Mobile gaming has advanced in leaps and bounds, to the extent that the capabilities of even a mid-range handset today would have seemed like the stuff of science fiction 15 to 20 years ago. It’s even been suggested that mobile gaming could render consoles obsolete and that the new generations on PlayStation and Xbox launched last year will be the last of their breed.
Still, in some respects, the more things change, the more they stay the same. There are some areas of gaming that transcend the years. Card games are, perhaps, the most obvious example of this principle in action. We played card games on those long-ago Nokias and Ericssons, and we continue to do so today on our Androids. But have the games themselves changed in the past 20 years? Let’s take a look at six of today’s top trending card games for Android.
Gwent
One of the surprise successes of recent years, Gwent is the “game within a game” from The Witcher, the hugely popular RPG from CD Projekt Red. It proved such a hit that the developers launched it as a standalone, and porting it to Android was a stroke of genius. It’s free to play, so there’s no excuse not to find out for yourself what all the fuss is about.
Poker
From one of the newest card games to one that’s been around for almost 200 years, poker games on Android almost deserve an article in their own right. Changing gambling legislation in many states means there are new mobile poker USA sites appearing all the time where you can play for real money. But there are also numerous “just for fun” apps where you can hone your skills.
Pokemon TCG Online
While most Pokemon games task you with collecting the monsters, this one takes a step back to first principles. Assemble your decks and then go into battle! The online PvP mode makes this a jewel among social games, and you can even trade cards with friends.
Say WHAT
For years, we’ve been waiting for someone to come up with a mobile version of the wonderful Cards Against Humanity party game. Here’s a pretty impressive clone that is suitable horrifying to those who are easily offended. Play against friends or random strangers, it’s an absolute blast.
Exploding Kittens
One of the most successful kickstarter projects of its kind, Exploding Kittens looks at first glance to be a simple, irreverent and light-hearted game. Once you get into the gameplay, however, you find that it takes patience and strategy to come out on top.
Cultist Simulator
Finally, a game you can really get your teeth into. Although gameplay involves cards, it has more in common with a board game. The narrative is compelling, and sometimes confusing, but that is all part of the challenge. To say more would be to spoil the experience, so we’ll just recommend that you install it on your Android and dive on in.