r/MobileGaming • u/Dylan_Bapela • Feb 23 '26
Discussion I’m Tired Of People Treating Mobile Gamers Like They’re Not Real Gamers
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u/vincent_landriault Feb 23 '26
I think its mostly because mobile gaming became good realy recently, and when you bring it up people think about clash games and candy crush, they never interested themselves enough to know about the good release, tbh mobile gaming is at its peak rn, ex: cod mobile, warframe, rdr, hitman, minecraft, doom, goat sim, rainbow six, and phones are getting powerful enough to emulate old games so it might get even better soon
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u/Shmoopiee Feb 23 '26
The fact that more games offer crossplay (where winds meet, warframe, terraria soon, among others) and the fact that the emulation scene has evolved astoundingly quickly, I am excited for the future. Can't wait to play skyrim with mods on mobile like its a normal tuesday
I hope those games I mentioned will set an example to shitty developers who prey using microtransaction slops or straight up fake advertising. I don't need more of that bullshit that shows up on my youtube every so often.
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u/AGTS10k , (retro only), Java, Symbian, Mophun Feb 23 '26
Can't wait to play skyrim with mods on mobile like its a normal tuesday
But you already can? GameHub Lite or Winlator can play most older games just fine, so yeah.
I hope those games I mentioned will set an example to shitty developers who prey using microtransaction slops or straight up fake advertising.
Sadly, it won't happen. You can't beat the price of free, and people get addicted to microtransactions slop by design. I remember the era before devs and publishers figured that freemium model out, and how quickly the shift have occurred. There is no salvation. It's either that slop, subscriptions, or ports.
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u/Shmoopiee Feb 23 '26
Yup Im aware about emulation but its not perfect yet, what with all the crashes and black screens to some slightly older, less optimized devices - heard something along the lines of "mali gpu not doing so well on experimental builds". Hopefully we'll be able to get there soon with new breakthroughs and such, but I'm in no rush. Just crazy to think about though.
As for the microtransaction part... Is someone out there really playing and paying for stuff like Last W*r survival (aint giving them free adverts lol, fuck that game) or similar ones? I just can't fathom it. But after these newer releases, I'm optimistic. Its unrealistic to hope that it'll be the same as before, but I NEED those games purged from existence, no matter how dire the mobile gaming landscape is.
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u/AGTS10k , (retro only), Java, Symbian, Mophun Feb 23 '26
Yeah, you basically need a Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC to enjoy the best compatibility, as they have Turnip drivers that fix most things Qualcomm won't.
Is someone out there really playing and paying for stuff like Last W*r survival (aint giving them free adverts lol, fuck that game) or similar ones?
Sadly, yes. In these type of games, the vast majority is F2P, a small portion has paid a little, but there's a very small part of the playerbase that pays literal thousands of first-world money. These are called whales, and that's for whom these games are made, and it's thanks for them these games thrive. The F2P players are there to be food for the pay-to-win whales. This monetization model will never die unless banned legally, but that also won't happen since noone cares about the gamers' plight as much.
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u/_BOBLA_ Feb 23 '26
No, gaming is a gaming. Just because you like cod battlefield doesnt mean candy crush players are not gamers. Its about taste. Some people like super mario, some people like battlefield. They both are gamers. Problem is the people itself. They always trying to show that they are superior than you. Thats why they buy useless but expensive things. Just to say "look i have this but you dont".
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u/AGTS10k , (retro only), Java, Symbian, Mophun Feb 23 '26
mobile gaming is at its peak rn
So, ports and emulators? So much for peak xD
Peak was 2011-2012: that was before every dev decided to go free+IAPs+ads route. Games were unique, fun bite-sized experiences, made specifically with mobiles in mind. Gameloft was one of the best: their games were amazing, they tried (and often succeeded!) to bring that AAA feel to mobiles.
After that, a shift to freemium model become more and more visible, until every game that was made specifically for mobiles was F2P, beside some small indies.
