Like many gamers, I have been guilty of neglecting mobile games in the past. It’s true that mobile platforms are pockmarked with shallow ports and hollow software that exists only to peddle micro-transactions, but recently I have played some games that have made me reconsider my opinion. Three games to be precise.

AdVenture Capitalist

An oft observed flaw in mobile games is that when they attempt to emulate console level graphics and quality, they completely fall short. AdVenture Capitalist is a game which truly embraces the limitations of its platform.

AdVenture Capitalist is about achieving your very own American dream via a series of businesses, starting with a lemonade stand and ending in an oil company. The player earns money, reinvests that money in improving their current businesses or buying new businesses, and then watches their money steadily increase.

It’s almost ludicrously satisfying to see your business empire grow. Then, when your empire reaches its zenith, you can cash in all of your progress for ‘angel investors’, which increase productivity on your next run. It leads to a never-ending spiral of repetitive but unbelievably addictive investment.

I have spent a depressing amount of hours playing this game, but I haven’t spent a single penny. The player is offered the chance to double productivity for four hours by watching a quick advert, but there’s no pressure. It’s the perfect mobile game; simple, addictive and rewarding.

Ridiculous Fishing

Fishing is an intensely dull activity, right? In my mind, it involves dreary men sat in waterproof clothes by dingy rivers, waiting for fleeting flashes of fish-on-man contact. Well, Vlambeer has convinced me that fishing is actually a frantic and fun hobbie.

Ridiculous Fishing is a combination of two different but equally enjoyable play-modes. Each level begins with the player sat in a small row-boat with a fishing rod. Then, the player casts the line into the water, and by tilting the mobile left and right, navigates the hook as far down as possible without hooking any fish.

Then, when the hook is finally caught on a fish, the player has to use the same tilt controls to attempt to hook as many fish as possible on the way back up.

Then, when the fish are brought to the surface, they are thrown gleefully into the air for the player to shoot, one by one, with each providing points. The points can then be exchanged for upgrades to your equipment, which leads to more brutal and more efficient fish slaughter.

Vlambeer should be applauded for making fishing fun, and for making a delightfully irreverent and expertly designed game at such a reasonable price.

Steven Universe: Attack the Light!

Attack the Light! is an iOS RPG game that is based on a Cartoon Network property I have never seen, yet it’s without a doubt the best mobile game I have ever played.

As far as I can gather, Steven Universe and his friendship group of ‘Gems’, i.e. woman with magical powers, travel across the world – five worlds to be precise – defeating enemies and solving very simplistic puzzles.

It’s most comparable to the superb Paper Mario series. In each battle, the player has points available each turn which they can spend on moves with which to attack the enemy or cast buffs. When a character attacks, the player is prompted to tap the screen to get a bonus attack. In turn, when a character receives an attack, the player is prompted to tap the screen to defend.

Mechanically, its as simple as an RPG could ever be, but the wide range of moves available allows the player an element of tactical tomfoolery. The player explores a range of colour-themed dungeons by swiping from screen to screen.

Despite its unbelievably simplicity, Attack the Light! is such a fantastic game because its truly elegant in design, and offers hours and hours of gameplay. It’s fantastic to be able to pull your phone from your pocket and play a polished and enjoyable RPG, wherever you are and whatever you’re doing; whether that be waiting for the bus or ignoring your loved ones.

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