Normally, for MeinMMO author Max Handwerk, mobile games are just for in-between games. But two games are the exception. He introduces them to you here.
I’m usually not a big mobile gamer and prefer to play on the PS5 or Switch. Accordingly, most of the games I have on my phone are free. Pokémon GO has been big there for years, Pokémon TCG Pocket has been added and I otherwise like to play small games of skill.
Most of them are more of a short-term pastime for me.
But two games on my phone are the exception. I invested money and definitely more than a little time in the two pearls. It is a matter of
Both games aren’t exactly insider tips, but I didn’t know them until then. I got to know her through working here at MeinMMO. I wrote an article about Vampire Survivors in 2023, when the jump to mobile was imminent. And I came across Slay the Spire in the comments on YouTube when Balatro announced its mobile release.
Both have been considered hits for years (Vampire Survivors has 98% positive reviews on Steam, Slay the Spire 97%) and the mobile versions of both sounded so exciting that I had to install them. And I don’t think they’ll ever fly off my phone again.
How much do the games cost? Slay The Spire cost me 9.99 euros in the App Store. Vampire Survivors is actually free and offers a lot of scope. However, it has a DLC store that currently offers 5 expansions. The cheapest costs 1.99 euros, the most expensive 3.99 euros.
So far I’ve only bought one expansion for 1.99 euros, and the basic game has already kept me more than enough busy. But I would be willing to buy more expansions if I feel like I’ve finished everything else.
What makes these games so special for me? I’ll go into more detail about the great, time-consuming gameplay of both games in a moment. But there are a few points that I want to emphasize:
This makes them the ideal games for long train journeys, flights, bus tours or similar. I travel a lot and have found great companions in both games for those periods when you just have to wait.
Both games are indie games, but are far from unknown. They are available for a variety of platforms, but in my opinion they both shine as mobile versions that can be played perfectly via touchscreen. Below is a concise summary.
Vampire Survivors: This game exposes you to various maps in pixel graphics. You take on the role of different characters and have to survive as long as possible. Increasingly stronger enemies appear in waves that you have to overcome.
Vampire Survivors: The mobile trailer for the indie hit
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In order for you to succeed, you collect upgrades from various weapons and abilities, some of which have synergies with each other. While at the beginning you only have a whip that strikes every few seconds, in the end you rain down a storm of effects on your countless enemies that is almost impossible to follow. You can still go for it, because your opponents also have a lot on their plate.
Meanwhile, you navigate the map, find new characters, look for secrets and the like.
At the beginning you get going quite quickly. As soon as you have internalized the game principle, you will quickly get the hang of the different opponents and maps. Nevertheless: If you die on some stages just a minute before completion, you are almost forced to try again straight away.
I’ve had one or two train rides where I wished there were a few more stops to complete the level.
Slay the Spire: In the card game roguelike Slay the Spire, you fight your way out of the eponymous “Spire” by building decks of cards. It is a series of battles, at the end of which you always receive a new card for your deck.
Slay the Spire – The trailer for the card roguelike
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The further you get, the better your deck becomes and the higher your chance of surviving the next duels. It’s a very strategic game: When do I block an enemy attack, when do I attack? In which direction should I build my deck? Do I improve a card at the campfire or rest to regenerate life?
You can get further upgrades through relics, which provide you with various effects. This way you will become more and more powerful – but you must never become overconfident. Because death and thus the restart of your passage are always just one stupid game away.
For me, both games have become a must-have when traveling and I now really look forward to waiting so I can immerse myself in one of the two games.
Of course: They are mobile games, and the graphics and art style of both games will certainly have their critics. But both games stand out for their gameplay. Because they present you with almost insurmountable hurdles, which become a little more achievable with every attempt. And when you’re able to overcome an opponent that you’ve previously struggled with, it’s an incredibly exciting moment. If you like games like this, both might be for you. By the way: Slay the Spire is getting a second part, which was announced at the Game Awards 2024.