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What is a Mobile Game?
A mobile game refers to a video game that one typically plays on a mobile device. The term, at present, also incorporates all games played on all portable devices. This includes mobile phones (smartphones or feature phones), tablets, handheld game consoles, PDAs, and portable media players with and without network connectivity. It comes as no surprise that the earliest known instance of playing a game on a mobile phone was a variant of Tetris in 1994 on the Hagenuk MT-2000 device.
One can easily download mobile games from an app store (such as Google Play Store or the iOS App Store) or a mobile operator’s portals in today’s world. In some cases, they also come preloaded in handheld devices by the OEM or by the mobile operator when procured, via a memory card, sideloading (using a connector cable), Bluetooth, or infrared connection.
While people have always played games for leisure and entertainment purposes, be it on any device, mobile gamers now get to play for real money rewards too. Much of the credit for this should go to lightning-fast internet speeds, state-of-the-art equipment, and advancements in technology. Let us now quickly dive into the fundamentals of mobile gaming.
Platforms & Software used
If you observe, you’ll see that the top mobile games have all been developed, keeping adaptability in mind. They run on several technologies and platforms. Some of these include Symbian, Palm OS, WIPI, BlackBerry, Qualcomm’s BREW, Adobe Flash Lite, Sun’s Java, NTT DoCoMo’s DoJa, and early versions of Windows mobile – many of which have phased out in the last decade.
At one point, Java was the most widely supported platform for mobile games. However, its limits in performance resulted in the adoption of several native binary formats for more complex games. Unity is currently one of the most widely used mobile game engines owing to its seamless porting capability between an extensive developer community and mobile operating systems. Apple also offers numerous proprietary technologies (such as Metal) to facilitate developers in effectively using their hardware in native iOS games.
Presently, the universally supported platforms are Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS. Microsoft’s Windows 10 (the mobile version, i.e.) is also active, but its market share remains negligible compared with Android and iOS. Listed below are some interesting facts and statistics:
- Google Play (Android) – As of 2020, it made $31.9 billion in revenues. Forecasts say that Android games will account for 56% of all mobile game revenue by the end of 2022.
- App Store (iOS) – As of 2020, gaming constituted the most popular Apple App Store category, with a remarkable 22% of apps being games.
- Microsoft Store – While their market share is nominal, a new 2022 integration with Google will now allow gamers to start a game on an Android handset and resume playing on their laptop or desktop PC.
- Others – These include the Amazon App Store, Nokia Store, Samsung Apps, and more.
Types of Mobile Games
For the purpose of easier understanding, it is essential to categorize different types of mobile games as follows:
Single-Player Games
A single-player game is a video game where only one player provides inputs all through the gaming session. Single-player games are usually playable by one person, whereas “single-player” mode is a game mode that is structured to be played by one player, even if the game contains multiplayer modes.
Many modern console games and arcade games, designed for a single player to play, have also made their way into smartphones and tablets. While some of these have game modes that permit two or more players, few require the presence of more than one player.
Some of the best mobile games feature in this category – namely Apple Knight, Grid Autosport, Lara Croft Go, XCom Enemy Within, Riptide GP Renegade, Neon Chrome, Another Eden, Oddmar, Hitman Go, Deus Ex Go, Space Marshals 2, Inferno 2, Star Wars: KOTOR, and Horizon Chase.
Two-Player Games
As the name suggests, the gameplay mechanics involve two players playing simultaneously on the same device or separate devices. These could also be turn-based, like Chess or Checkers, for instance. The mobile versions of many turn-based board games currently adopt the two-player format, allowing the players to compete with each other to determine the winner.
Two-player games have come a long way, especially since the onset of the pandemic. Playing against an actual human player instead of the game’s AI or a computer opponent makes certain games infinitely more interesting. Unlike online multiplayer games that support desktop browsers more, some two-player phone games allow you to free-roam, possess different mobile sets (or even can be played on a single set), and enjoy in an unlimited mode.
Notable names include Dunkers, Glow Hockey 2, Badland, Dual, Crossy Road, Dots and Boxes, Smash Tanks, Ready Steady Bang, Mucho Party, Duel Otters, and QuizUp. Several games on the MPL app also follow the two-player format.
Multiplayer Games
Several mobile games support multiple players, either locally via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth or remotely over a network. These are known as multiplayer games.
There are multiple options to play multiplayer games on mobile phones: live synchronous play and turn-based asynchronous play. In live play, players from different parts of the world are randomly matched to compete with each other. This is done with the help of networks such as Facebook, Game Center, etc.
In asynchronous play, players do not need to be available simultaneously. The inputs and scores of one player are recorded even before matching with available opponents. Once the opponents complete their sessions, scores are tallied, and a winner is declared. Asynchronous play solves the problem of players requiring continuous live connectivity. A battle royale game, with last-man-standing gameplay featuring multiple players, is a perfect example. Multiplayer tournaments also work tremendously well when it comes to racing games.
The broadcast of multiplayer tournaments is on a trend of its own. Some companies even record live players and broadcast them to other players later to let them know that they’re constantly interacting with a human counterpart. Genshin Impact, Raid: Shadow Legends, League of Legends: Wild Rift, Mario Kart Tour, Call of Duty: Mobile, PUBG Mobile, Pokemon Go, Gwent, Fortnite, Asphalt 9: Legends, and Clash of Clans are popular multiplayer titles for the mobile.
How to Make Money Playing Mobile Games
The most exciting proposition to have emerged from the gaming industry is the instant reward system. These may be in the form of usable coins or tokens to unlock assets within the game or in the form of virtual currency to make an in-app purchase. But what if you can play games and win to earn real cash? If this idea interests you, MPL is the answer you’re seeking.
The MPL gaming platform offers free-to-play, addictive games where you stand a chance to win real cash prizes by winning. While most gamers want relaxing games, the idea of winning big is also an attractive feature. Also, the app allows you to withdraw your winnings to your bank account instantly. When transactional safety is guaranteed, what’s stopping you? Play alongside friends or compete with random opponents and defeat them to win money. Choose from a list of casual games, arcade games, sports games, card games, and more!
The Bottomline
That was quite a detailed look at mobile gaming, wasn’t it? Now, let’s skip to the good part, i.e., play some fun games on the mobile and make some money!
