Windows Phone Central Gaming Roundup: Time Waster Games
While our Windows Phones can be tremendous productivity devices, they are also fantastic entertainment devices. From watching movies, listening to your favorite music files or playing games your Windows Phone can help you pass the time.
This week's roundup we'll stray from the top rated lists in the Windows Phone Store and approach things from more of a personal angle by highlighting five current gaming titles on my Windows Phone. Games that I have found to be great time wasters.
These titles are entertaining, challenging, downright fun games to get you through ten maybe fifteen minutes of time. Time we all face while waiting for a table at the restaurant, sitting in carpool line, patiently waiting at the DMV or any other situation where you need a distraction to make time move a little quicker.
As a bonus, most of these games can easily stand up to longer gaming sessions if you prefer.
To avoid a lot of repetitiveness and over use of the 512MB banner, all the gaming titles in this week's roundup are available for low-memory devices.
2048 Plus
Our Sam Sabri got me hooked on this game and while I have achieved the goal of creating a 2048 tile, the game has not grown stale for me yet. 2048 Plus has several gaming modes that follow the same gaming concept - combine matching tiles until the value of one tile equals 2048.
What I like? I like the simple gaming mechanics that are matched with challenging game play that tests your skills at strategy.
You start each game with a few numbered tiles randomly placed on the gaming board. You slide the tiles vertically or horizontally trying to combine matching tiles. Each move will generate a new tile on the board and when combined the value will become the sum of the two tiles. You repeat the process until you A) run out of room on your gaming board or B) create a tile with the value of 2048.
What I don't like? 2048 Plus can be a very addictive Windows Phone game. The game fools you into believing it's a simple game to win but then kicks you in the chins. If you aren't careful, that ten minutes you were hoping to kill will quickly turn into thirty. Not a bad downside for a game to have and luckily 2048 Plus will save your gaming progress should you have to leave the game early.
- 2048 Plus - Windows Phone 8.x - 1MB - Free - Store Link
Rainbow Rapture
This is the oldest title in this week's roundup and it still has staying power. We reviewed Rainbow Rapture back in 2012 and while at times I've let the game sit on the shelf for a while it keeps pulling me back in.
The game is an endless runner styled game that has you playing the role of an angry cloud intent on destroying humanity. You guide the cloud over hill and dale, consuming humans, cars and trucks along the way. The more air time, the more rainbow energy you get and the longer your run will be. If the cloud spends too much time on the ground, he (or she) will burn energy faster and won't go very far before the game ends.
What I like? I like seeing how high you can send your cloud into the sky. The controls are uncomplicated with you tapping/holding the screen to have your cloud dive and release your hold to have your cloud jump. The trick is holding the screen while the cloud dives down a hill and release your hold to let the cloud ride its momentum into the sky.
Rainbow Rapture has 45 challenges for you to conquer (travel a certain distance, gobble up a set number of humans, etc.) and the game also includes a few ringtones and wallpapers.
What I don't like? Much like 2048 Plus, it can be hard to put down Rainbow Rapture. But unlike 2048 Plus, your gaming progress is not saved when you have to exit Rainbow Rapture early. It's not a deal breaker but if you're working on a high score and have to shut things down due to something like work, it can suck.
- Rainbow Rapture - Windows Phone 7.x and 8.x - 17MB - $1.49 - Store Link
- Rainbow Rapture Free - Windows Phone 7.x and 8.x - 17MB - Free - Store Link
Hungry Shark Evolution
Hungry Shark Evolution is a wonderful Windows Phone game that has you trolling the ocean as a shark, eating just about everything in sight. It is an Xbox title and a universal app available for Windows 8 as well as Windows Phone 8.
What I like? I like the simple gaming concept. While there are several quests you can take on, if you are in the mood for mindless game play all you need to do is steer your shark around the depths of the ocean terrorizing swimmers, pelicans, other sharks, scuba divers and more.
As you gobble up more and more goodies, your shark will grow in size and strength, which will eventually unlock larger sharks that can be purchased with the gold you earn during game play.
What I don't like? I hate jellyfish, submarines and floating mines. They are scattered about the ocean, often in the most inconvenient locations, and will definitely ruin your shark's day. Personally, I think a Tiger Shark should be able to gobble up the jellyfish without issue and I don't understand how underwater mines can multiply like rabbits.
