In an era in which mobile gaming is booming, there are countless developers who are yet to break through in this competitive market. Most titles rely on advertisements, while there are some who mix microtransactions either as cosmetics or some stat buffs, the latter promoting an unhealthy in-game economy.
Budget-conscious gamers are hopeful that the mobile platform won't be limited, especially in the MMORPG and FPS genres. Only a few titles have stood the test of time, and, believe it or not, they continue to milk the fanbase as much as they can, while others just remain stagnant.
Greedy: Clash Series
Behind the most famous base-building mobile series lies a dark secret. In Clash of Clans, maxing out a town hall can take years depending on the dedication of the player, but impatient gamers could just pay to reach it in an hour and even get a chance to join the tournaments provided that their skills are good enough. All it takes are 15 gem packs worth $99.99 to smash through the competitive rankings.
Great: Rise Of Kingdoms
Clash of Clan's more generous rival, Rise of Kingdoms, balances the in-game economy better than most base building games. These come in the form of daily tasks that players need to accomplish so they can be rewarded premium items. One can also speed up progress and be a top player by joining alliances, which are very similar to clans, and high spending players are evenly distributed in these alliances which means less unfair battles.
Greedy: Candy Crush Saga
It's all fun and games right until around the 70th level where the game subtly hints at buying more power-ups since it is near unbeatable at this stage. The power-ups are relatively cheap, usually ranging from two to ten dollars, but the cost of multiple purchases can easily add up. Don't be fooled; there are better puzzle games like Bejeweled or Treasures of Montezuma. For such a simple, casual title, it's surprisingly exploitative.
Great: Pokemon Go
Pokemon Go isn't dying anytime soon. Recent reports show that the game has earned over $1 billion in 2020 alone, which is doubly impressive given how rough 2020 was.
This game perfected the mobile AR genre. Fans go to great lengths to catch Pokemon and climb the ranks to become the top trainers. It is possible to level up without spending, and, fortunately, Pokemon can't be bought. It's also a great way to exercise and enjoy some fresh air outside, as the game is entirely based on getting outside and moving your body.
Greedy: Pixel Gun 3D
Pixel Gun 3D has come a long way and has an active fanbase, but these fans won't stay for long if the developers don't restructure the economy and get rid of the gems.
Paying players clearly have an unfair advantage. Imagine a low skill player who purchased $40 armor and an overpowered laser minigun against a veteran who's been grinding just to end up with a weak, near-useless lightsaber.
Great: Roblox
Another title that aged like a fine wine is Roblox, and the vast majority of servers are enjoyable even without spending a single buck. Most players are just keen on purchasing cosmetic items or premium memberships which don't give significant advantages gameplay-wise. They are very cheap too; a six-dollar monthly membership gives players Robux—the in-game currency—allowance and access to a variety of cool-looking skin
With a focus on user-generated content, gameplay is as limitless as it is in titles like Minecraft. While Roblox may not be quite as well-known as Microsoft's property, it's definitely no slouch in terms of revenue and active playerbases.
Greedy: Lords Mobile
Lords Mobile was fun for a while. It is a great strategy game, but, when fighting against the big spenders, all fun goes down the drain. It seems like IGG is shoving the P2W model down the community's throats. Unfortunately, it's now a primary example of a pay-to-win model gone wrong, and the game pushes microtransactions to such an extreme degree that it often feels predatory. Though not the worst-of-the-worst when it comes to mobile gaming, Lords Mobile certainly isn't worth downloading today.
Great: Black Desert Mobile
The mobile incarnation of the legendary PC sandbox isn't exactly flawless, but it's better than most MMORPGs.
Black Desert Mobile has it all: the guild wars, customization, and parkour. Players can choose a variety of classes and interact with NPCs to activate certain quests in order to level up the character. The bosses are no joke, either, and the combat system can't get any more cleaner and fluid, as it's more-or-less exactly like the console and PC version. Plus, for a mobile game, this title boasts some serious visual appeal.
Greedy: Dungeon Keeper Mobile
A surefire way to butcher a great series is by adding in useless microtransactions. Dungeon Keeper's mobile port had potential until EA introduced their shenanigans. Paying players are basically invincible, and the game more or less demanded players pay lest they sit through arbitrary wait times that could take up to 24 hours.
EA eventually said that everything can be acquired for free, except that it takes days to do simple stuff like digging. The designer of the original PC game, Peter Molyneux, was shocked to learn how EA butchered the title. It is only a matter of time before they destroy their sports titles. "Free to wait" is the term gamers like to use when "free to play doesn't fit." After all, there isn't really anything here to play at all.
Great: Free Fire
At first glance, Free Fire looks like a cheap PUBG knockoff, but, in reality, it's one of the best battle royales in the market. Newbies can jump right in, as, unlike PUBG's bothersome interface, Free Fire's UI is actually understandable. The game also features 50 players in one map, and matches end in just 10 minutes on average, making it great for a quick gaming session wherever.
The game is less demanding than PUBG mobile, and budget smartphones can achieve a decent framerate. As of August 2020, the player count totals 450 million, with 100 million average players daily, meaning it isn't too late to start.