14 mobile games to brighten up the quarantine

Now we are going through a strange historical period. While COVID-19, most of us have to self-isolate at their homes. Several days of rest used to be an unachievable goal. Now we have plenty of free time but it is a result of an involuntary suspension of our social life. People around the world are all in this position: everybody is isolated and is desperate to find new ways of self-entertainment.

This list of games is created for those people who do not play a lot. Some of them are neat and imaginative. Some of them are rather strange. Many of them are cute and meaningful. Most of them catch our attention and they will probably distract you and help you to survive in the self-isolation conditions.

The next list is split into points according to expenses: for those who don’t want to invest anything into the game, those who want to put some or a bit more money into gaming entertainment.

Free mobile games

Even though people treat free mobile games (F2P) scornfully, they may be quite satisfactory: not only a way to spend time but also a kind of meditation. Logical games like match-three develop our attention and help us to relax. In the meantime, organizational mechanics may make you feel that you control the world around.

Dash Adventures

The last version of the Diner Dash franchise is a quick, funny, and cute game. The player is a waiter serving clients which is more interesting than you could think. It is a good game for those who don’t want to feel productive during this unproductive moment.

Dots & Co.

The games of the Dots franchise is a calmer, less visually stimulating versions of the game “match-three”. The design is minimalistic, the colours and animation are not visually oppressive and the game itself is a relaxing kind of meditation.

Hungry Babies Mania

“Match-three” with some incredible twists and plenty of levels. Collecting fruit in a line, you may simultaneously feed cute grateful little animals.

Polar Pop Mania

A great bubble-shooter game (a kind of “match-three”) with a clear plot and great graphics. Shooting bubbles in the air, you save cute baby seals; releasing the babies, you get plenty of pleasant emotions.

Mobile games charging up to $5

There are many independent small mobile games that are cunning, sophisticated, and entertaining. There are some of them here:

Donut County

A strange and funny game where you make holes in the ground sucking everything inside. Absorbing the world into the giant holes is the best way to spend several weeks as the game will remain interesting and amusing.

Gorogoa

A wonderful quiet puzzle. The game involves exploring and moving drawn pictures to solve puzzles while following the narration of a mysterious story. You will need some time to understand how to play but as soon as you enter into it, the puzzles will captivate and visually stun you. If you are going to stare at the screen, this is one of the best ways to do it.

Hexologic

A great number logical game which many sudoku fans will like. The game is calm and serious-minded, and it is easy to get lost in. The pictures in the games are relaxing and minimalistic and the logical puzzles will get harder and harder with every new level.

Monument Valley (1 & 2)

Monument Valley games are very beautiful puzzles that make a player move around the castles and landscapes in Esher. You may find all the answers to the puzzles ln the structures and space differently, use your fantasy as common physics laws do not work in the game! Therefore, this game helps you to remember that you need to look at things from a different angle.

Ticket to Ride

A digital version of the popular table game has a great online version; you may play the multiplayer with friends online asynchronously. Also, you may play with bots if your friends are busy. If the map of Europe will be boring for you, you may buy alternative maps. 

Rusty Lake Paradise (or other games of the Rusty Lake series)

Rusty Lake games are adventurous puzzles. Rusty Lake Paradise is my favorite of the series; the games are mysterious, a bit bloody, and strangely amusing little puzzles.

Mobile games charging $5 - $15

If you are ready to spend a bit more money, you may get a really great impression on your gadget. There are several offers:

Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley is a favourite among independent games. It is a deeply immersing farmer game that includes magical realism and romance. If you want to get absorbed into a light wonderful game world for a month, this game is the best to buy with money.

Oxenfree

Oxenfree is an emotionally captivating adventurous story game about ghosts with several cycle endings. The trick lies in the way you react to other characters (if you are good, evil, or indifferent) as it changes the story. In this story, a group of teenagers is found on a deserted island where soon after that supernatural events start to happen and the characters have to untangle the mysteries of the island.

Broken Age

An episodic adventurous game where you have to play with two main characters in the absurd, amusing, and fantastic world. The game takes about 10 hours of combined game time and is entertaining, cute, and having a pleasant narrative ending.

Professor Layton: Curious Village

A story game where you have a detective role and you have to solve a big puzzle in a small town finding solutions for little tasks. Some tasks may be familiar, some of them might be new but the addition of rural citizens that offer tasks where you have to do a spot of thinking is something you need to get maximum pleasure from the game. This franchise has several games. 

Besides, we should mention that iOS has Apple Arcade that is worth $5 a month for all the games - there are several great options such as Sayonara Wild Hearts, Pattern, Jenny LeClue, and Sneaky Sasquatch.

No matter what you choose, you should remember that you can use your phone not only to look through the news and surf the net. Videogames are not only violent, full of weapons, and explosion plots. Check out several options, broaden your perspective, and dive into the world full of adventures and mysteries for some time.