What is a real game?

Well for people like me, PC Gamers, a real game is a game that is well made, requires some degree of skill and isn't loaded with micro transactions. For example Dungeon Keeper 2 for PC is a real game, Dungeon keeper mobile is not (it is an abomination and an insult to the PC title), Total war is a real game, and flappy birds is not. I'm sure you get where I'm coming from and yes, I fully understand how elitist that makes people like me, but the same is true with movie reviewers and food critics. Anyway let's get on with my list of 5 must have "real games" for IOS and android.

XCOM: Enemy Within

This strategy masterpiece was first released on PC in November 2015 following the success of XCOM: Enemy Unknown and received a huge amount of praise from both players and game reviewers. It was a runaway success and while the game wasn't perfect, it was an instant favourite amoung fans.

When the news hit that XCOM was coming to IOS and Android I was instantly skeptical, I didn't believe the game could be brought over to the mobile platform without the usual nonsense like micro transactions and thought the game would be stripped of all character and gameplay mechanics. But boy was I wrong! The game is exactly the same as on PC, sure there are a few less cutscenes and maps and the graphics have been toned down, but it's still the game we all love on our portable devices! I cannot recommend this game enough. It has everything you could want from a game, it had a good story, it is challenging and has fantastic gameplay.

Hearthstone

Yes I realise hearthstone isn't for everybody. Most people aren't interested in card games, but if you are you can't go wrong with hearthstone. Hearthstone is multi platform meaning when playing the game you will be playing against people on all platforms. This is great because it means the total pool of people playing is MASSIVE!

Hearthstone receives regular updates by Blizzard making the game feel fresh and new on a regular bases. While the game DOES feature micro transactions, this is how all card games are because people need to buy packs, so it gets a pass and the game can be played to a fairly high level on a free to play account anyway. The IOS/Android version of the game has a great UI and is every bit as usable as the PC counterpart. If you have 10 minutes to kill, you can't go wrong with Hearthstone.

Faster Than Light

Faster than light is one of those games that took the PC world by storm in 2012. If you have not heard of FTL before then you are in for a major treat. This real time strategy roguelike title is both extremely challenging and very replayable. The game has you fighting your way through several maps until you either win or get destroyed. In many ways this game is about damage control.

FTL is another fantastic port from PC. The UI is in many ways even more intuitive with a touch screen than with a mouse and keyboard. Because of the simplistic graphics, the game doesn't suffer at all for being on mobile over being on PC. I actually prefer this game on a tablet to on PC, which is a rare feat!

This War of Mine

If you think you are too happy, then this game will bring you right down to earth with gripping, gritty and atmospheric gameplay. This game is about the desperate struggle to survive during a terrible civil war. You have to make tough moral choices to help others, or rob, kill and betray people just to survive until the end of the war. The game win condition is the end of the war but to get there there is a lot of damage control and strategic decisions mixed with a bit of luck to get you there.

The game does have micro transactions, however unlike most App Store games, you aren't being asked to pay to remove adverts or to upgrade or remove energy restrictions, in this case it is for an expansion which gives you more playable characters and stories. So to my mind, that's fair.

Knights Of The Old Republic

I'm sure every PC gamer in the world has fond memories of KOTOR, well this port is 100% the same game we all remember and love. The controls are pretty solid on a touch screen. Mouse and keyboard was obviously better, however the game has made the controls and UI as good as is possible without physical controls.

For all three of you who haven't played this masterpiece, the game has you playing a character in the Star Wars universe, who you are and how you develop your character's equipment and skills is left completely to the player. If you want to play as a gun slinging bounty hunter, you can, if you want to be a Jedi or a Sith, you can. It in many ways this is the game that revolutionised gaming as a whole.

Conclusion

There it is, my favourite must have games for tablet and phones. Just to clarify, I also play games that could viably not be considered "real games" such as Clash of Clans however I am fully prepared to admit that these games are purely made for exploiting money out of people rather than out of passion by the developers.

Please let me know what iOS or android games you enjoy most. If you enjoyed this post please consider upvoting and following me.

Thanks for reading

Viking