What more could you ask of a game that features a compelling storyline, great graphics to back it up, and an easy and elegant way of interacting with it? Those are the three characteristics that, at least in my opinion, are the key ingredients to a ‘quality’ mobile game.
While the Windows Phone Store might not have the breadth or depth of games compared to its direct competition, it does have a handful of these quality titles that make up for the sheer number of Flappy Bird clones on other platforms. Below are a few of such titles.
Lost Echo ($2.99) – This critically acclaimed adventure/mystery title has drawn me in for hours at a time. The story revolves around the main character, Gregg, who wakes up from an accident to find that his girlfriend has gone missing. But the thing is, no one remembers her. Not his best friends, family, or even bystanders. Was she merely a figment of his imagination? You’ll have to find out.
The graphics are gorgeous in the games’ modern, futuristic setting, with relatively large city environments rendered in 3D. Its controls are simple using point-and-click to navigate and interact with the environment and the people in them. You won’t put this game down, it’s a must have if you’re into the genre.
The Veil (free) – is a title that puts you in a submersible vehicle in search for a long-lost sunken ship. You will have to explore the icy underwater caverns which are at times eerie and daunting. Combining this environment with the immersive story that’s read to you as you navigate around is bound to send a chill down your spine. Although for the most part, the game is relaxing and fairly enjoyable.
The Veil is divided into chapters that run for about 15-25 minutes each. That might sound like a long time but once you start playing, you’re almost immediately drawn into the story and time flies. All that’s left now is to wait for the developer to release the rest of the chapters.
Enigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple Creek ($2.99) – This is a hidden-object, puzzle, and adventure title that is very story driven. It revolves around the disappearance of a teenage girl in Vermont. You’ll spend your time looking for clues and discovering the hidden evil in Maple Creek. There’s certainly no lack of story here, actually, it might be a little too much for some. You’ll need to be patient with this one.
Graphics is fantastic, the combination of cinematic cut-scenes and a very detailed environment to explore will keep you entertained and busy for a very long time. Although I do wish the game was better optimized for full HD displays such as those on the Lumia 930 and 1520.
Mirror’s Edge ($2.99) – Yes, it’s a little bit of an older title, but it’s still a fantastic action adventure game. If you’re familiar with the desktop or console version, then you might be a little disappointed with the perspective change of the mobile version, which may or may not be better suited for mobile. The gameplay is gesture based and the graphics has a simple, modern take it to. Although it could also do with an HD upgrade.
Badland ($3.99) – This game is a relatively new addition to the Windows Phone Store, it’s also critically acclaimed on iOS and Android, and for good reason. It’s a side-scrolling title set in a beautifully rendered forest inhabited by weird looking creatures of all sizes. You will play as one of those weird creatures that basically consists of a head and a pair of wings, making your way through the forest and avoiding all sorts of dangerous traps and obstacles.
There isn’t much of a storyline in Badland in a sense but the atmospheric gameplay and graphics make up for that. You will be able to play in 3 sets of levels called ‘days’, each with its own color scheme and difficulty.
While these are only five titles that I thought were noteworthy examples of quality adventure games, there are many more in the Store that fall into the same category. Let us know if you’re tried any of the games mentioned and if you have any favorites of your own in the comments below!