Why do many people play most games on mobile?

Many people think that mobile gaming isn’t “real gaming.” But after playing Apex Legends Mobile, their opinion might change quickly. People now play more games on their phones than on PCs or consoles. Here’s why!

1. Can be played anywhere, anytime

Playing games on consoles and PCs requires bulky equipment and dedicated gaming spaces. When playing on mobile, all you have to do is pull out your smartphone and you're done.

This portability and convenience means you can play games on the bus, during your lunch break, while waiting in line at the bank, or even better, in bed after a long day. Unlike when playing on a console or PC, you're not tied to a single location.

2. Best for casual play sessions

Google Play and the App Store have a huge library of games that are suitable for quick play sessions, which is useful when you’re lazy about playing games on PC and console. Sometimes people don’t have the time or patience for the immersive gaming experiences that these platforms often require, making it difficult to dip in and out of gaming sessions.

There are plenty of addictive and easy-to-play games on mobile that are a lifesaver when you need a quick break. Some of them can even be played with one hand. These include Candy Crush, Mighty Doom, Marvel Snap, Shovel Knight Dig, and Subway Surfers.

3. Most games are free

There are more free games on mobile than on consoles. You'll find a wide range of genres, including action, adventure, strategy, roguelike, shooter, and puzzle.

These genres are hard to ignore because they don’t require any upfront costs. This, coupled with the fact that there’s no need to invest in expensive hardware, has led many people to play most of their games on mobile devices.

Mobile games need to generate revenue to survive. But as long as they only use cosmetic microtransactions or in-game ads that aren't obtrusive, it doesn't take away from the fun in any way.

4. Mobile games are often cheaper

Even when a mobile game requires a payment, it’s often cheaper than the console version. For example, at the time of writing, Streets of Rage 4 costs $24.99 on the PlayStation Store, but the same game costs $4.99 on the App Store. In that case, the cheaper mobile version wins.

Plus, it also lets you play on the go and online for free. You need PS Plus to play Streets of Rage 4 online on PlayStation.

5. Intuitive social media integration

On mobile, you can easily share things like your stats, profile, high scores, and battle profiles with just a few taps. It's not as simple on other platforms. This is especially true on consoles, where you have to navigate multiple menus with something as unintuitive as a controller.

And even if the game doesn't have social media integration, you can still easily take screenshots and share them on social media using your phone or tablet's native sharing options.