With the news that the mobile games industry is expected to be worth $41 billion by 2017, the competition between games publishers has become fiercer than ever.
As well as the independent software developers who have produced surprise hits such as Angry Birds and Minecraft, there is increasing evidence that the major software houses are throwing increasing energies into this hugely popular domain.
Although exact details surrounding Nintendo’s first mobile game remains sketchy, there have been some fantastic mobile games in 2015, and so here are some of the very best.
Puzzle games
One of the biggest appeals of mobile gaming is the way in which the simple swiping motion can prove strangely enjoyable. And few games have illustrated the power of the swipe better in 2015 than Super Sharp that encourages gamers to use their finger to slice blocks and destroy geometric shapes in this simple, yet addictive physics puzzle game.
Although not strictly a puzzle game, Prune offers a zen-like appeal that has never been seen before in the mobile gaming environment. Players tackle the unlikely task of cultivating their own trees against the forces of nature and hostile terrain in order to reach the sun – who knew gardening could be so entertaining?
Traditional games
The simple game of chess has been given a dramatic twist in 2015 with the emergence of Chesh. This takes the traditional chess format and adds hundreds of new pieces, ever-changing rules, and above all, a sense of randomness that will make a normal game of chess look a little staid.
Similarly, playing a game of slots down the local arcade is going to seem like a bit of a chore compared to the sheer convenience offered by Coral’s selection of slots that not only feature a huge range of playing styles and graphics, but also feature some pretty attractive payouts too.
Platform games
For many, the simple pleasures of platform gaming are all that they require from their mobile entertainment. And thankfully Dust: An Elysian Tail provides a hyper-cute storyline, quality gameplay and stunningly rendered graphics that take full advantage of the latest mobile technologies.
And finally, it’s time to welcome back a familiar face as Lara Croft Go provides the tomb raider with her best mobile game yet. The turn-based platform puzzler features lush and rich graphics and enough gameplay to last you until well beyond your mobile battery runs out!
Photograph by Tobias Vemmenby