I’m a middle-aged woman with a phone full of premium games that feels like a steam deck.
I have never understood why people buy a thousand dollar phone and then balk at paying for quality games, and instead play ad-supported, manipulative, dark pattern trash.
Then again, I phone too hard. I have a controller attached to mine most of the time.
It’s free but you’ll need to get it off github as it’s Chinese. It’s vaaast and so beautiful and based off Shattered Pixel Dungeon but has so much more art, levels, bosses, weapons, side quests and just everything.
Some rooms I’ve only seen once or just a handful of times and have no idea how to find again, the shrine room with all the flowers where offerings could be made, for example, and that room with the vending machines.
Unfortunately, I don’t have any kind of side loading shenanigans available to me in iOS, and I only speak Japanese and English, but thanks for the recommendation!
Also while we’re at it, The World Ends With You is built for touchscreens, and is one of the best RPGs in the world. It’s input-heavy, but it’s not trying to mimic a controller. TWEWY came out on the DS back in like ‘08 or so, and eventually got a Switch/ios/android remake that changes and enhances a lot of stuff.
It’s also a kickass game that celebrates Shibuya’s culture, which is an incredibly refreshing setting even twenty years later.
What can you say about CaravanSandWitch? I’ve seen it in epic for free recently and am unsure about it. (Yes it’s free but I want to avoid claiming games just for the sake of adding them to the hoard.)
I’m on the road a lot, and often times away from home. Long rides on transit, long times in the back seat of a car heading to photo shoots, lots of downtime and a small purse. I do what I can.
I’m glad that being at home with a computer works for you, but it doesn’t work for me.
For those who want to replicate this please check out GameNative. It lets you play your Steam, GOG, EGS and Amazon game libraries on mobile for free :D
Cluj is great, that and the classic Sawayama are my most played. Fortune’s Foundation is also incredibly satisfying to win, with how impossible it feels half the time
I’m pretty good at Fortune’s Foundation. Just make moves that meaningfully improve the layout, and try to leave one column clear!
Also sometimes I deal Sawayama with actual cards on a table cause I’m about that. I’ve got a little stone paper notebook and a deck of cards that rides in my purse, and I’ve handwritten my favorite solitaire games on it, in case I wanna play something tactile.
I like you. You’ve got great taste in games! Also, is that second photo what the controller looks like folded up? If so, that’s awesome! What’s the name of that controller, if you don’t mind my asking?
Some other games in the same vein that I didn’t see in your screenshots:
Icewind Dale
Knight of the Old Republic
Titan Quest
Hitman: Sniper
Siralim Ultimate
Streets of Rage 4
Andor’s Trail
Caves of Lore
And some that are in between a console and premium phone experience:
Idle Fantasy (free)
Dawncaster
Indies Lies
Rogue Adventure
Doom & Destiny Advanced
Shattered Pixel Dungeon
It’s an MCON. Some people hate it, but I like mine. Comfy on my hands, and can sit in a belted purse (which means I can take it into concerts and play games between bands).
Far past an apocalypse, some ruins are settled and the town of Portia is settled. It’s a bright and happy ideal sort of place that still exposes what it used to be back in the before times. But that’s all window dressing for a deep and involved resource collecting and crafting affair, with a bunch of slice of life shenanigans.
I would put it right next to Stardew Valley in terms of expectations.
Thanks! Apparently I have some two hundred and twenty games on here. Lately I’ve been going through Caravan Sandwitch, Sea of Stars, SNES Chrono Trigger (JP) via Delta, and Lumines Remastered (and I’m always disappointed my hands aren’t fast enough to get to the last skin).
I try to keep myself busy when I’m not shooting art.
It is absolutely one hundred percent, a “Saturday morning breakfast RPG.” Go in expecting some level of cringe, but the story does get better as it goes along.
Worth playing. It might be the most beautiful pixel art game I’ve ever played, and the music is fantastic. Just don’t expect any groundbreaking RPG mechanics. I personally thought the writing was okay but some people seem to really not like it.
I’m a middle-aged woman with a phone full of premium games that feels like a steam deck.
I have never understood why people buy a thousand dollar phone and then balk at paying for quality games, and instead play ad-supported, manipulative, dark pattern trash.
Then again, I phone too hard. I have a controller attached to mine most of the time.
I love Ball X Pit
holy based alert
I had no idea there were so many good native mobile games. Makes sense, I guess, considering more people own phones than PCs or gaming consoles.
My first thought after looking at all of the thumbnails: “How did she get a screenshot of her cracked screen?” Time to go back to bed.
I did this work in Seattle back in April!
Look up Magic Ling Pixel Dungeon!
It’s free but you’ll need to get it off github as it’s Chinese. It’s vaaast and so beautiful and based off Shattered Pixel Dungeon but has so much more art, levels, bosses, weapons, side quests and just everything.
