Last month, MobileGamer (via estimated calculations from Appfigures) reported that the triple-A smartphone ports of games like Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil Village, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, and Death Stranding are all severely underperforming within the mobile space. According to their calculations, less than 3,000 people have paid the full $49.99 to purchase Mirage on iPhone since the game launched on June 6. Resident Evil 4, though downloaded over 350k times, only had about 7,000 people pay the full $29.99 to unlock the full game. Surprisingly, Death Stranding has had a smidge more success with the game breaking the 10k purchases point, though that still isn’t much to boast about given just how much Apple had featured the game during their iPhone 15 keynote from last year.
These underwhelming sales shouldn’t come as a surprise. For as impressive as it is for a modern triple-A game to be able to run on a smartphone, and for as excited as I was at the thought of what the prospects within the space could potentially hold, triple-A gaming and smartphones have historically never meshed. Whether it’s the original GTA trilogy or Bioshock, these types of games are not what the average mobile gamer is looking for on their smartphones. Even an enthusiast like myself who’s eagerly waited for such titles to make their way onto Apple’s mobile devices is now living in a time where handheld PCs and cloud gaming are becoming more robust and accessible. As such, my thirst for triple-A experiences on the go has been quenched, making the need for these games on mobile moot. Beyond that, the price point for most users, especially those outside of the U.S., is simply too high. Console gaming is already considered a luxury in many places, for which paying a premium above the U.S. MSRP is usually the norm due to inflated taxes; so asking someone to pay full price for an audiovisually gimped port of a triple-A game on their phone isn’t exactly enticing.
All of that being said, there are some types of games that I think smartphone manufacturers and game developers should focus on bringing over to the platform. These games are more than just quick-fix titles that do little to showcase all that this wonderful medium can do, and are also not the cash-grab gacha games we’ve seen flood the App Store of late. No, these are examples of titles that don’t shy away from utilizing the mechanics of a smartphone, while also giving players a truly inspired experience that resonates on an emotional level through storytelling and art direction. Games that both the casual smartphone player and the experienced gamer can appreciate. It’s these types of experiences that got me to keep my Apple Arcade subscription for many months, and what could get me to sign back up if Apple returned to that original strategy of bringing on expertly developed, narrative-driven mobile indie experiences. Here are a few examples of the types of games I’m talking about that you should check out if you haven’t.
Sayonara Wild Hearts
If you ever wanted to play through a fantastical, psychedelic pop album, Sayonara Wild Hearts gets as close as it gets. This rhythm action game has you play as a young heartbroken woman who, through the power of a divine arcana, gets transported to an alternate universe where she has to longboard through various mystical landscapes. Every level has a unique look, a banger soundtrack, and genuinely exhilarating gameplay. Though this gameplay is fairly simple, it requires quick reactions and plays perfectly on a smartphone or tablet. To this day I consider this game to be one of the best rhythm games I’ve ever played; one that you can get lost in for a quick session while on the subway to work.
Assemble With Care
I never thought a game I played on my phone would get me misty-eyed, but that’s exactly what happened with Assemble With Care. This is a puzzle game that has you play as an antique restorer who goes around the fictional town of Bellriva repairing old trinkets of the townsfolk. The tactile satisfaction of touching and fidgeting through these archaic items, all of which are presented beautifully, is instantly gratifying. However, what brings these items to life are the stories they carry for the characters you’re repairing them for. Each item carries with them the history of their respective owners, almost as if their entire lives have been etched into the well-worn cracks of these aging trinkets. This story could only exist, as vibrantly as it does, through a video game. Being able to touch and interact with each object brings you closer to each of the characters in a profound, intimate, and emotional way.
South of the Circle
A choice-driven, cinematic point-and-click adventure, South of the Circle tells the love story of Peter and Clara amidst the heat of the Cold War. Initially, I was expecting to play through a tense story of espionage, however, State of Play Games instead use the unnerving wartime setting to tell a much more intimate story between two individuals who are unexpectedly thrust into the middle of a terrifying situation. The brilliant voice acting, coupled with the unique art style and excellently executed direction makes this one of the most cinematic gaming experiences I’ve ever had. Its story tackles interesting themes of men, their egos, and their constant need for power, while also delicately weaving in a truly heartfelt romance. Its point-and-click nature also makes it easily playable on mobile devices.
After the four hours it took me to complete South of the Circle, I realized just how immersive gaming could be on a mobile device. It gives further credence to the idea that it’s not about the scale or number of hours a game has that makes it “console-quality” – a term often used to describe big-budget, high-fidelity titles on mobile – but rather how effectively you can utilize presentation, music, writing, and efficient gameplay to make for truly inspired and engaging experiences that are unique to the mobile platform.
Both the App Store and Google Play have several genuinely great indie titles, yet neither is pushing those games in their marketing. I understand this, of course, as the “oohs” and “ahhs” come from seeing a game like Assassin’s Creed being played on an iPhone. My hope is that this mindset changes with the continued success of modern indie titles, which hopefully can get more developers to bring unique experiences to mobile; experiences that fit the platform better than a hundred-hour RPG that tanks your phone’s battery.
