Travel is undoubtedly in our genes. For generations, humans lived a nomadic life travelling in search of food and shelter. It’s no surprise then, that despite our comfortable homes and safe neighbourhoods, we still feel an inherent need to travel.
Luckily, travel has never been easier than it is today. The world has become far more accessible thanks to cheap aviation and ever improving technology. You can jump on a plane and be on a beach on the other side of the world sipping cocktails with very little effort
People can now book tailormade holidays, buy plane tickets, order hire cars, and check out bus times on their smartphones. They can also pay in foreign currency, translate foreign languages, get directions, and check out restaurant reviews. The world, it would seem, is our oyster.
However, for many, one of the biggest drawbacks with travelling is the boredom of waiting around. Unsurprisingly, the solution to that problem can also be solved with a smartphone. With thousands of games available to play on a mobile, there’s no excuse for being bored on any journey – even a trip to the shops. Here’s our round up of games that will make the time fly by.
Call of Duty: Mobile
First-person shooter Call of Duty is one of the most successful game franchises in history, with it’s PC and console games setting sales and revenue records. However, transferring that graphically intense and highly immersive game into the confines of a smartphone has proved problematic – until now.
Call of Duty: Mobile does not offer a campaign option, but the iconic maps Nuketown, Raid, and Standoff are here. The multiplayer modes are impressive too, and include: Team Deathmatch, Domination, Kill-Confirmed, 100 player Battle Royale, and Zombies modes.
There’s no Bluetooth controller support and the touchscreen controls aren’t perfect, but that’s not really an issue when you consider the level of quality they have managed to squeeze into a mobile game.
Released in 2019 as a free-to-play title, the game was one of the biggest mobile game launches in history, generating 270 million downloads a year.
Online Casino
Faster, more reliable broadband speeds and increased smartphone take up, has seen a huge growth in the gaming market. One of the biggest beneficiaries of this growth has been casinos, as more and more people discover the joys of these classic casino games.
Today, gamers can access thousands of titles online through a single app, allowing them to play anytime and anywhere they choose. Blackjack, Poker, Craps, Baccarat, Roulette and more, are all available, plus all the very latest slot games, including, Gold Rush express, Bigger Bass Bonanza, and Secrets of the Phoenix.
Many casinos also offer HD gameplay at a Live Casino with actual Live Dealers. This allows players to experience the sight and sounds of a real brick-and-mortar casino. There are also virtual casinos available, which offer first person roulette, blackjack, baccarat, craps, and many more besides.
Signing up to an online casino is easy, and players can make use of bonuses and promotions to maximise their budget, such as free daily spins.
Alien: Isolation
A spin off from the hugely successful “Alien” movie franchise, Alien: Isolation a survival horror game set 15 years after the original film. Players take on the role of Amanda Ripley, the daughter of Ellen Ripley, who is aboard the salvage ship Anesidora as it searches for the space ship Nostromo from the first film.
This being Alien, the supposedly simple task of retrieving a flight recorder goes horribly wrong and chaos ensues. Factions and splits form in the crew as an unknown predator stalks them.
Armed with firearms, a motion tracker, stun baton, and flamethrower, players must evade, outsmart, and destroy the many enemies that lurk in the shadows. The graphics and sound effects are impressive, and echo the dark, atmospheric feel of the original movie. It’s graphically demanding however, so make sure your smartphone device can handle it before downloading.
GTA: Liberty City Stories
Another global success story, Grand Theft Auto (GTA), is one of the most popular games ever made. This made for mobile title follows trusted wise guy Toni Cipriani, a member of the Leone crime family, who was forced to run after killing a made-man. Now he’s back and he’s intent on cleaning up the mess of Liberty city’s chaotic underworld.
GTA titles on the console are known for their graphic intensity and impressive open world mechanics, so it’s a pleasant surprise to see this mobile version create an equally impressive game. All of this is done without the need to make any major sacrifices to gameplay too.
It’s not perfect, but there’s plenty to see and do here, not least cruising around the city and taking in the sights and sounds. Throw in seven multiplayer modes, plus plenty of side quests and hidden extras, and this will keep you entertained on the longest of journeys.