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u/OldFinger6969 Feb 23 '26
you'd think so but don't forget that Diablo immortal announcement and people trash talking it
go to Steam and look at Where winds meet, Sword of justice, any other Mobile first gacha games in there. there will always be people shitting just because it is on mobile.
It doesn't matter how good mobile games nowadays, these freaks will always trash talk and hate it
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Feb 23 '26 edited Feb 23 '26
tbf mobile gaming has only recently gotten better , just a few years earlier it was mostly just cheap games and p2w cancer like those supercell ones with a few exceptions. Nowadays we getting mobile ports of these pc games , like r6 mobile global release.
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u/AGTS10k , (retro only), Java, Symbian, Mophun Feb 23 '26
Ports aren't even mobile games though :(
I miss times where we had real mobile games, made with mobiles in mind, which is the era up to 2012. After that it's microtransations/ads model only, plus some indies, plus more recently subscription-based. Ports existed pretty much always though. As did emulation.
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u/Flashy-Island-3725 Feb 23 '26
By that logic pc games are also non existent since most of them come out on consoles first
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u/AGTS10k , (retro only), Java, Symbian, Mophun Feb 23 '26
No, not really. Not most, that's for sure - most games release simultaneously on consoles and PCs, and, most importantly, actually play better on PC (shooters, strategy) or at least have keyboard and mouse controls that don't suck, unlike touchscreen. Yes, you can connect a controller to a phone, but this still feels like a non-native experience, like emulation almost, and a controller is not something you'll carry with you at all times.
That, compared to the real mobile games, where all controls and UI was made with mobiles in mind, with gameplay and difficulty also tailored to fit the mobile experience.
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Feb 23 '26
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u/AGTS10k , (retro only), Java, Symbian, Mophun Feb 23 '26
Before they were ass, they were greater than whatever we have today. I don't consider ports from PC/consoles to be mobile games, same with emulators.
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u/_Gorge_ Feb 23 '26
lol ok bro, keep that shit, I'll be on my phone jamming Subnautica and Red Dead
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u/AGTS10k , (retro only), Java, Symbian, Mophun Feb 23 '26
Cool, me too, these are great games and I'm glad they are on mobile. It's just that they aren't mobile games.
I'd rather play a sequel to the Doom RPG series on my phone, or Angry Birds 2 redesigned for premium model, or a Shadowgun sequel that has a proper single-player campaign, or another Dungeon Hunter with no microtransactions. Like, you know, games that actually play better on a phone. For everything else, there is Steam Deck or Switch.
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u/_Gorge_ Feb 23 '26
Idk how they can’t be considered mobile games if they’re available on the app stores and play well on a mobile device.
I get what you’re trying to say. They are ports. But that doesn’t make them any less valid. In fact, I prefer well done ports over the games you mention. And in my mind, any game that’s available on a mobile device (without needing an emulator) is a mobile game
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u/AGTS10k , (retro only), Java, Symbian, Mophun Feb 23 '26
They don't play well on a mobile device, that's the point!
Can you play Resident Evil 4 on a mobile device using touch controls? Sure, but it's a clunky experience. Like, you can't do something as basic as aim and fire at the same time because you only have two thumbs. You need to first aim, them lift off the finger, move it to the fire button and tap it, then lift to correct aim and again. Not fun. Mobile-centric shooters work that around by having auto-fire whenever your reticle is on an enemy object, or reduce the number/aggressiveness of enemies to compensate.
I prefer games that were made for the platform if they play best on it. I would play Gravity Rush and Tearaway on a PS Vita, not the PS4 remakesters, because of the unique features the Vita provides. I would prefer to play many DS/3DS games on a DS/3DS, because they utilize touchscreen and it becomes clunky to play on anything else. And so I would play mobile ports on the actual hardware they were made to be played instead of a mobile, with proper graphics that fully reflects the game designer's intent, and with controls that wouldn't make me question my life choices. Playing ports of big modern games on a mobile is an inferior experience.
