Call me a boomer, but for me, mobile gaming peaked in the early 2010s. Phones were getting powerful enough to run console-like experiences, but the industry hadn’t yet drowned in gatcha tactics, ads after every level, or endless battle passes. Instead, developers focused on compelling single-player experiences, short but addictive gameplay loops, and just the right balance of challenge and accessibility. In those early years, some mobile games felt more like passion projects than monetization funnels. Beyond that, they offered many of today’s mobile games don’t – bite-sized entertainment. While many of those titles have disappeared from the Play Store or become incompatible with modern Android versions, a handful remain playable and enjoyable even today.
Mobile gaming peaked in the 2010s and I’m ready to die on this hill.