Smartphones have evolved to the point where manufacturers of handheld consoles have reason to be seriously worried. The versatility of mobile platforms coupled with fast processors and large displays, mean that mobile phones now offer a serious alternative to dedicated gaming devices.
When you also consider the fact that even the most expensive, top range smartphone games cost only around £5 and that many come in at around 69p, smartphones have some big advantages over existing portable consoles.
However, platforms like iOS, Android and Windows Phone go one step further, with many games being available from their respective app stores without cost. Here we take a look at the best available that won’t put a dent in your (virtual) wallet.
1. Real Racing GTI
The Real Racing series has gone through a number of iterations all of which have recieved critical acclaim. Offering a brilliant gaming experience, the various iterations bring the excitement of larger console racing games to the smartphone screen.
Most of the Real Racing titles are set at a premium price but a stripped-down version for iOS is available for free. The free version takes out some of the long career progression which exists in the full edition without skimping on the gameplay.
While the number of tracks that can be chosen is limited there are a variety of cars that can be used in short, three lap races against a number of virtual opponents. When playing the game, Real Racing GTI feels like a full, premium offering and offers a broader playing experience than many others.
Ultimately, it doesn’t have the same progressive elements seen in the full version but for a free game Real Racing GTI has a lot to offer and is both fast and fun. Available for iOS.
2. Angry Birds Star Wars
The latest edition of Rovio’s incredibly successful gaming franchise, Angry Birds Star Wars qualifies for this list due to it being free for Android, although users of other platforms may have to pay.
Where other Angry Birds spin-offs perhaps didn’t fully live up to the original (we found Angry Birds Space to be a little disappointing) Angry Birds Star Wars makes the most of its high-profile tie-in with the film series.
Laser beams, light sabres and characters dressed like Luke Skywalker and Obi Wan Kenobi all make an appearance, but beyond the film-based additions the gameplay takes the best element of earlier Angry Birds editions and combines them into one. Available for Android and as a paid version for iOS.
3. Cube Runner
One for fans of fast-paced games, Cube Runner strips out any flashy elements and offers a minimalist, surreal world that sees the player guiding themselves through a maze of blocks at break-neck pace.
Reminding us very slightly of the lightcycles scene in classic sci-fi film Tron, Cube Runner’s surreal graphics are evocative of old Atari and Commodore games from the eighties. The speed and skill require to play the more advanced levels is matched by few others and Cube Runner is a brilliantly simple and satisfying game. Available for iOS and Android.
4. Flood It 2
Taking the simple and brilliant formula even further, the concept behind Flood Itinvolves changing the colours of tiles on a grid until they are all the same. Doesn’t sound to difficult, but the challenge comes in doing it in a limited number of steps.
Incredibly addictive and entertainingly frustrating, Flood It 2 adds a number of extra versions of gameplay to the original but keeps the essentials the same. Games can be played in a matter of seconds but success can remain annoyingly elusive, leaving the player coming back for more and more. Available for iOS. The original Flood It is available for Android.
5. Frisbee 2
Frisbee 2 is a simple action game that sees the player controlling a frisbee as it flies along a pre-determined course, moving it through loops and collecting stars on the way. Levels become longer and more complicated as the game progress, with the action stepping up a notch each time.
The original Frisbee game looked great but the newer version has upped the ante with its graphics bearing a resemblance to the cartoon world seen in the Marioseries of games. Both simple and brilliant, Frisbee 2 is endlessly addictive. Available for iOS, whilst the original Frisbee is available for Android.
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