Ask HN: How do you find high quality mobile games?

#1

Post by zeroxfe » Sun, Jun 25, 2023, 2:09 PM UTC

How does one find high quality games on mobile? There's so much crap out there on the Play store, it's really hard to pick games. I don't care much about the genre or the price, I just want to play some high quality, low bullshit (no ads, spam, loot boxes, etc.) games.

Is there a website that curates games? What games do HN readers like?

Re: Ask HN: How do you find high quality mobile games?

#2

Post by NickC25 » Sun, Jun 25, 2023, 2:16 PM UTC

I don't really play mobile games. The one exception I have is chess. LiChess is a fantastic free app that has standard chess and a half a dozen different variations. Even has an offline mode where you can play the computer or play against someone locally on the same device.

The problem with mobile gaming today is that it's such a cash cow that everyone has jumped on the lootboxes/microtransactions bandwagon.

If you want no ads and high quality but want to play games on the go, buy a Switch.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find high quality mobile games?

#3

Post by WASDx » Sun, Jun 25, 2023, 2:19 PM UTC

Emulators can be used to play old console games.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find high quality mobile games?

#4

Post by Apreche » Sun, Jun 25, 2023, 2:20 PM UTC

Pay for Apple Arcade. Games in there are guaranteed not to have ads, spam, or microtransactions.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find high quality mobile games?

#5

Post by masteranza » Sun, Jun 25, 2023, 2:21 PM UTC

Usually luck. Try Alien Isolation on iOS.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find high quality mobile games?

#6

Post by Kelteseth » Sun, Jun 25, 2023, 2:22 PM UTC

WASDx wrote: post #3

Emulators can be used to play old console games.

Pokemon red is still the best mobile game

Re: Ask HN: How do you find high quality mobile games?

#7

Post by coolgoose » Sun, Jun 25, 2023, 2:24 PM UTC

Battle for wesnoth :)

Re: Ask HN: How do you find high quality mobile games?

#8

Post by IceDane » Sun, Jun 25, 2023, 2:25 PM UTC

Frankly, I've just given up. It's just heaps upon heaps of utter trash. Every time something just slightly nice is made, it is quickly drowned out by the 1000s of clones are almost always much worse and full of ads and microtransactions.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find high quality mobile games?

#9

Post by qsort » Sun, Jun 25, 2023, 2:26 PM UTC

coolgoose wrote: post #7

Battle for wesnoth :)

Is it still being played? Back in the day it was one of the few good Linux games.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find high quality mobile games?

#10

Post by dillydogg » Sun, Jun 25, 2023, 2:27 PM UTC

I just play Super Auto Pets. But I honestly can't even say where I found it, someone must have recommended it to me.