While I don't care too much for jellyfish, underwater mines and those annoying torpedo-shooting subs, they do add to the challenge of Hungry Shark Evolution. I can learn to keep my shark clear of these dangers but what I really don't like about Shark Evolution is that game play doesn't carry over from Windows Phone and Windows 8 devices. It really needs that feature to avoid having to manage two versions of this fun game.
- Hungry Shark Evolution - Windows Phone 8 - 71MB - Free - Store Link
- Hungry Shark Evolution - Windows 8 - 159MB - Store Link
Subway Surfers
Subway Surfers has seen success on iOS, Android and Windows Phone platforms. The game is an endless runner where you help the main character, Jake, and his friends dash through train yards. Hot on your tail is the grumpy Inspector who is intent on catching you and sending you to the gallows (or wherever subway surfers go when caught).
What I like? It's the pace of the game that draws me to Subway Surfers. The mechanics are easy to pick up on and consist of a series of screen swipes (swipe left to go left, right to go right, up to jump, etc.) but the pace creates the challenge. Ducking, dodging and jumping through the train yard will keep you on your toes and the bonus items helps keep the game interesting.
The graphics and animations are well drawn-up and with frequent updates changing the venue of the game (currently you are in Beijing) keeps things fresh. You'll collect coins as you make your run that can be used in the gaming store to buy new gear, power-ups and unlock new characters.
What I don't like? There's only one thing that jumps off the screen with Subway Surfers that can be frustrating.
There are times it takes the game forever to load. Not sure what can be done on this front but it can be rather irritating when you only have time for a gaming and most of it is spent waiting on the game to load. I'm also not a fan of the Facebook integration but you don't have to log into Facebook to enjoy the game.
Subway Surfers is a fun game to pass the time with full of side missions, hidden treasures and non-stop action. That is until you get nailed with an oncoming train.
- Subway Surfers – Windows Phone 8 – 32MB – Free – Store Link
Snap Attack
Snap Attack is a challenging, entertaining, thought provoking Windows Phone word game that is from the same developers who brought us another fantastic word game, Wordament.
Snap Attack shares the same online competition that Wordament delivers. You compete against other players online on the same board facing the same clock. The game plays out like a speed round of scrabble with a collection of words already in play on the game board. You are provided seven letters to use and during the 2.5 minute round, you have to create as many words off the existing words with those letters. As with scrabble, you can build off new words for bonus points and duplicate words built off other letters are permissible.
What I like? While the other games in this week's roundup will test your skills of timing, strategy and reflex Snap Attack challenges your brain. You do have the elements of speed but the game tests your knowledge of words (and proper spelling). I also like the 2.5 minute games that are well suited for short gaming spurts and the online competition.
What I don't like? At the conclusion of each game, you are presented with your overall scoring stats, the words you created and the words that could have been created. You then transition to a global leaderboard to show how your score matches up with other players. This transition is automatic and helps pass the time while the game is reset. What I don't like is that you can't stay on any of these pages longer. It would be nice if you want to check on scores or see what words you missed at your own pace. Sure, it may mean you are late to the next game but that would be the price you pay.
By no means is this a deal killer. Snap Attack is a universal Xbox title for Windows, which makes it available for both Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 devices. It also has the added bonus of carrying over your gaming progress from one device to the other (something Hungry Shark Evolution needs).
The game nails down a 4.5 Star rating in the Windows Phone Store and a 4.2 in the Windows Store. We think the pair of ratings that are spot on.
- Snap Attack – Windows Phone 8 – 11MB – Free – Store Link
- Snap Attack – Windows 8 - 20.1MB – Free – Store Link
Best of the Bunch?
As to which is the best, at the present it's a coin toss in my book between Hungry Shark Evolution and 2048 Plus. Both games are versatile in that they are fun games for short bits of time and strong enough to hold up to longer gaming sessions. There is also a personal quest with Shark Evolution in that I'm trying to earn enough gold to unlock the Great White Shark.
While these two games are at the top of my list, all five titles are quality games that should appeal to just about every Windows Phone user.
Are they guaranteed hits? None of the games is rated below 4 Stars in the Windows Phone Store and there is always the possibility that one of these games isn't your cup of tea. Maybe it is better to say all five Windows Phone titles are must-try games.
So what do you say? I've shared my current crop of favorite time waster games and I'm sure I've missed a few titles that you guys see as fantastic games to pass the time with. Feel free to toss out your recommendation on your favorite time waster games below in the comments.