Star Realms (iOS/Android - Free, $4.99 for full game)
Star Realms is a PvP deck-building game in which two sci-fi factions vie for control of the galaxy. If you’ve not played a deck-builder before, the general premise is that both players start off with a small deck of cards to draw from, and use these to expand and improve their personal decks by purchasing more cards from a shared pool in the centre. Each player in Star Realms starts with an Authority value of 50, and by playing various ship cards and abilities they’re able to whittle down their opponent’s number. The first player to drop to zero loses. This might all sound like standard fare to those who’ve played card games such as Magic: The Gathering or the myriad deck-building board games, but Star Realms offers a compact and thoroughly enjoyable take on the setup.
Star Realms will take just 15-20 minutes to play, and better yet the game itself is a breeze to learn compared to most card games, making it a great pickup for those without a lot of experience in the field. The full (paid) app offers a decent but short solo campaign, but the real meat of Star Realms is in the online play. Built around PvP competition and the app is popular enough to get you into a game without much trouble, and can be played in real-time or asynchronously.
Unfortunately the UI can be a bit of a let down depending on which platform you buy it, with some unhelpful control quirks you’ll have to learn. We wouldn’t recommend purchasing Star Realms on your phone, as due to the interface being standardized across platforms, icons and text can prove tough to read on smaller devices. Fortunately, the game itself is worth pushing through these problems, and is easily one of the best (and most popular) PvP digital deck-builders available right now.
Potion Explosion (iOS/Android - $2.99)
Potion Explosion might look like a simple Match 3 game, but builds on that base to incorporate a number of layers and mechanics to generate a lively and engrossing game. Players compete to create as many potions as possible, combining colors as required. Each turn you select a gem on the board to “explode” into your potion, chaining to the surrounding gems if the color matches. It’s a cracking multiplayer experience and a great way to lure fans of Match 3 titles into the wider world of both board and video games.
The physical version includes a wooden device in which marbles are rolled down, slotting into a grid. It’s a delightfully tactile experience and one that all players involved can enjoy every turn. Sadly, the board game loses some of that appeal, and even using pass-and-play only one player will be able to watch the screen each turn to see the results. Fortunately, the app, while simple, is a joy to look at, filled with color and character. Physical constraints aside, it’s a fantastic (and cheap) conversion of a great game. One word of warning however is that it can be very tricky to find a match online with strangers, so this is one best recommended for playing with your friends.
Through the Ages (iOS/Android - $9.99)
When it comes to tablets and mobile devices, we usually prioritize quick games you can jump in and out of while travelling or when you’ve got a spare minute. However, sometimes we get the urge to lose ourselves in something a little grander. Through the Ages is widely regarded as one of the greats in board gaming, holding the third spot on BoardGameGeek’s ranking. Guiding your civilization over three ages, you develop your capabilities in production, military, science and culture, acquiring different leaders and building wonders from history to help give your people the edge.
It’s an enormous game, and learning the physical version can take upwards of two hours before the full cycle of a turn begins to click. Fortunately, this is a case where the automation of video games proves a real time-saver. The Through the Ages app handles all of the itty bitty details regarding every player’s science, culture and military scores, saving you a world of effort when it comes to ending a turn. There’s a huge amount of information to keep track of during each turn, but the interface keeps it all clearly available. It’ll still take you a good while to play through your first few games, but the app makes the process as painless as possible, reducing a 3-4 hour tabletop game to a palatable hour-long experience.
You can play solo against AI (and trust us, the satisfaction of development alone is enough to keep you interested), complete challenges and even play online multiplayer or using a pass-and-play system for a group in the same room. If you’re on the hunt for a bigger game to bite down on, there’s little better out there than Through the Ages.
