Is Mobile Gaming Really Worth It?

Hey guys, today I’ll be writing about something that’s been on my mind lately. You see, the gaming industries have as of late been taking a turn to mobile gaming, not that it means that PC and Console gaming is dead, but mobile gaming is certainly more dominant now than it used to be.

So, I’ll analyze the reasons behind this change and my two cents on whether mobile gaming is ultimately worth it, compared to PC and Console gaming at least.

I will list the reasons why mobile games are popular compared to PC and console gaming, so reason like “Competitiveness” won’t make the list as it applies to both types of gaming. But first, some background:

Background

Mobiles are a lot like computers. They used to be owned by wealthy people, but with the establishment of industrialization and capitalism during the 90s, mobile phones became available to the general public.

Like computers, due to becoming so popular, the companies who developed them decided to start making them more and more sophisticated, to keep the advantage over rival companies, which lead us to today’s touch screen phones.

Mobile gaming was extremely crude at its beginning, just like regular gaming. The games on mobile phones were simple 2D pixel games like Snake, and other games similar to Alien Invaders from the arcades. Some even had simplistic car racing games.

None of those games were multiplayer, however.

Those early mobile games became very popular in Japan’s dedicated mobile phone game culture, praising the mobiles’ retro-style gaming. Older arcade games started reappearing on mobile devices.

Many developers tried to create their own games as well, but mobile operators were not very happy with a few developers having to interact with hundreds and thousands of players who would want any given game, so they acted as middle-men, which reduced revenue for the actual developers, thus keeping mobile gaming to a standstill.

It was the introduction of Apple’s App Store that changed the mobile world (and by extension the mobile gaming world) forever.

Through the App Store, customers could download any app that was published through the app store by any developer.

Due to the App Store becoming such a success, rival mobile operating systems started adopting this approach with their own app distributing apps.

Because Apple discarded the keyboards for touch screens, and the game developers used this input method as the dominant one, which forced eventually all other companies to do this as well.

But what are the reasons mobile games are so popular today?

Accessibility

A mobile game’s biggest advantage is arguably its accessibility. Single-player mobile games can be played anywhere, and if at any point you want to unwind and play a game, you can do so. You just pull out your phone and start playing.

Multiplayer games are a little harder, as they require either a good internet connection or a good mobile company reception and data plan to be played outdoors.

It’s certainly much easier than having to be able to play only in one room of your house.

Availability

Mobile games, thanks to Apple originally, are available to download at any time, anywhere, and for everyone (except the age-restricted phones). It’s so easy and fast to do so, that even old stubborn people are trying it out.

This helps by the way, with people seeing gaming more positively. Most games are also free which makes it even easier to have a plethora of games on your phone. Which brings us too…

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Pricing

Due to being easier to develop and maintain, mobile games are either free and completely supported by ads and in-game cosmetics and boosts, or require you to pay a small amount.

This makes them cheaper than their PC counterparts in general, but that means that most mobile games are much smaller in length and features than a PC game can be.

Casual

If you are a dedicated gamer, you know the hustle of looking for the perfect specs for your dream PC or waiting for that sale to get the game/console you always wanted and save some money.

Mobile gamers don’t have to worry about this at all. Mobile games only require you to have what everyone already has; a relatively recent mobile device.

Time Efficient

The process of mobile gaming can take up to 10 minutes, including actually opening and closing the game.

This is perfect for someone who has plans shortly after, or wants a quick 10-minute break from work, or even during the periods in schools.

Whereas playing a computer game would take up more time than that, or at least it isn’t worth it for this 10 minute period compares to mobiles.

Final Thoughts

Times are changing and this always brings changes. We are at a time where mobile gamers are just as much as PC gamers. Many PC gamers consider mobile games a “lesser breed” and a waste of time.

Personally, I welcome this change, as mobile games show a lot of potential, and it would be bad to overlook that.

Plus, mobile games have already started having the lead in some genres like the battle royales, or base building games, and many simple puzzle games.

A lot of multiplayer mobile games have e-sports as well, which is a bonus for the competitive ones.

Unfortunately, mobile games have one big disadvantage. The free competitive ones, due to needing money to sustain themselves, usually offer in-game boosters and items in exchange for real money.

This can put some players in an advantage early on, but it’s not that hard to reach the top by playing for free, it’s just too time-consuming.

Of course, if you are talented in any of these games, it will be obvious, even without the boosts.

My personal opinion for mobile games is just positively neutral; as long as they don’t affect the rest of the gaming world negatively, then I don’t really care.

A lot of the popular companies are balanced between the two gaming types, by having games for both devices.

Other companies chose to release their game on PCs and mobile simultaneously (like Microsoft’s Minecraft and Epic Games’ Fortnite).

In the end, I believe that mobile games are better than PC games on two (plus one) occasions: when you want to game on smaller fractions like before you get to sleep, or when you are between classes (or during for the daring ones!), and if you are a non-gamer wanting to pass the time somehow.

The bonus reason is if you have such a crappy PC that your mobile has much better specs, in which I wouldn’t blame you for preferring mobile games.

What are your thoughts on mobile gaming? Do you prefer mobile or PC gaming? I actually happen to play quite some mobile games to pass the time. If you want to say or add anything, do so in the comments, and I will answer as soon as I can.

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