The gaming industry has developed in leaps and bounds since the heyday of games consoles during the late 1980s and 1990s. These days, there’s a game to suit every personality and every generation, and they don’t even need any special hardware to be played. Some games are so fun that it doesn’t even matter if you’re any good at them or not, they’re just designed purely for your entertainment. As we begin the third decade of the 21st century, there’s an inundation of games to choose from. App stores are filled with new releases after new releases, and the choice can seem overwhelming. That’s why we’ve curated this list of the five best new online games to try this year; no matter what your interests are, you’re sure to find one that inspires you to play.
The cute one
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is finally available to play on iOS and Android devices. This Nintendo favourite is one of the most adorable games to be released, and it’s sure to put a smile on your face after a busy day at the office. This variation on the popular 3DS and Wii game is, as you guessed it, set in a summer camp for cute animals. Players are tasked with running the camp, taking care of their furry friends by helping them with various tasks in order to get new materials to build further amenities at the camp. Pocket Camp is non-competitive, so it’s also a great game to relax with. This mobile version may not be on the same level as its console predecessor in terms of gameplay and graphics etc, but it’s still one of the most enjoyable new games to play.
The one for brainiacs
A free game that is quite the rarity for not pushing in-app purchases, TRIVIA 360 is available to download on both iOS and Android. This trivia game features lots of different categories, including general knowledge, popular culture, science and history, each of which contain a wealth of questions so you can play alone or in a team. You can even claim your place on the global leaderboard if you’ve got the knowledge. The only drawback is that since the company that developed this app is based in North America, a lot of the questions are based on American pop culture references, movie and sports stars etc, so international players could find themselves at a disadvantage.
The real money gaming one
If you already consider yourself a bit of an online poker buff, it's time to step it up a notch by trying this innovative variation on the traditional game. PokerStars Spin & Go is a tournament game that follows a fast-paced "sit and go" format. In the run-up to the game, players buy-in for a set amount, but just before it kicks off the prize pool is randomly increased. Each “table” contains a maximum of three players with a 500 chip starting stack each, irrespective of the initial buy-in. There are even Hyper-Turbo tournaments, where the action is really sped up. Since this one involves playing with and for real money it’s strictly over 18s.
The high octane one
Zombie Rollerz is an online pinball game that updates this arcade classic for the modern era. Free to download on Windows and for most mobile devices, Zombie Rollerz doesn’t feature blood, guts or gore, so it’s not just one for adult players. Funnily enough, it features hordes of zombies! Players need to dispatch said zombies with a giant catapult, but they also need to band together with their fellow survivors in order to unlock the all-important power-ups. Randomly generated levels make gameplay unique, and there’s even an online competition option with other players from across the world.
The big budget one
Star Wars: Force Arena is the pick of the current crop of online Star Wars-themed games, and not just because it's a free one to play. Force Arena is a well-crafted PVP game, which combines strategy with action and straight-up Star Wars adventures. Best of all is that players can decide whether they want to fight for the light side of the force or the dark side. Solo missions are available as well as multiplayer mode, but be warned that the more experienced players (who also spend more money on those in-app microtransactions) tend to dominate the gameplay in this mode. There’s a great range of characters to choose from as well, including eternal favourites like Darth Vader, as well as angry emo Kylo Ren, and the last Skywalker herself.
