Writer: Brett Porter
Photo: Onur Binay
To those not in the know, I have a pretty busy schedule. I hardly ever have the time to sit down and play video games with the boys like I used to. As a means of satisfying that urge, I have devolved to playing a bunch of games on my phone. I have enjoyed a slew of mobile games in my day, but there are five that have stood the test of time, and here they are.
5. Zombieville USA
Like most mobile games, Zombieville’s easy to grasp premise of surviving waves of zombies makes it a great game to play mindlessly. Your goal is to run through each wave without dying. Along the way there are houses that could contain either ammo or cash, the latter allowing you to upgrade your arsenal. My personal best is Round 37, so if you want to try and beat that go right ahead.
4. Ow My Balls!
This is likely in the conversation for dumbest mobile game to ever be created. This game launched over a decade ago and for some shocking reason cannot be found on the Google Play store. The premise is to rack up as many points as possible by hitting the protagonists…well… genitalia… off as many surfaces as possible. If you racked up a high enough score you could unlock autotune. I was maybe sixteen when I played this but I loved how ridiculous it was.
3. Clash Royale
From the same creators of Clash of Clans, Supercell added a multiplayer mobile game to their arsenal. You’re tasked with trying to defend your base while also trying to destroy your opponents’. You can play in either a 1v1 or 2v2 setting, which is great if you have a younger brother who relentlessly talks shit to two people across the world who can’t hear the terrible things you’re saying to them. The game also boats a solid competitive scene to those who take gaming too seriously.
2. Arena of Valor
Arena of Valor is a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena game, or MOBA for short. Teams of five fight each other while also holding off AI enemies. Defeating computer enemies gets you gold, which allows you to buy upgrades for your character. You choose from a vast array of heroes that all have their own abilities. Combining your strengths as a team is the best way to win, unless you’re an absolute savage and can carry a bunch of noobs. Arena of Valor also has a strong competitive scene. I am currently in Diamond 5, putting me in the top ten percent of players worldwide, so if you want a piece of me, bring it.
1. Knights of Pen and Paper 2
This game has it all. If you love Dungeons and Dragons, this is the mobile game for you. There’s a total of four immersive campaigns each with their fair share of side quests. You build yourself a team of five different characters as you try to rid the world of all the evils that plague it. The amount of races and classes is on par with that of its tabletop counterpart. If you need your fix between sessions, then this is what you need. In the two and change years I’ve had this game on my phone, I’ve put about four days of playing time into it. When I look at every game I’ve ever played in my life, mobile or console, the only one ahead of Knights of Pen and Paper 2 is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare too. Because of that, this game is a sureshot for my favorite mobile game. Some may call it an addiction, and I would tell those people they’re probably right.
Well, there it is. Just like every list, this is little more than my opinions jumbled together into a website-safe article. If you’ve played any of these and want to add input on why I’m right or wrong, please do. If there’s a game I should give a try, I welcome that as well. To those who powered through until the end, I thank you. Until next time friends, your friendly neighborhood Captain is going to go back to drinking about a gallon of beer and going about my day-to-day. Love you, bye.
