Mobile games have become a staple for gamers, whether they’re killing time on a commute or chilling on the couch. The addictive slices of gaming pleasure that we gobble up have been found to have some pretty surprising benefits for our mental health. Researchers have discovered that playing mobile games for an appropriate amount of time actually increases cognitive capacity. Not only that, but mobile games have also been shown to increase working memory, improve logical thinking and sharpen response times. This is great news for those whose occupations require quick decision-making, like police officers, soldiers and firefighters.

While some mobile games have been criticized for their addictive nature, the vast majority of them are designed for a positive experience. However, this doesn’t always come across, with poor quality mobile games often giving the platform a bad name. Generally speaking, these are low-effort clones of more innovative games with cheesy microtransaction models to get people hooked. Essentially, they’re the dollar store toy rack of mobile gaming.

On the other hand, there are a number of excellent mobile games that have proven to be long-lasting hits. In fact, some games, such as Candy Crush Saga and Pokemon GO, have been on the top of the revenue charts for years after their release. Other games have even merged learning with play, as educational titles such as Lightbot have proven to be effective tools for teaching children programming basics.

The popularity of mobile gaming has been boosted by the rise in smartphone technology, with many people now using their phones as their primary means of entertainment. As a result, many developers are creating new titles specifically for mobile devices. In addition, some established console and PC games are being ported over to mobile platforms, with developers such as Riot Games, Activision and EA creating titles that mimic their console releases while leveraging the capabilities of a portable device.

Some mobile games have even risen to prominence for their ability to offer a social connection. For example, multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) titles such as League of Legends have climbed to the top of the eSports scene, with millions of players engaging in fast-paced 5v5 lane-running action.

Mobile games are an excellent way to relieve stress and have been linked to a reduced risk of depression. Moreover, the increasing prevalence of mobile gaming has been fueled by its accessibility and affordability. As such, there is no doubt that the future of video games lies in mobile.