Gaming Odds – Most Downloaded Apps for Android and iOS
If we weren’t already slaves to our tablets or phones, it’s safe to say that mobile games have turned us into walking digital zombies.
Remember arcades? That place we used to go in order to play games now resides in the palm of your hand and Metal Gear Solid is never busy.
Whether you are a pretentious Machead or an annoying Android user, there are game apps out there that will keep you occupied at all stages of the day: in the elevator, on the toilet, at the dinner table with your family. What’s that, son, you’d like some fatherly attention? BAM, shut those kids up by throwing a device in their face!
Just don’t go all Johnny Depp and literally throw the phone at their head. And be wary of their drug-dealer tendencies, where the first taste is free, but the addicting nature keeps you coming back for more, wallet agape.
When you and your kin tire of Bejuzzled or Bedazzled or whatever you call it, consult the list below for a host of mobile games worthy of your attention. Next to each game, I’ve set the odds on it knocking Bejeweled (that’s the one!) from its perch and becoming the most downloaded game of 2016.
[We’re prepared to declare Pokemon Go the top download for both iOS and Android. The extant odds are essentially for “runner-up” spot. Scroll to the bottom for our Pokemon Go review.]Odds on the Most Downloaded iOS Games of 2016
Clash Royale: 13/7
Are you no longer getting that same rush from your Clash of the Clans addiction? Good news, developer Supercell has another mobile game to keep you brain dead, but in the most royal way. Clash Royale is a combination of many things. It’s a card game, a real-time attack game, and a multiplayer online battle arena all rolled into one. Although that sounds complicated, the game is presented in a way that makes it easy for anyone to pick up.
Angry Birds 2: 7/3
Six years, one movie, and 14 spin-off games later, apparently we needed an Angry Birds 2. But don’t knock iut until you’ve tried it. Rovio has completely revamped its best-selling series. Although you still fling birds at pigs and structures, you can now choose which birds you want to catapult and when. There are also many other enhanced gameplay features, along with stunning graphics; this game will be one of the top free downloads of 2016.
Crashlands: 5/1
Crashlands is already one of the top rated app games of the year. It’s a top-down action RPG that allows a player to engage in exploration and crafting. You control an intergalactic delivery truck driver named Flux who has crash landed on an alien planet. She must find a way to finish her deliveries while fighting off aliens and interacting with different life forms. It’s one part survival game and two parts combat and quests. You spend your time killing beasts, undermining demigods, and fishing.
Love You to Bits: 10/1
This is your typical old-school point-and-click adventure game, but it has been re-imagined for our world of touchscreens. Rookie space explorer Kosmo travels from planet-to-planet to find bits and pieces of his robotic girlfriend, Nova, who has been scattered across outer space due to an explosion. All Kosmo has is her head to help him on his quest.
This is a gorgeous game to look at and even better to play. It’s essentially a puzzle game where you have to find clues. Nearly every level has some sort of nod to a famous video game, or a pop culture reference. Explore every nook and cranny and find true love.
Disney Crossy Road: 12/1
Sometimes simplicity is best. Take the popular mobile game Crossy Road, add Disney characters, and you have Disney Crossy Road. See, that was easy.
It’s a lot like Frogger (am I dating myself here?), but in this mobile chaser you have to dodge traffic and stampedes while you try to get Mickey to the other side of the road.
Not a Mickey fan? You can also control Simba from The Lion King, Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story, or a slew of others. You name the Disney character, you’ll probably find it here. Disney will continue to update the game and add even more characters from Marvel and the Star Wars universe.
Odds on the Most Downloaded Android Games of 2016
Minecraft: Pocket Edition: 3/1
Minecraft is essentially a large digital tub of Lego. You can build pretty much whatever you want, but it better start with shelter by night fall or else the zombies come and get you. The pocket edition allows you and your young ones to play Minecraft on the go.
