One More Level, I Swear: 4 Games You Need to Download for Your Phone Now
PDF Anthony Lyen, Tempo Editor
Photo above courtesy of sxc.hu.
If you have never whipped out your phone in the middle of class or work to play a game, then congratulations, you have a lot more self-control than I do.
The first two games to appear in cellphones were the classics, Snake and Tetris. The two were simple, arcade-style games with a relatively basic purpose. As time went on, games for cellphones became slightly more complex, but for the most part, they were pretty low-tech.
Today, with the dominance of iPhones and Androids, playing a game on your cell phone is just as complex as one for an Xbox 360 or Playstation 3. Sure, you can still download Tetris, but if you are craving a game with more “substance,” there are plenty of choices to download.
It’s fair to assume, unless you don’t watch television, listen to the radio or talk to people, you have heard of Angry Birds, Draw Something and Words with Friends. While these games are incredibly fun, popular and addictive, they are also well-known. Instead, here are some games you may not have heard of, but should definitely give a try:
1. Fruit Ninja
Who doesn’t enjoy smashing some fruit, am I right?
Fruit Ninja is a simple, yet addictive game. When fruit appears in the game, gamers must swipe their fingers across the screen to cut the fruit. If you cut multiple fruits, you get more points, but if you miss three pieces of fruit in a row, the game is over.
That’s literally it. And it’s awesome.
Some extra obstacles are thrown in your way too. Bombs will be thrown into the mix with the fruit, so make sure you don’t get too crazy chopping away at those apples and oranges. You never know when you may detonate an explosive.
The game is relatively cheap, offering users either the free version or an inexpensive full version, often costing around $1. The game is incredibly popular, too; as of May 2012, more than 300 million people downloaded Fruit Ninja for their phones.
2. Temple Run
For the explorer in you, here’s a game you might find quite adventurous.
In Temple Run, users can become one of seven characters who are exploring an ancient temple. Upon starting the game, your character steals a sacred idol from the temple, making the demonic monkeys inside go bananas.
Your job is to -– you guessed it -– run from the temple.
By swiping your finger up, the character will jump. Swiping your finger down will cause the character to slide, swiping left or right will allow the character to turn corners and tilting the phone left or right will move the running idol-thief so he or she can collect some coins.
The app is a survival game. You must keep your character running from those crazy monkeys until an obstacle kills you. These obstacles include fire, trees and gaps in the path.
Temple Run has grown to be incredibly popular, even amassing one million downloads in a mere three days in March 2012. Oh, and did I mention it’s free?
3. Plague Inc.
While anyone can play Plague Inc., nursing majors and zombie-enthusiasts may find this game particularly fascinating.
With this game, users are in control of a new, deadly disease. Gamers can choose to be a bacteria, virus, fungus, parasite, prion, nano-virus or bio-weapon. After selecting a difficulty and naming the new disease, users must start out by infecting a single country.
Eventually, the disease will spread, and the user is now in charge of evolving the transmission of the disease, its symptoms and the abilities and strengths of the disease. This can be done by achieving DNA points for spreading the illness and making it more complex and deadly with each passing day. The goal is to infect and, ultimately, destroy the world.
Mankind, however, will not let this stand. Once your disease is spotted, countries will begin working on a cure, hoping to eradicate the sickness before it eradicates them.
An epidemic in real life would be scary, but since this is only a game, you can enjoy spreading a plague throughout the world for free.
4. Flow Free
I first heard about Flow Free from a classmate, and I was instantly intrigued by his enthusiasm for the game. I had to download it and check it out for myself.
Now, I will fully admit I’m addicted.
In Flow Free, the object of the game is to connect the corresponding colored dots that lie on a black grid. The lines connecting the dots cannot overlap, and the user must fill every single space on the grid. Think of it as connecting pipes, only more colorful and less dirty.
With hundreds of puzzles ranging in difficulty, Flow Free has almost instantly risen to the top of the app market. The game can be fun and relaxing, but when that seemingly impossible level comes up (which it will), the game becomes a brainteaser that leaves you scratching your head and eager for an answer.
Flow Free may sound pretty basic, but it’s one of the more entertaining and addictive phones games out there, and once again, it’s free.
About the Author
Anthony Lyen is a senior double majoring in Multimedia Journalism and Elementary Education. Lyen is from Chicago, IL, and is the Tempo Editor for the print edition of The Flyer. His hobbies include hanging out with friends, watching his beloved Chicago Blackhawks and of course, writing.
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