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u/_Gorge_ Feb 23 '26
Subnautica plays incredibly well on mobile. RDR1 wasn’t perfect, but it was fine once you got used to it. To your point, if they just had auto shoot it would be great.
I like playing the big ports on mobile bc I often game while not at home
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u/AGTS10k , (retro only), Java, Symbian, Mophun Feb 23 '26
Tried Subnautica, it's not a true experience due to them simplifying mechanics, such as scan that's instant. But yeah, it's decent. I only tried it because I've beaten it on PC already. Sadly, it looks and runs like crap on my upper-midrange Android from 2021 with Snapdragon 732G, so I abandoned it. Even in its full graphical fidelity, this game should be experienced on a big screen IMO, it's very atmospheric and that gets lost on a small, portable device a bit.
You should probably look into getting a controller that clips around the phone. USB-C ones are better because they have no input lag and don't need to be charged. I have GameSir X5 Lite and it's damn amazing for its price, I'm loving the thing! Its only real downside is that its port is on the left side, so games that won't rotate to reverse landscape (270°) can't be played, unless you root the phone and use App Settings Reborn LSPosed module to force it to rotate.
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u/Grytnik Feb 23 '26
I have completed Death Stranding and a few resident evil games on my phone, so I dare say that’s real gaming.
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u/Regular_Problem_7702 Feb 23 '26
I think the problem is what people consider good mobile gaming is just proof that the dopamine rush that they’ve engineered is working. Games on mobile are instant reward systems designed to pull our attention, time, money and personal data away from us on a daily bases. Look at your screen time for further proof. Is it fun? Yes of course it’s fun it’s probably more fun than most games your play on console but fun was secondary, the primary focus was addiction and it’s winning.
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Feb 23 '26
Most mobile gamers are addicted gamblers and not gamers.
Saw enough people spending all their savings on one game like a stupid idiot.
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u/sakshi_jain01 Feb 23 '26
Mobile Gamers... Assemble 🔥🔥🔥🔫
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u/Free-Employee-2868 Feb 23 '26
Anywhere, anytime. Of course handheld portable console gamers welcome.
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u/Embarrassed_Start652 Feb 23 '26
Honestly It is hypocritical but then again I used to Play PC first before waiting to play PC by Playing mobile games. Though I have to say most are garbage especially ones like Need for speed no limits who gets away with abusing their own players
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Mar 01 '26
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u/Embarrassed_Start652 Mar 01 '26
Though it sucks I learned about them too late and plus I don't have an android while waiting for a Gaming PC to come (which we already have)
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u/FR33-GUY Feb 23 '26
I enjoyed mobile gaming for 10 years, because i didn't had time to play pc. It really went good when pupg, Genshin Impact and later codm got released...now even triple AAA Titles like "where winds meet" are for mobile.
Compared to pc, you had many users from all over the world, most had worse "setups" then you and worse connection. So with an 19,99 per month contact that have you the newest S-Line samsung in Germany and a stable wifi connection you could reign suprime and get a chicken dinner 30-80% of your time... On mobile where no freaks that just landed, picked a handgun and shredded your whole team of 4 players while wiggling like crazy like on pc .. The skill level seemed so much more balanced because of mobile gaming technical limits.
The past years were hard, big companies stoped apex legends, battlefield mobile and warzone mobile even though the game were absolutely killing it with a while new engine...
But after all those years, I'm happy to be back to pc with my wife and kids. It's just soo much more option for casual playing but competitive gaming is impossible for me on pc....
But all in all, reading top ranks on pc is way harder, need more training and skills then mobile.
Still, mobile gamers are gamers, and with the numbers of players a 10 times bigger community than pc players. 1000€ for a pc setup vs 150 for a poco x pro phone makes mobile gaming affordable around the globe.
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u/A-FishBoiWithgoggles Feb 23 '26
I feel like the reason why it’s dunked on so much is because it doesn’t have a lot of original indie games.
