The mobile gaming experience has come a very long way since the days of playing Snake on a basic Nokia phone. The mobile gaming industry has now reached more than $103 billion US dollars in value worldwide as developers have created sophisticated gaming apps and smartphone ownership has reached an all time high.
There are now more than three billion gamers around the world with around half of these being located in the Asia Pacific region. Casual gaming apps such as Candy Crush and Subway Surfer have become some of the most downloaded, alongside the Augmented Reality game Pokemon Go. Another popular category is online casino, with app players able to enjoy all their favorite casino titles, like poker, blackjack, baccarat, slots and roulette.
With mobile gaming popularity rising at such as rapid pace, we consider some of the biggest pros and cons:
What is so great about mobile gaming?
Accessibility and affordability
One of the biggest benefits to gaming on mobile is accessibility. Getting onto an app game couldn't really be much simpler. Once it is downloaded from the app store it is always available and easy to find on your homescreen, and once you have saved your login details (if required) you don't need to enter a username or password each time you open the app to play.Also, unlike video games, mobile app games require no extra equipment. There are no expensive consoles or remote controllers required, these games can be played from the smartphone already in your pocket.
Mobile app games are also relatively cheap in comparison to many console and PC games, many are also free with the option of in-app purchases to access additional content. This means that no matter the budget you have, you are able to find great games to play in your phone's app store.
Range of choice
If anything is for certain then it is that you will never be short of choice when it comes to choosing a new mobile app game to download from the app store. As of 2023, there are around 700,000 games currently available, 500,000 on Google's Android app store and 200,000 on the Apple app store.These range from first person shooter, action and adventure to strategy, puzzle, arcade and casino. Meaning that there are games to suit all interests, ages and level of skill and experience. While some may choose mobile gaming as a distraction from boredom and source of fun, others use games such as puzzles for brain training and cognitive development - there are games for every purpose.
Socialization
Socialization can be a positive aspect of playing certain mobile app games, many games have social connection features such as chat rooms and messaging capabilities. There are also many that have multiplayer modes where you can connect with friends or strangers on other devices to play either competitively or cooperatively in pairs or teams.This means that you can stay connected to your community even when you may physically be apart and even make new friends.
What are some of the limitations of mobile gaming?
Ads
Of course, mobile game developers and publishers need to be able to generate profits from the games they create and put on app stores. There are many strategies for creating revenue and often they will combine multiple methods.Players may need to pay in order to download the app, sign up to a subscription after a free trial or purchase extra levels or premium content. Many apps also utilize advertising platforms to bring in cash and players will need to watch or click through advertisements are certain points during gameplay.
A growing number of apps are offering their users the ability to pay extra to turn off advertisements and go ad-free. This is a great option for gamers who find that ads are distracting or even frustrating even if they are in the midst of a challenging game, however it is also an extra expense that some will begrudge paying.
More limited gameplay
Mobile games have become far more immerse and sophisticated than we could have imagined just a few years ago. This is due to technological developments, bigger investment in development and creative game development and design creating truly engaging and mesmerizing experiences.Nevertheless, mobile games can be more limited in terms of game mechanics when compared with their console and PC counterparts. They are designer to run efficiently on smaller devices with lesser hardware capabilities, this can limit the range and depth of gameplay.
Distraction
Lastly, the immersiveness of mobile app games could sometimes be considered a drawback by some when they become a distraction from other important tasks. Some mobile gamers can find that productivity and focus on other tasks decreases when they find a game they really love to play.On balance, mobile apps are an exciting, affordable form of gaming entertainment, although they have some limitations they have developed significantly in just a few short years and will continue to grow in popularity.
