly, each player has a dashboard with a variety of buttons, knobs, and doodads, as well as an objective. Each player sees a different objective and must shout out what they see so that the other players can finish the order. It gets really hectic when dashboards start falling apart or are covered in slime, even crazier when you have more friends shouting over each other.

 

[Fieldy409_v1legacy]

Infinity blade 1 and 2 are pretty good.

 

[Platypus540]

I'm a big fan of Duet. It's a very simple concept, but executed really well and it will last you a good long while before you beat it. The soundtrack is brilliant too.

 

[2HF]

Aren't phones used to.. you know.. phone people?

No, no they aren't. I wish I could leave it at that, it's really all a comment like that deserves but I don't want to be warned.

The word "phone" is not accurate anymore, merely convenient. The fact is that the devices we call phones are actually extremely portable computers. They just happen to also have phone capabilites. Deal with it gramps.

 

[IamLEAM1983]

Aren't phones used to.. you know.. phone people?

What is this you speak of? "Phoning people"? Is this some sort of archaic form of text messaging involving the act of blugdeoning your vis-à-vis with your smartphone until some sort of reply is obtained?

All jokes aside, most good mobile games are mostly a good fit for anyone needing a quick time sink. It's bus ride or subway fare, or dentist reading room fare. I can't really reccomend picking up your iDevice of choice or your phablet for long-term gaming sessions.

 

[Ronald Nand]

Some apps I would recommend are:
-Perfect Cell- Solid stealth game designed for touch devices.
-Robbery Bob- Its a free casual stealth game and has in app purchases but, the game is fair.
-Ghost Trick, Ace Attorney Trilogy, Dual Destinies- Three top notch DS and 3DS games on IOS, you have to pay about $15-$20 for each but there all quality games.
-Mirrors Edge- A fun IOS spinoff of the PC Game, however its been taken off the appstore, but if you can somehow find it on the internet its worth getting.

 

[Dominic Crossman]

Sonic 2 has an extra/finished off level in it that isn't in any other version.