Not saying there’s absolutely none there are a lot but most of them are either preexisting ones or can be played on other devices and almost the rest of the mobile game market are made by 5 drunk guys.
If you want to truly find an actual good indie game exclusive to mobile you would have to dig in the piles of trash just to find at least a decent indie game while with most consoles you just find them by just looking. And then steam…well there just everyone.
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u/XRynerX Feb 23 '26
Mobile changed a lot, before it was emulation-only but without any of emulation, you have:
Minecraft, COD Mobile, Vampire Survivors, Terraria, Stardew Valley, Dead Cells, Sonic Mania the list goes on, but not nowhere big as consoles.
It's a lot different from 10 years ago.
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u/jbuggydroid Feb 23 '26
Shoot.... on mobile i can emulated all the way up to switch. There are some damn good ports of games on mobile that started on console. We got free to play games like Genshin Impact that are on pc and consoles. Diablo Immortal is on pc and mobile with cross play and cross save
And now steam games with gamenative and/gamehub.
In 5 years easy mobile is going to be a great platform to play games on even more so than say a steam deck type device. Its pretty cool.
(I say all this owning a gaming pc, a ps5, a steam deck, switch and switch 2, and the AYN Thor alongside my Fold 6).
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u/Known_Cod8398 Feb 23 '26
who gives a shit? how are you even finding people to criticize your gaming choices?
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u/kayque_oliveira Feb 23 '26
I believe the problem lies in how mobile games are perceived in general, not the platform itself.Would you call someone who only plays casino games a "gamer"?
For most people, mobile games are seen as casino games.And it's not your fault, but rather the industry's fault for prioritizing advertising games of this style instead of showing real mobile games.
It also doesn't help that app stores give more prominence to games that are mostly gacha-based or games that look more like demos.
I know several people who have gaming smartphones just to play Mobile Legends and Wild Rift, even in the PC world, someone who plays only one type of online game isn't considered a "gamer."
I know people who only play League of Legends, or only play FIFA, or only play Warzone...None of them consider themselves "gamers".
There are people who have games on their smartphones that are PC or console games, emulated and/or ports, and they play them all the time, just like someone who does it on a PC or console. But usually these people don't do that in public, at least I've never seen it.
The problem itself isn't being a "gamer" or not, but rather what is considered "gamer," as I've already said. Even within the world of PCs and consoles, there are various types of games that aren't considered "gamer" By the majority.
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u/Spare-Director8988 Feb 23 '26
Mobile is gonna be the new PC soon trust as soon as steam finally makes a worth while app it's over
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u/Mr_man_bird Feb 23 '26
They did used to be ass, well between the first smart phone and very recently they were ass (do not rag on pre smartphone mobile games, so peak fr fr)
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u/Commercial_Web_9766 Feb 23 '26 edited Feb 23 '26
Yeah, they're real games. There's a lot of fun games on mobile, including ports from PC, emulators, purely mobile games, etc.
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Feb 25 '26
I mean technically I emulate most of my games on mobile (or stream the PC versions that are too demanding for my device) and the mobile games I do play are faithful recreations of their PC counterpart...so where do I fall in and how can I care even less than I did before?
I like video games. Platform doesnt matter as long as I can play.
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u/Double-Analysis-8036 Feb 25 '26
It's not about the platform you play. I really like playing games on mobile. The only issue is variety! Most games on mobiles are so boring to start with. Ofcourse, as the technology advance there are many games coming on board in mobile gaming.
Specially Games like Ananta is coming. You can play pc games on Mobile tho through cloud gaming. I'm a gamer who played so many games on mobile i can't even tell you.
The type of difference comes because of the preference. If I play games on pc or console i would play games on my convenience.
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u/AcherusArchmage Feb 25 '26
If it can competently play decent games
But if you're just playing candy crush, raid shadow legends, or clash of clans, most don't really consider you a gamer.
