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The industry bias against mobile-only games is such a bummer. Prepare for a semi-rant.
You can go to Metacritic and view all games by all platforms for 2020, but you won't find high scoring mobile games. You will however, find mobile games that released cross-platform.
You can go to Metacritic and view all games by all platforms for 2020, but you won't find high scoring mobile games. You will however, find mobile games that released cross-platform.
In FACT, if you try to start with a list of best mobile games, you can't - it's not even listed as a platform in the dropdown - it's relegated with Stadia when you hit 'more' (I can choose between PS4 and PS5 specifically. Also, sure does look like room for Stadia/iOS there...)
So for an example, HoloVista reviewed really well - 83 on Metacritic. We're still stoked, esp for a first release by a new team. But when you look at best games of 2020 and hit 'all platforms', meant to include iOS...
You won't find it ANYWHERE in the 83 score section. Not only that, I couldn't find a single Platform: iOS only game represented in ANY of the 20+ pages I looked through.
What about Genshin Impact? If Found?
Yep! Because they're listed as PC/Switch.
What about Genshin Impact? If Found?
Yep! Because they're listed as PC/Switch.
Genshin Impact had like something like 17 million players total and made millions of dollars - A MAJORITY OF WHICH are on mobile.
The biggest argument for it being great I heard from most people/friends I know/in industry was 'it doesn't play like a mobile game at all!!'
The biggest argument for it being great I heard from most people/friends I know/in industry was 'it doesn't play like a mobile game at all!!'
What does that even mean? What does 'playing like a mobile game' mean to us? Why is it immediately seen as something that will disappoint, unless we have the quality bar of it having been on another platform first?
Ok, so let's look at some other lists - non-metacritic. Most of the best 2020 lists don't include any mobile only, which again, for saturation I get. More audience = more opportunity = more visibility = more enjoyment by a broader audience, so I can understand how that happens.
But if we go to 'Best iPhone & iPad games' lists on games review websites? 90% of them do the same thing - cross platform (which I'm not at all against, some of the best games ARE cross platform), but half the time it's pure ports or re-releases - not new game releases.
Things like ports of games like XCOM, Civ 6. These are great games for sure, and I love them too, and kudos to what would've been difficult ports - but it feels like the only way a game can be 'valid' to be seen as great on mobile is if it performs on another platform.
I just don't understand why the only way a game that can be played on mobile is considered 'valid' to be considered in this way - at least in Metacritics eyes from an overview perspective - is if it is on a 'real' platform. Mobile IS a real platform. Mobile games ARE real games.
Not to mention the semi-condescending introduction they got at The Game Awards of 'mobile games have been lagging behind but they're ok now!!! good for them!!!'
Millions of people play mobile games every day, but because they don't look like a 'real' gamer, they don't count.
Millions of people play mobile games every day, but because they don't look like a 'real' gamer, they don't count.
There's a chance this comes off as bitter, & sure, part of me is disappointed - of course I want HoloVista to show up when you hit all platforms! We made a great game that players/critics have loved, & I want people to be able to be touched by it & moved. That's a no brainer.
But beyond that, I love the platform. Mobile is such a weird, unique space, and we live with this little device in our pocket every day cataloguing all our weird thoughts and feelings and sadness and dreams and anger, this little connective tissue between us and the world.
It makes me sad that if Genshin Impact hadn't released on other platforms, it might've been written off as a F2P game not worth playing because mobile first - or emotive experiences like If Found might've been ignored had you not been able to experience erasing on the Switch.
There are so many interesting things we can do with this tiny little device that lives in our pocket and comprises most of our emotional lives. Why are we so reticent to be excited by that?
TL;DR - mobile games are great, and fun, and accessible, and I want people to be encouraged to make more, but I wish people would stop treating them like the lesser sibling and start to include them in the wonderful world of video games as an integral part, not an option.
NB - you could just as easily sub in VR for any of the above, another platform that is treated as lesser despite trying to do things differently, push boundaries, test our understanding of a game, etc etc.
oh and as a final NBNB.
I am not out here missing the fact that the majority of mobile game players are often: women, children, seniors, people with less socioeconomic capital, etc etc.
The attitude in and of itself to dismiss these games is pretty telling.
I am not out here missing the fact that the majority of mobile game players are often: women, children, seniors, people with less socioeconomic capital, etc etc.
The attitude in and of itself to dismiss these games is pretty telling.
