The Little Rectangle That Could

Mobile gaming is really starting to come into its own. Devices just keep getting faster and with that comes higher-quality games. There will always be “bathroom games”, but phones and tablets are starting to replace the portable consoles from Nintendo and Sony. I thought I’d take a few moments to talk about some of the great games that I’ve been playing lately.

Hero Academy is a turn-based tactics game by Robot Entertainment (Age of Empires Online, Orcs Must Die!). Players go back and forth taking turns, trying to kill all of the enemy’s units or take out their crystals. You can play at your own pace, similar to Words with Friends. With three distinct teams, tons of different units, and random maps and items, you’ll be getting your strategy fix for a long time to come.

Platforms: iOS
Price: Free (additional features for $)

Next is Galaxy on Fire 2 (HD) from Fishlabs. It’s an open-world space simulation that includes dog fighting, mining, and trading. Missions guide you through the different zones, but you are free to explore and get sidetracked as you see fit. With amazing graphics, especially in the HD versions (Android, 4S, and iPad 2+), it’s easy to spend a good chunk of time sightseeing instead of killing things. It may seem a little expensive, but it’s a full game, not the usually “freemium” fare that you see on the app stores. Take the trial for a test flight if you’re not ready to jump completely in.

Platforms: Android, iOS, Mac
Price: Free (Android), Free Trial, $4.99, $9.99 (iOS HD), $19.99 (Mac)

If you’re in the mood for a little 80s arcade nostalgia, check out Midway Arcade. It features a virtual arcade with ten games ready to go. All the classic sounds of an arcade are there. You can almost smell the pizza and dirty quarters. You’ll play Spy Hunter, Defender, and Arch Rivals, to name a few. There’s also Roll Ball (Skee-Ball), Pool, and an Arch Rivals-themed Arcade Basketball game. As you play, you’ll collect tickets. Once you have enough, different prizes will be unlocked, like Rampage stuffed dolls and models of planets. Additional game packs, like one that includes Gauntlet, can be purchased for 99 cents.

Platforms: iOS
Price: $1.99 (99 cents for additional game packs)

Finally, I’d like to talk about Dark Legends from Spacetime Studios (Pocket Legends, Star Legends). It’s a vampire-themed action MMO. No, not the sparkly kind of vampires; think more like Masquerade: dark and gritty. If you’ve played the previous Spacetime games, you might assume this one is going to be “kiddy”. With brutal attacks and blood splatter on the screen, Dark Legends is going to be anything but childish. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for news and release dates.

Platforms: Android, iOS, Chrome
Price: Free (additional items for $)

These are just a few of the thousands of mobile games on the market. Get out there and find some that you love! It seems like every week there are new and amazing games to try. Now if someone would just make a universal controller…

Matt Hostler
Project Manager