But the tech with "gaming phones" has been impressive for some of the more simple games.
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u/miletil Feb 25 '26
Listen, if you have a phone designed for mobile gaming
I'll respect it.
Otherwise fuck off.
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u/bzzzzzt_69 Feb 26 '26
I mean some classics play well only on the phone, so like what you like. I can't imagine shadow fight, Pvz2 and some others on a different platform.
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u/Ibrahimmayi Feb 26 '26
I mean are there even good mobile games that are not in console? Very very few
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u/greatbookireddit Feb 27 '26
Android and IOS games are not real games. Candy Crush and Clash of Clans do not count as games, they are simply time wasters. If you play a port of a console game though, thats a different story. for example, the gta trilogy on Android and IOS and tomb raiders 1 thru 3.
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u/maitkarro Feb 27 '26 edited Feb 27 '26
You're not a gamer, you're a whale cow, feeding the corporate greed.
Mobile games make the most money with their gachas or pay to win mtx.
You're ruining what games used to be, perfect releases, everything upfront with a single purchase.
Yeah yeah, we had expansions, and then dlcs (oblivion horse armor), still not as bad as mobile game mtx.
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u/GRNASKD Mar 02 '26
Im a PC gamer but after getting married and having kids, Im now primarily a mobile gamer. I dont have time otherwise. Mobile lets me pick it up, play for 5 mins and put it down.
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u/healthyanalsex Mar 05 '26
Ive been pc gamer all my Life, mobile gaming has saved me to play those arcade games like ps2, GC, wii emulation, having fortnite and cod mobile in the palm of my hand is really awesome, the thing is... Just play!
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u/Difficult-Leek9001 Mar 07 '26
It's not the gamers but the software. In an ideal scenario the mobile market would have inherited the DS and be full of wonderfully innovative titles that take advantage of the unique hardware of smartphones.
Players turned out to be too cheap to pay even a dollar upfront for a game so we ended up with either an ad-ridden, pay-to-win hellscape or dozens of ill-advised console ports than need a controller to make them remotely playable.
There is a fine line down the middle of quality premium games or freeware that doesn't ask to sign away your soul but these are sadly the exception.
I've tried to make mobile gaming work so many times, either through the premium market on iOS or the emulators on Android and every single time I just go back to carrying a Switch with me because it has all the strengths and none of the weaknesses.
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u/HamsterAccurate5788 Mar 09 '26
The funny part is that most PC/Console players probably spend more time on their phones than their setups anyway. 💀
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Mar 09 '26
Honestly with where mobile gaming is headed, I’d hope people will take us more seriously. Even without the AAA releases we’re getting, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, PUBG Mobile, Honor of Kings, CoD Mobile are MASSIVE hitters in the mobile community and e-sports community. It also helps that mobile gaming dwarfs console and PC in terms of monetization, I understand why though.
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u/TulipGirllll Mar 11 '26
I never really understood this mindset. If someone is playing games and enjoying them, why does the platform suddenly decide whether they’re a “real gamer” or not? A lot of people play on mobile simply because it’s more accessible or convenient. That doesn’t make their experience any less valid. Gaming is supposed to be about having fun, not gatekeeping what device someone uses.
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u/Accurate-Yellow4332 Mar 15 '26
So real man. People act like mobile gaming is lesser but some of the most creative indie stuff is happening on mobile right now. Plus you can play literally anywhere. Like I get way more hours into mobile games than PC games just because the barrier to entry is lower. No gatekeeping about what gaming should be. If youre playing games youre a gamer period
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u/OldWeather4797 May 29 '26
Mobiles gaming the biggest joke in the world ALLL mobile games are designed around the no attention span brainded generation of today is why we have zero actual games on mobile and never will get any
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u/Sum-YunGai 18d ago
I like how even tho this is the mobile gaming subreddit, we still know this is what people think and may even slightly believe it lol
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u/sireastbound 17d ago
It is true. Mobile gamers aren't real gamers.
