Mobile gaming is a fast-paced and dynamic industry, constantly changing, evolving, and never standing still. New games are launched regularly across a wide array of genres, all competing for the same thing: your attention. That’s why we have so much choice and a constant flow of AAA titles ready to take our fancy. You could play a handful of new games every single day, and it would take you years to run out.
Mobile gaming isn’t just one ‘thing.’ It’s an umbrella term for a collection of different types of gameplay, software engines, and genres. That’s why they’re so all-encompassing, so ridiculously popular. When it comes to mobile gaming, there’s something for everyone. These are the most popular genres on the market today.
Role-playing games (RPG)
The perennial favorite, and for a good reason. We all need a bit of escapism every once in a while to escape the real world and pretend to be someone else. What about becoming a hero in a fantasy realm resembling medieval England?
The Witcher is one example of undoubtedly legendary titles now available on most smartphones. Other big-name games in this genre include Epic Seven, Another Eden, and Final Fantasy VII.
In the truest sense of the genre, the OG role-playing games allow the player to control every aspect of the character. In some games, like eye color and dexterity, players can control even the smallest details. It ensures that every character is unique, with one version per player.
Casino Slots and table games
Brick-and-mortar establishments have some serious competition: mobile iGaming. It’s just like the casino experience in ‘real life’, except you don’t have to dress up like James Bond to make it happen.
The online casino is a virtual copy of the land-based versions, so you’ll get the classic games you’re used to. We’re talking roulette, blackjack, that sort of thing. But in the world of casino games, the slot machine is really driving growth, with bigger and better graphics, sound, and gameplay than ever before.
Strategy games
This genre has been around for a long time, and it doesn’t need fancy graphics or advanced engines to work. The first successful version was Eastern Front (1941), a basic turn-based World War II epic available on the Atari.
Strategy games will always be popular because humans love the intense challenge they provide. They use our capacity for critical thinking, quick decision-making, problem-solving, and strategy all rolled into one.
Real-time strategy games are more popular these days, as they’re more fast-paced and rely on players making quick decisions. One of the biggest mobile strategy games ever is Plague Inc. It was released over ten years ago but is still strong.
First-Person Shooters
You didn’t think we would leave Call of Duty out of this, did you? First-person shooters give the player a, well, first-person perspective. You’re essentially getting a fully immersive experience where you see, hear, and feel exactly what the character you control does.
And that’s exactly why these games are so popular, that PoV experience that makes you think you’re literally in the game. You interact with your environment as if you were experiencing it in real life, throwing yourself right into the deep end.
According to video game research (yes, there is such a thing!), it’s ultimately because FPS gets players to experience the perfect sense of flow, an immersive experience that gives players control but just enough challenging elements to keep things interesting.
They’re also pretty easy to plug and play. The controls are similar across most titles (this is by design), meaning you can pick up a smartphone and get going immediately. FPS games also have a strong multiplayer element, which creates tight-knit communities for certain titles.
Sports games
Our final entry in this list is sports games. No matter what sport you’re into, there’s probably a mobile version of the game. Of course, major sports like soccer, football, and basketball are all represented (FIFA, Madden, and NBA2K, respectively). Electronic Arts, the makers of FIFA, have made sports titles their bread and butter.
Sports games have obvious draws: following your team into deeper fandom, managing, playing, and creating your superteam. If your team hasn’t ever won a big trophy, like Tottenham, for example, you can pretend to be Poch v2.0 and take the club to Premier League glory.
They’re also pretty easy to play, with fans understanding the sport’s rules. Gameplay is pretty simple for the most part, at least to master the basic elements. It’s a great group option, too, as sports is a popular pastime for many of the population.
Endless Choice, Unlimited Opportunities
We haven’t even included other genres, such as puzzle games, action spectacles, and simulations. We’ll give you a thesis if you divide mobile games into subgenres. The point is mobile games are big business; consumers have plenty of choice, and it’s even become the norm for AAA titles to be designed specifically for mobile devices. It’s a good time to own a smartphone. That’s all we’re saying.
