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Over the course of the lockdown, we’ve run a few stories by guest contributor, gaming enthusiast, and sometimes Dungeon Master Mo, about the games that everyone was playing, or should be playing, while stuck at home.

All of them, such as Animal Crossing and Zelda: Breath of the Wild, require a gaming console – either an Xbox One, PS4, or a Nintendo Switch depending on the game.

Gaming has often been considered a male-dominated pastime, but that changed with the advent of smartphones. Unless you’re really committed, there’s no need to drop thousands on a console.

Studies show that there are roughly 2,4 billion global mobile gamers, with users spending up to 90% of their smartphone usage on apps and games. In 2019, it was revealed that 37% of mobile gamers were men, while a staggering 63% were women.

If you’re looking to take the edge off the hours spent indoors, and want to try your hand at a couple of games, here are five of the ones singled out by WIRED, as the best out there.

You’ll find them all in the App Store.

Ravenhill : Hidden Mystery

In Ravenhill, you need to find hidden objects in pictures, kind of like those bizarre I-Spy books from when you were a kid. Come for the immersive storyline, satisfying sounds, lovely graphics, and fun mini-games. Stay because of the rewarding gameplay. There are tons of free boosters and monthly events that make any in-game purchases unnecessary.

Florence

Florence isn’t your typical game. It’s from the designers of Monument Valley, another one of our favorites, and it’s all about falling in—and out of—love. The narrative-driven game will only take you a couple of hours, but we’re betting it’ll be on your mind for much longer than that. We don’t want to get too detailed in the interest of avoiding spoilers but trust us when we say this one is worth your time.

AdVenture Capitalist

Idle games are a blast because they don’t require a ton of critical thinking or hard work. AdVenture Capitalist is as easy as it is fun, and you can play it passively. Start with a single lemonade stand and work your way up to owning decillions of shrimp boats, all with just several taps.

Loóna

Loóna uses science to help you fall asleep. It features guided meditation, coloring, peaceful music, and relaxing sounds, parceled out over 20-minute “Sleepscapes” that help get you in the right mindset to doze off. Blame it on “corona brain”, but I’ve been having a really tough time getting to bed, or focusing on anything at all. Loóna has put a stop to my insomnia-fueled doomscrolling. If you are struggling to fall asleep, I can’t recommend this highly enough. Wear headphones while using the app for the best experience.

Legends of Runeterra

Unlike most card games, Legends of Runeterra relies heavily on skill and not so much on luck. It’s easy to learn, tough to master, and every update is thoughtful, balanced, and leaves the game better than it was before—which is a rare find when it comes to trading card games. Every card features gorgeous artwork and interwoven stories that rely on the lore of the League of Legends universe. Inspecting the cards is a great way to pass the time while you’re waiting for your opponent to make their next move.

You can check out more game suggestions, here.

As Mo would say, stay safe and keep gaming.

[source:wired]