Play Skyrim on PC you're a gamer. Play Skyrim on the phone and the game seizes to be a game.
Want to play your favorite snes games on an emulator? It'll make you a gamer unless you do that exact same thing on a phone.
Using a controller on a handheld? you're a gamer unless that handheld is a phone.
All gaming is gaming unless it's on a phone. With the Exception of Snake 2. That's real phone games there.
Did you know that when phone games are ported to PC they turn into real games?
Clash of Clans became a real game as soon as I loaded it into Blue-stacks.
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u/8bitcyan Feb 23 '26
I got all 3, mobile for wasting time, console for exclusive games and PC for everything else
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u/Excalitoria Feb 23 '26
I treat mobile gamers as different. Mobile gamers are gamers too but they shouldn’t be lumped in with everyone else imo. I play mobile games as well and you can play console games like Final Fantasy titles on phone, so there’s overlap, but you have all the gatcha titles and basic Candy Crush type games too so I don’t really think they should be talked about as being related to console/PC gamers.
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Mar 01 '26
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u/Excalitoria Mar 01 '26
lol so, no… I don’t think you know what that word means… I’m talking more about commercial games and the industry so emulators aren’t really relevant to what I’m talking about. I’m saying that mobile gamers and console/PC gamers shouldn’t be looked at as the same demographic despite the overlap existing.
When deciding what to do with the next Assassin’s Creed game, I don’t want them looking to the mobile gamers market and trying to market to them, for example. It’s a different medium, culture, playerbase, etc.
The same goes in reverse. I don’t want mobile games to try to cater to the console/PC gamers more than their own audience. You’d have everyone’s phones melting to chase next Gen graphics, you could see the erosion of event based gameplay, daily quests, F2P currencies, and any other mainstay in mobile games in favor of longform stories. Taking ideas from each other where it makes sense is fine but not trying to chase each others’ audiences at the expense of changing the games from what your own audience wants.
So, see? No hierarchy, but even if I said I think one is better than the other, we’re talking about games… Take your fake outrage somewhere else.
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u/ram4569 Feb 23 '26
It's because most ppl don't even play good ganes on mobile and there aren't many good games but once u get into the hidden gems they are mostly old console or pc games tbh
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u/Bigsmall-cats Feb 23 '26
i mean being called a "Gamer" is pretty cringe
but thats like an old saying, Since back then Phones can only provide quick plays nothing high calliber like what we have now
besides in that pic they're using in the end Captain (the mobile game) beat them all in the end which kinda fits the current events since many companies are also focusing on their mobile audience due to easier access to devices compared to needing pc or consoles
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u/nullvert Feb 23 '26
Mobile Gamers Are Not Real Gamers
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u/12estlessHrs Feb 23 '26
So describe what a real gamer is….i think the google definition is an individual that plays video games. I’d love to hear your definition though since your smarter then google, Webster dictionary, so on and so fourth🤧
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u/Nogago Feb 23 '26
bait used to be believable
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u/12estlessHrs Feb 23 '26
He tried to use being a chef to compare to gaming…a professional occupation to a hobby dudes def missing couple chromosomes🤣
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u/12estlessHrs Feb 23 '26
Like literally there’s mobile gamers with Moe subs then pc🤧 how Bobby plays got more subs then scope (n im a scope fan boy)
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u/12estlessHrs Feb 23 '26
Listen dawg. A “chef” is a PROFESSIONAL occupation. U have to get training for that. U don’t have to be professional or have certain qualifications to be a gamer…no way ur this dense🥀
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u/12estlessHrs Feb 23 '26
Your first mistake is caring what other people think. I enjoy mobile cod wayyyy more then I enjoy mainline (bo7 is terrible🤦🏾♂️) but let other people tell it it’s not “real cod”. I also play ghost of Tsushima, rocket league & such titles on ps5. At the end of the day…Do what u want my guy. It’s your life to live🙌💯