The pocked-sized universe isn’t as large as the original, but the creative mode is the big sell on this version. There is a reason why some schools have included this game as part of their curricula, and why parents use it as a virtual babysitter on long car rides. Oh just FYI, there is also a separate app called Minecraft Story Mode that allows players to do missions. Now excuse me I have a pixelated ten-storey hotel to build.
Fallout Shelter: 4/1
In this game, the world has gone to s#*t and human beings are forced to live underground in fallout shelters. (Oh hey, I bet that’s where the name came from!) This simulation game puts you in charge of an underground vault and gives you the chance to create a thriving community, all while watching the rest of the world burn.
The population of your underground civilisation increases either by having babies or recruiting others to your vault. Eventually you have to start making some serious life choices and plan where everyone is going to go, along with providing them with the necessities of life. You do all this while fending off radroaches, raiders, and other dangers that go bump in the night. Let’s help in making America great again.
Unkilled: 6/1
Let’s be honest, most of the time you don’t want to think too much when playing a mobile game. Unkilled has you covered. All you have to do is run around shooting zombies. The zombies in Unkilled are aggressive and are constantly coming at you, so you need to keep moving and shooting off a vast amount of weapons.
This is one of the best first-person shooters in the mobile market due to how easy it is to use the controls. Although you can play on your small android device or tablet, it’s not small by any means with over 100 story missions at your disposal.
You play as Joe, a member of a pseudo-military unit called WOLFPACK, who has been assigned to contain a zombie outbreak in New York City. Caveat: you might find yourself screaming “die, die!” at your screen, so maybe avoid playing it at church.
Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes: 10/1
This is an action-packed RPG within the Star Wars universe. Collect a team of your favorite Star Wars characters, like Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Darth Vader, and Jar Jar Binks (ha joking), and conquer your opponents in RPG-style combat. It’s up to you to build the deadliest team and craft the best strategy to win battles across the universe.
Galaxy of Heroes has become one of the most popular role playing games on the market this year. “Me’s a gonna die?” Yes, Jar Jar … yes you will.
The Room 3: 25/1
Puzzle games are still going strong and The Room series has been stellar over the years. However, this new version isn’t like its predecessors. The Room 3 takes the puzzle/mystery game to a more sophisticated level, with multiple rooms in many different locations.
This game will have you uncovering artefacts, discovering secrets, and solving one all-encompassing, overarching mystery. Or it will have you throwing your mobile device onto the ground out of frustration.
If you haven’t played the previous two games, you will not fully understand the narrative in this newest addition. So time to catch up.
[The Top Downloaded App for both iOS and Android
Pokémon Go
There is really only going to be one app worldwide that will topple all the charts this year and it’s the new Pokémon Go. Based on the uber-popular Japanese cartoon, this “real world adventure” has players hunting and training Pokémon throughout their actual neighborhood, using the GPS on your mobile device to create augmented reality.
Your phone’s back-facing camera displays Pokémon characters as though they are sitting directly in front of you. So if you’ve been wondering why that seemingly normal-looking dude was all excited in the back alley behind McDonald’s, it’s because he found a Sandshrew in the dumpster.
As I write this update, the app hasn’t even been released in Canada or Japan yet. But scads of people in both countries have found a hack that allows them to play the free game before the official release.]
Bottle Flip
Can you master the bottle flip? This latest craze has finally made it’s way to an app game that may seem simple on the surface, but it’s actually highly addictive and challenging. One of the best parts of this game is that no internet connection is needed. One of the worst parts of this game is….hang on, I’m trying to beat my high score of 10. What was I writing? Oh, yeah, try this game.
Photo Credit: EpeeForte Play Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5I_4b_a5IY)
Trevor was Sports Betting Dime’s resident geek (aka: entertainment writer) from 2016-18. He also moonlights as a national film reviewer for other publications. He comes equipped with diplomas in marketing and broadcast journalism with a PHD in couch lounging.
