We all need a little distraction from time to time and what better way than playing mobile games? The great thing about this: you don’t have to buy a PSP or similar expensive tech! When done in moderation, it can be a great stress reliever and time killer. We’ve checked out a few free, easy and entertaining options:
FAMILY FRIENDLY:
Candy Crush
We all know about King’s Candy Crush Saga – if you don’t you need to catch up on this fan favourite! It’s been around since 2012 with various sequels since then. The game originally started on Facebook, way back when people still actually played Facebook games.
It’s easy peasy – just match three of the same candies. There are various challenges and obstacles to get through each level. It seems like there are an endless amount of levels. In fact, if you’ve finished Candy Crush – you shall now be known as the king of Kings.
Sequels: Candy Crush Saga, Candy Crush Soda, Candy Crush Friends, Candy Crush Jelly
Note: it’s addictive, makes you crave sugar and the music/sound FX gets a little creepy.
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.king.candycrushsaga
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id553834731
You can also still play this game on Facebook as well as on your Microsoft computer, iPad/iPod Touch or Amazon device.
AlphaBetty
Bookworms, nerds, writers, journalists – we all have something in common: we love words. Whichever category you fall in, this game is fun and gives the brain a slight workout.
You are given a board of scrambled letters. Your job is simple: connect the letters to form a word (one that actually exists). Each level has a different challenge to it that you have to overcome.
The game might be a bit too difficult for younger kids but definitely a good English language vocabulary builder for High Schoolers.
Note: keep in mind it’s American so their spelling of words can be used in some cases.
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.king.alphabettysaga
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/alphabetty-saga/id814434907
Minecraft: Pocket Edition
You might know this game from playing it on your PC or gaming console but now (well since 2015) it’s available on your phone! Minecraft is fun for all ages as it is easy to learn and play.
The game revolves around the player building anything from simple houses to complex castles with building blocks taking you back to your LEGO days.
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mojang.minecraftpe
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/minecraft/id479516143
OLD SCHOOL (for the Boomers and Millennials):
Pac-Man
This is probably the most widely known arcade game in history. PAC-MAN: the legend, the grandfather of Snake, the godfather of – pretty much every other game out there. Without PAC-MAN, the world would be a sad (boring) place.
If you don’t know what this game is about, you should probably rethink your life choices.
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.namcobandaigames.pacmantournaments
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pac-man/id293778748
Mario Run
Sega’s Mario Run takes us back to the 90’s with the same old Mario running and collecting coins. Wizz through the course and collect coins without falling (or running into something) to progress to the next level.
The same ol’ Mario – just with better graphics.
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nintendo.zara&hl=en
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/super-mario-run/id1145275343
Sonic Dash
Sonic is back with an excellent mobile phone version that we just love! You can play various characters which you will unlock through some of the levels you play. There are in-App purchases but most of the content is free.
The game is simple, exactly like Mario Run, you have to navigate Sonic through the obstacle course and collect as many rings as you can. He runs pretty fast so try it on a day your reflexes are particularly fast. Every now and again you will have to do a boss battle which is relatively easy once you get the hang of the game.
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sega.sonicdash&hl=en_ZA
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sonic-dash/id582654048
Snake 97’
Remember the Nokia 3310? Snake was the game of choice, of course, if you had a Nokia. Life used to be simple. If you’d like to reminisce over the old days, Snake ’97 will transform you back to the days of simple graphics and brick phones.
All you have to do is make sure the snake doesn’t hit a wall or get eaten by the other one. You have to collect apples but the tricky part is that the snake’s body gets longer and longer with each meal – just like most of our bellies grow larger and larger during Quarantine. It gets harder to move the snake around as it grows, but once you have all the apples you can successfully move onto the next level.
How about them apples?!
Note: you gotta love the cheap photoshop of the Nokia logo on the App Store examples…
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dsd164.snake97
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/snake-97-retro-phone-classic/id438052745
Farmville 2: Country Escape
Before Candy Crush Saga and all the fancy new games, we had Farmville. In 2009 and 2010, Farmville took Facebook by storm and kept thousands of people awake at night to harvest their virtual crops. Why? We don’t have any explanation for the phenomenon besides that it brought out our inner human instinct to get addicted to random games.
Some of you might want to try it out of FOMO (because you were too young to join back then or you were in your rebellious stage) so try out their mobile-friendly sequel version: Farmville 2.
Country Escape is a bit more fun and user-friendly but they also have another version, Tropic Escape playing off on an island. Go on, harvest those crops and earn virtual FarmVille cash
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zynga.FarmVille2CountryEscape
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/farmville-2-country-escape/id824318267
TEEN/ADULT GAMES:
Plague Inc.
Now that we’re all in pandemic-mode, the game ‘Plague Inc.’ has relevance in our daily lives. It’s a fun game to kill time with and to feel like you’re in control of the end of the world. The game comes highly rated on App stores. The only downer is that you can only play each scenario so many times before it gets boring. It won’t be a game providing you with entertainment for the next two years but it’s definitely worth trying.
Your goal in the game is to wipe out the entire civilization through a pathogen that you evolve over time. You choose where the virus originates and how it is spread. You have to try outrun the scientists as they work hard on a cure. It’s a strategy game so put on your thinking cap and try to foresee the doomed future of humans.
Don’t panic though: it’s just a game! We hope *nervous laugh*
Note: if you have anxiety about Covid-19 or a conspiracy theorist, it’s not for you.
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.miniclip.plagueinc
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/plague-inc/id525818839
The Wolf Among Us
This game has beautiful graphics that make you feel like you’ve stepped straight into a comic book. The gameplay is easy and it has a great plotline no matter which direction you take it.
All you have to do is choose the storyline. The characters are all taken from fairytales in a grungy, mature thriller way. You play Bigby Wolf (based on the Big Bad Wolf from Little Red Riding Hood), a detective that has to solve a murder case. You choose what and when your character will say and do certain things – with the occasional ‘beating someone up’ session. Each choice you make has a consequence you have to deal with later.
The first episode is free, you will have to purchase the others. You’ll be able to play the game a few times though, as you can choose a different answer each time and change the storyline so it’s still totally worth it even if you don’t feel like paying!
Note: rated 16+ for strong language, violence and sex.
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.telltalegames.fables
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-wolf-among-us/id716238885
Sniper 3D
Some say this is one of the best shooter games that you can play on your phone. You will get a chance to be one of the army’s top snipers in this make-believe world.
It’s not rocket science, but it’s a great stress reliever! You will be expected to act with precision and assassinate various bad guys. The graphics and response time make the game easy and smooth. It also has an offline mode so you can play it without using data (switch off your mobile data and wifi to activate offline mode).
Note: not recommended for the trigger happy. Don’t try this at home with a real gun.
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fungames.sniper3d
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sniper-3d-gun-shooting-games/id930574573
Games can chow quite a lot of data, especially the more complex ones with HD graphics, so be sure to use your home wifi. Check out our Fibre and LTE options to avoid spending expensive data!
