While any visitor to the site will know we love nothing more than to look back at video gaming’s past, every now and then it is important to recognise recent changes in the industry. Arguably the biggest shift has been the rise of mobile gaming, which has become a key way that many people choose to enjoy classic games these days.
Breathing new life into classics
Games like Scrabble and UNO are just two old-school pastimes that have enjoyed a renaissance thanks to mobile while, as this page on the top mobile casinos according to CasinoGuide explains, a range of sites now offer traditional games like blackjack, roulette and slots for smartphone and tablet too.
Many video gaming classics have also had a rebirth thanks to mobile gaming’s seemingly unstoppable rise and here we are taking a look at ten favourites which have particularly benefitted from the move.
- Tetris
First created all the way back in 1984, Tetris remains a quintessential gaming classic. The block-based puzzler has taken on many forms over the years, with Tetris Effect giving it an atmospheric makeover and Tetris 99 transforming it into an exciting multiplayer experience. While it was recently suggested that EA was shutting down its Tetris mobile game, a new version is already available from the developer N3twork.
- Super Mario
Nintendo’s famous Italian plumber is so closely associated with consoles including retro gaming classics like the NES that it was a bit of a shock when it was confirmed that he would be moving onto mobile. However, his debut mobile game Super Mario Run was reportedly downloaded around 40 million times in the first four days after its release in 2016. He has subsequently featured in a mobile version of Dr Mario and Mario Kart Tour.
- Sonic the Hedgehog
Now a fully-fledged big-screen star, SEGA’s legendary Sonic the Hedgehog has seen more than his fair share of mobile gaming action across recent years. Probably the best-known mobile title is Sonic Dash, an endless running game which sees you navigate the character through an array of challenging environments. However, Sonic the Hedgehog Classic allows you to experience the character in all of its original glory.
- Crash Bandicoot
We’re jumping ever so slightly ahead with this one, as the internet rumour mill has gone into overdrive about the potential release of a new Crash Bandicoot game. A recent leak broke the news and suggested that the title could end up taking the form – like Sonic Dash – of an endless runner style game. We’re keeping our eyes peeled for more information as this story develops.
- Pokemon
One video gaming classic to leave its mark on mobile gaming in recent years is Pokemon. The franchise has a long history on a range of different consoles including the Game Boy, the Nintendo 64 and the Nintendo DS, but the Pokemon Go mobile game arguably took its popularity to a whole new level. Central to its success was its use of augmented reality technology, which meant that players had to visit real-world locations in order to find, catch and train the creatures – a clever move that got gamers out and about as they tackled the game.
- Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy has enjoyed a long and successful history on a range of consoles, so it makes sense that Square Enix would take the leap and launch titles based on the series within the mobile domain. Classic titles in the series such as Final Fantasy VII can be found on Android and iOS these days, while you can also play other titles including Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire.
- The Sims
The Sims franchise is regarded as one of the biggest selling video game series of all time, with the first release coming all the way back in 2000. It joined the mobile revolution in 2017, with the imaginatively titled The Sims Mobile being released for both Android and iPhone. As you would expect, it allows you to create your sims and then customise different aspects of their world.
- Street Fighter
Few fighting game series are quite as iconic as Capcom’s legendary Street Fighter and it entered the world of mobile gaming in 2018. Street Fighter IV: Champion Edition features 32 characters which players can fight as, while the virtual pad controls allow players to do a range of move sets. Like some of the other games mentioned on this list, it is also compatible with Bluetooth controllers.
- Need for Speed
When The Need for Speed first launched on consoles including the Sega Saturn and PlayStation back in 1994, few would have predicted that it would go on to inspire the blockbusting gaming success story that it has. As well as spawning a feature film, it has also led to the creation of mobile games such as Need for Speed No Limits – the first title in the series to be created solely for smartphone and tablet.
- Lemmings
While it is technically not a console classic, the puzzle platform game Lemmings undoubtedly become a retro gaming classic when it was released for the Amiga in the early 1990s. Sad Puppy have made a version of the game for mobile and it includes everything that you would expect, with each level revolving around ensuring you can get each and every lemming home safe and sound.
Take a step back in time today
While new and exciting gaming experiences are being developed and released all of the time, it is fair to say that there really is nothing quite like experiencing the classics.
Video gaming has spawned all kinds of iconic characters through the years and it is thrilling to see that so many games continue to prove popular on mobile devices with players based all over the world. We can’t wait to find out more about the rumoured Crash Bandicoot game, while it will be intriguing to see which other retro icons get a makeover in the years ahead.
**Read our interview with Half-Life writer Marc Laidlaw for details on Half-Life 3**