By now we’re all aware that mobile developers have a little bit of an obsession with retro design. From Only One to Crossy Road there are dozens if not hundreds of prominent games built with pixel-heavy graphics and dealing with gameplay that takes us 20 years back. It’s a very fun trend and something that a lot of lifelong gamers can easily appreciate. However, it’s also worth keeping in mind that retro gaming on mobile platforms doesn’t just consist of stylistic imitations. There are also a handful of terrific classic games that have been reborn on mobile platforms, adapted closely rather than being spun into new, vaguely related titles. Here are four examples you might want to think about if you’re a fan of retro games.
The Secret Of Monkey Island
This 1990 point-and-click adventure game has always been fascinating. Presenting a cartoonish take on the age of piracy, it always had a sort of captivating quality. It’s a slow and deliberate game, but a clever one that offers a nice change of pace even from other retro titles. The Secret Of Monkey Island topped another list of some of the best retro games out there for iOS and Android users, and it’s hard to disagree. The mobile version differs in a few ways from the 1990 original, but for the most part it’s a faithful and satisfying adaptation—not to mention the game is naturally suitable to smartphones and tablets.
Retro Slot Machines
With the demise of arcades in the modern day (at least in the U.S.) there are few styles of games that hold onto that look and feel quite like casino titles do. And there’s no machine that from the casino floor that has adapted to mobile better than the traditional slot reel. These blasts from the past incorporate a wide range of themes that include everything from classic movies like Terminator 2 and Jurassic Park (which had some terrific arcade games themselves) to a reel based on ancient Egypt that features a variety of pyramids, hieroglyphs, and more. The lights and sounds feel just like the old machines, and they make for some of the most realistic retro experiences you’ll find on mobile devices.
Tomb Raider I
Tomb Raider has generated a lot of buzz as of late. There’s a new film series on the way, and this mobile app presented a modern spin on a Tomb Raider concept, made just for phones and tablets. But what you may not have realized is that Square Enix also adapted the original Tomb Raider console game for mobile users, and it worked spectacularly well. Rather than changing the gameplay or upgrading the graphics, they simply adapted the game that so many fans fell in love with years ago. It looks about exactly the same as it always did.
Sonic CD
There are actually several different Sonic games available on mobile devices. But if you want to play it in its original form, running, jumping, and tumbling through a course filled with obstacles and loops, gathering floating gold rings as you go, this is the app for you. It was designed by SEGA, it works perfectly on mobile devices, and like the other games on this list, it feels just like the original game. This is an ideal selection to round out a small collection of classic retro games.
