Detective Pikachu (3DS)
Best Mobile/Handheld Games of the Year So Far
This loudmouthed and intelligent Pikachu has a job to do in this spin-off Pokemon game created by Creatures Inc. This Pikachu may not be as powerful as others of its kind, but its intelligence is unmatched and has a nose for detective work. The game follows the story of Detective Pikachu and a boy named Tim Goodman as they try to investigate the disappearance of Harry Goodman, Tim’s father and Pikachu’s owner.
This adventure game has the player looking for clues, speaking to witnesses, and exploring the areas of Ryme City. Detective Pikachu is great for any fan of Pokemon who is looking for a break from the status quo of the lengthier mainline series. Detective Pikachu is a strong game wrapped in an unsuspecting package and is one of the best games to come out on 3DS this year.
Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology (3DS)
Best Mobile/Handheld Games of the Year So Far
Radiant Historia Perfect Chronology is an expanded remake of the 2010 Radiant Historia, co-developed by Atlus and Headlock for the Nintendo 3DS. Radiant Historia tells the story of two warring lands, Allistel and Granorg, and the Allistel soldier named Stocke who is chosen to wield the White Chronicle and stop the desertification of his homeland.
Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology offers an engaging turn-based battle system on a grid-based battlefield, which is both tactical and fun to master. Traveling between different timelines is the main crux of both the gameplay and storytelling, which can even alter the game’s ending.
This remake includes completely redrawn character art, a new anime-inspired art opening sequence, additions to the battle system, and newly written story scenarios. Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology offers a lot of change to the original, making it a great pickup for anyone who is new to the series or has been away from it since its initial release.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (Mobile)
Best Mobile/Handheld Games of the Year So Far
Even though PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has been officially out since 2017, its mobile counterpart was only released this past March. With the Battle Royale genre still rising in popularity by the day it makes sense for developers to try and get their products to as many people as possible. PUBG caters to the mobile gaming market so well because of its drop-in, drop-out nature. Being able to play a quick round is great for someone who needs to kill 10-15 minutes while out. It may be jarring at first to play such an intense game on a much smaller screen, but the controls are actually intuitive.
Once players have gotten the controls down, it becomes a much quicker and more fluid experience. Cellphones are exceptionally powerful devices that are finally being utilized in the gaming space. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is a strong contender for one of the best mobile games to be released in 2018. Download it, give it a shot, and get yourself a winner winner chicken dinner.
Fortnite (Mobile)
Best Mobile/Handheld Games of the Year So Far
It is no surprise that Fortnite landed itself onto mobile devices. With its popularity increasing daily it would be foolish to not bring it to every device under the sun. Fortnite’s dominance in the gaming industry has been going strong for almost a year now and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.
Fortnite makes a great mobile game because, like PUBG, the nature of the battle royale genre lends itself to the portability and fast-paced nature of mobile. Being able to quickly queue up for a match or two without having to stare at your phone screen for hours is a huge strength in the mobile space.
With weekly and daily challenges, there is always something to grind out in Fortnite so even when you are away from your PC or home console you can still work towards your goal on your phone. The free-to-play nature of the game has caused it to be an extremely popular pick among the app store on iOS.
Chasm (Vita)
Best Mobile/Handheld Games of the Year So Far
Chasm is a newly released Kickstarted 2D action RPG developed by Bit Kid. This procedurally generated dungeon crawler takes inspiration from the Metroidvania and hack n’ slash genres, but brings its own fantasy elements to the table. Taking on the role of a soldier making his way through a mining town after a war, players will soon discover that there’s something not quite right with this unassuming little village.
This game has everything from difficult dungeons and loot to fighting a powerful ancient evil that has been asleep for centuries. With a wide range of weaponry from swords and spears to maces and whips, players can find something that suits their play style. Navigating through the tunnels, caves, and catacombs can be tricky, but it adds to the mystery and risk/reward of diving deeper.
Chasm may not reinvent the wheel, but its an extremely fun game to play on your PlayStation Vita if you’re looking to get lost in a beautiful world.
