Category: Mobile Games for Core-Gamers

Even core gamers might want to play mobile games from time to time. Turns out it is very hard to find good ones even if you’re willing to spend money. In this series of post, I present some great games and some you should avoid.

Interestingly, most of the great games are hobby projects by small teams or even single persons, and most of the bad games are free-to-play or pay-to-win games by bigger companies. My reviews are based on long-term playing. Sometimes, I spent months in a game until it became apparent that you can’t reach the endgame without spending crazy amounts of real money.

Criteria

Fun: Is it fun to play or do you rather watch ads to progress?
Content: Do you see something new each time you play? Is the game very short or repetitive? Do you need to grind ages to unlock a new car?
Ads: Do you have to close 5 ads every time you start the game? Are you forced to watch an ad after each match?
Costs: Is it free? Are you encouraged or forced to spend real money?

Summary

Asphalt 9: Borderline. This arcade racer can be fun but has only few tracks. The balancing is flawed and the last event with the Koenigsegg was mostly unplayable without spending money.
Eternium: Strongly recommended. This RPG has a lot of content and the developers add even more from time to time. It features a great variety of areas, monsters, skill and effects. The in-game purchases are not necessary to have fun and grinding is limited.
Legion War: Strongly recommended. This turn-based strategy game has a great gameplay with no strings attached.
Real Racing 3: Not recommended. This racing game with simulation focus would be great, but EA getting increasingly greedy. The events have become unplayable without spending crazy amounts of money. Still, the non-event gameplay, especially the driving physics are great.
TheoTown: Recommended. This city builder game lets you build your own towns with different types of areas and infrastructure – very much like an older Sim City. You don’t need to wait days for constructions as in similar mobile games. Real-money purchases are optional, and even the ads can be disabled.

Mobile Games for Core-Gamers

Legion War – Tactic and Strategy

by pplusplusupdated on 2019-08-252019-02-09

Legion War is a free round-based strategy game in fantasy setting, very similar to Battle for Wesnoth. Great gameplay without ads. In-game purchases are optional and grinding is only necessary if you want to max- out everything.