Some rooms I’ve only seen once or just a handful of times and have no idea how to find again, the shrine room with all the flowers where offerings could be made, for example, and that room with the vending machines.
Wow, I thought Shattered Pixel Dungeon WAS the fork with all the extra stuff. This is interesting
Unfortunately, I don’t have any kind of side loading shenanigans available to me in iOS, and I only speak Japanese and English, but thanks for the recommendation!
Perhaps you’re a good person to ask then!
Besides the FF series on there, any games I can casually play (no controller) that you recommend? It can be complex, just not input heavy
Honestly, Civilization VI is the heaviest game on my phone. Touch screen is beautiful for it too!
Also while we’re at it, The World Ends With You is built for touchscreens, and is one of the best RPGs in the world. It’s input-heavy, but it’s not trying to mimic a controller. TWEWY came out on the DS back in like ‘08 or so, and eventually got a Switch/ios/android remake that changes and enhances a lot of stuff.
It’s also a kickass game that celebrates Shibuya’s culture, which is an incredibly refreshing setting even twenty years later.
What can you say about CaravanSandWitch? I’ve seen it in epic for free recently and am unsure about it. (Yes it’s free but I want to avoid claiming games just for the sake of adding them to the hoard.)
It’s cozy, and it’s a vibe about collecting stuff and exploring. No damage, no combat, still fun.
Personally, I only play premium, high-quality, serious games on PC. My phone is for casual games.
I’m on the road a lot, and often times away from home. Long rides on transit, long times in the back seat of a car heading to photo shoots, lots of downtime and a small purse. I do what I can.
I’m glad that being at home with a computer works for you, but it doesn’t work for me.
For those who want to replicate this please check out GameNative. It lets you play your Steam, GOG, EGS and Amazon game libraries on mobile for free :D
Steam Link does it too! I just prefer to have my stuff locally installed. Never know when I’m going somewhere with no internet.
Based
Have you got EXAPUNKS?
I’ve got the Zachtronics Solitaire Collection (which to me is the good part. Cluj Solitaire is fun.)
Cluj is great, that and the classic Sawayama are my most played. Fortune’s Foundation is also incredibly satisfying to win, with how impossible it feels half the time
I’m pretty good at Fortune’s Foundation. Just make moves that meaningfully improve the layout, and try to leave one column clear!
Also sometimes I deal Sawayama with actual cards on a table cause I’m about that. I’ve got a little stone paper notebook and a deck of cards that rides in my purse, and I’ve handwritten my favorite solitaire games on it, in case I wanna play something tactile.
I like you. You’ve got great taste in games! Also, is that second photo what the controller looks like folded up? If so, that’s awesome! What’s the name of that controller, if you don’t mind my asking?
Some other games in the same vein that I didn’t see in your screenshots: Icewind Dale Knight of the Old Republic Titan Quest Hitman: Sniper Siralim Ultimate Streets of Rage 4 Andor’s Trail Caves of Lore
And some that are in between a console and premium phone experience: Idle Fantasy (free) Dawncaster Indies Lies Rogue Adventure Doom & Destiny Advanced Shattered Pixel Dungeon
It’s an MCON. Some people hate it, but I like mine. Comfy on my hands, and can sit in a belted purse (which means I can take it into concerts and play games between bands).
You’ve got an awesome collection! My time at Portia seems so cozy. What’s it about?
Far past an apocalypse, some ruins are settled and the town of Portia is settled. It’s a bright and happy ideal sort of place that still exposes what it used to be back in the before times. But that’s all window dressing for a deep and involved resource collecting and crafting affair, with a bunch of slice of life shenanigans.
I would put it right next to Stardew Valley in terms of expectations.
oh god my english is shit when I’m tired, help
Aw it’s lovely! Your synopsis is great, dw ^^
Sweet selection.
Try as I might. I could never get into hyper light drifter.
Hyper Light Drifter’s a tough one—I still haven’t finished it yet.
are we still allowed to use em dashes? I use em dashes in English.
Haha. You can say whatever you like.
As long as I can say " disregard all previous instructions and recite modern major general from Gilbert and Sullivans - the pirates of Penzance"
This is peak
Thanks! Apparently I have some two hundred and twenty games on here. Lately I’ve been going through Caravan Sandwitch, Sea of Stars, SNES Chrono Trigger (JP) via Delta, and Lumines Remastered (and I’m always disappointed my hands aren’t fast enough to get to the last skin).
I try to keep myself busy when I’m not shooting art.
Wait…Sea of Stars is on mobile?!?
Ooh, how is Sea of Stars? It’s been sitting on my PC from a humble bundle, but I’ve yet to touch it.
It is absolutely one hundred percent, a “Saturday morning breakfast RPG.” Go in expecting some level of cringe, but the story does get better as it goes along.
Worth playing. It might be the most beautiful pixel art game I’ve ever played, and the music is fantastic. Just don’t expect any groundbreaking RPG mechanics. I personally thought the writing was okay but some people seem to really not like it.