Are you the kind of person who sees their smartphone as a place to play games first, and communicate with second? If so, when it comes to upgrading your handset, you should really research what the different platforms offer in terms of gaming.
According to a report by the Internet Advertising Bureau in the UK in 2014, 54% of the people who took part in the online and gaming habits survey said that they preferred playing on their mobile over any other platform. So it’s definitely a growing trend to see the smartphone as a primary gaming device.
All you have to do is look around you in a public place and you’ll see people playing all kinds of games – from online bingo to hand-eye coordination games such as Bubble Shooter, as well as games that make you think like WordFeud and those trivia teaser games.
If gaming exclusivity is important for you, then iOS is probably the best choice. Apple tends to get the exclusive licences on new games, but if you don’t mind waiting a bit for the latest game, you’ll find it makes its way to Android after a relatively short period. Some games are available on any platform from the start, of course, and gambling sites such as Costa, bet365 and Gala, make sure their games are available in all the different platforms, so that they can get maximum numbers of players to play their games. Try playing online bingo at Costa, and you’ll see there are also mobile-exclusive promos to encourage players to play the games while they’re on their mobile.
If you’re concerned about variety in mobile gaming, then don’t be. Each of the platforms has a huge range of mobile gaming apps. At Google Play and the App Store, there are around a quarter of a million different gaming apps to choose from. However, quantity isn’t always a sign of quality – so check out a few reviews before you download a game. Use the star ratings as a guide at any rate. That way, you can avoid downloading the games that are filled with glitches and problems.
Another thing to think about is whether you’re willing to pay for mobile games. Many of the games that you pay for at the App store will be available for free on android at Google Play. Also, Google Play seems to have discounts and promos on its pay-for games more often than you’ll find to be the case at the App Store or in the Windows Phone store. The pricing structure on all the mobile platforms is fairly similar for those games that do require payment. If you are prepared to put up with the ads, though, stick to Android for the best free games choice.
Basically, the choice comes down to whether you’re bothered about exclusivity – and then you should plump for iOS. However, Android offers both a wide range of games to choose from and the possibility of getting a large number of games downloaded for free. The good news is that there are always more games around than you could possibly ever make time to play, so you shouldn’t worry too much whatever mobile platform you choose.
