So, it’s happened. The power’s down, and it’s going to be a few hours before its back up, and you’re stuck home during it all and bored as. No PC, no Playstation or Xbox… What are you going to do?
Well, if you have a mobile with some charge on it, you’re not completely screwed on the gaming front – Here’s some entertaining games that take little battery and data to help you through your mini ‘Dark Age’.
Seedship
Seedship is a game I covered early last year, but it’s still just as good now as it was then. Filling the role of a deep-space colony ship’s AI, you must guide what could be the last remnants of the human race to a new world. You must keep in mind a planet’s suitability, its resources, and whatever life may already be there when choosing a planet – But be careful. The longer your travel without landing, the more your systems will age and begin to breakdown. Will it truly be worth saving the human race if all its science and cultural knowledge is lost, forcing your colonists to descend into the bronze age..? That’s something you may have to consider in your journey.
Availability: Google Play, Apple Store, Website
Price: Free
Graphics: Text Only
Gameplay: Pretty fun, casual simulation with lots of replay value
Life of a Wizard
Taking place over the course of 80 years, you guide a wizard from childhood to old age, deciding not only their fate, but their kingdom’s along the way. Train to become a master of different schools of magic, from alchemy and enchantment to conjuration and necromancy. Make friends, romance lovers, and help your king manuever the political realm – and protect him when that fails. This 130,000 word interactive novel by Mike Walter is a truly amazing game, and offers hours of enjoyment.
Availability: Google Play, Apple Store, Amazon, Website and Steam (For when power’s back)
Price: $2.99 USD
Graphics: Text Only
Gameplay: An engaging interactive fiction experience, complete with decisions and stats
Fire Emblem: Heroes
A mobile outing for the very highly regarded tactical RPG, this take on the Fire Emblem formula is still pretty well realised. Featuring a unique plot and diverse tactical gameplay, this title may be a little harder on your battery, and will require some data, but it’s well worth a look if the idea of a free little timewaster sounds good to you. Just be aware that the game has a gatcha system – If you have gambling issues, it’s probably better to avoid this title.
Availability: Google Play, Apple Store
Price: Free, with Microtransactions
Graphics: Rendered Sprites
Gameplay: Tactical strategy with loads of maps and battle-types
Dragon Quest
A port of the old JPRG classic, optimised for touch screen controls. Taking the role of a stranger visiting the Kingdom of Alefgard, you are quickly tasked to restore the troubled kingdom and defeat the evil Dragonlord. This is a fairly standard, but still enjoyable, RPG title, with hours of playtime to its name. The low cost also means it’s a great pick-up, too.
Availability: Google Play, Apple Store
Price: $4.29 USD
Graphics: Rendered Sprites
Gameplay: A traditional JRPG with hours of gameplay
Plants vs Zombies
A simple, addicting strategy title you may have heard of before. As the owner of a house (And one very juicy set of brains), you must plant a garden each level that will successfully fend off waves of undead. Starting in the front yard, then the back (With pool), and finally the roof, you’ll have access to a variety of plants and power-ups to keep the undead at bay. I used to play this one for hours back in the day, and whilst it is now free, be aware that they’ve added microtransactions to the title.
Availability: Google Play, Apple Store and Steam (For when power’s back)
Price: Free
Graphics: Rendered Sprites
Gameplay: A casual strategy experience involving placing (And replacing) plants to thwart the undead
RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic
An absolute legend of a game, now on mobile. This original PC classic tasks you to create and manage your very own themepark! Build coasters, dodge ’ems, carousels, and more, including restaurants and gift shops – and manage it right down to tracks, colours and what items are being sold! The expansion packs are also available for purchase, and I recommend this title specifically as I’ve heard it’s an amazingly well done port (And that RollerCoaster Tycoon 4 kind of, uh, sucks). Who wouldn’t want to be able to make their own theme park?
Availability: Google Play, Apple Store, GoG (For when power’s back)
Price: $9.49 USD, Expansions extra
Graphics: Rendered Sprites
Gameplay: A theme park simulator that’s easy to play, but hard to master, with a surprising amount of depth to it
What do you think of this list? Any hidden gems you enjoy on your phone in times of need? Let us know in the comments!
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