While video gaming was once restricted to specially built consoles and PCs, mobile technology is now making the hobby more accessible than ever before. Sony’s PlayStation still holds the top spot when it comes to console gaming in Canada, but the most played games are those which can be accessed across a wide range of different platforms and devices, including mobile, like Fortnite and Minecraft. And these changes are, in turn, influencing which gaming genres are seeing the most success worldwide.
Casual games can be defined as those titles with mass market appeal which require a reduced skill set, less time spent playing per session, and a simpler set of rules. However, within this category can fall many different genres still. MOBAs (multiplayer online battle arenas) are traditionally very involved games which require well-honed skills and plenty of time per session. Titles such as Mobile Legends Bang Bang are shaking up the status quo by offering players 10-second matchmaking and 10-minute matches within the MOBA genre, with a lower barrier to entry.
The New York Times, meanwhile, has got in on the puzzling action by snapping up cult classic word game Wordle and making it accessible through their website. The free-to-play title has been a global sensation, with many people logging on through their mobile devices whilst commuting, taking a lunch break, or waiting for an appointment. The convenience and accessibility offered to gamers through casual mobile gaming of all stripes has kickstarted a gaming boom, making a once exclusive pastime available to everyone.
So, let’s take a look at some of the casual gaming genres taking off in Canada and across the globe.
Slots Games
Slots are a perennial favourite, whether that means playing in person on the casino floor or using an online provider. The traditionally fast-paced gaming genre often goes heavy on storytelling and special features, whilst offering varied RTP rates and different paylines to players. The added convenience of being able to play on the go using a mobile device means that both old hands and beginners can play slots whenever and wherever they prefer.
If you’re new to the game, then there’s a wealth of good resources online which can help you to get clued up on how the different slots variants work, and provide you with trustworthy info on vital terminology. Once you’ve got the hang of things, you’ll find that different players will have different tastes when it comes to which slots titles they prefer to play. Popular games like Age of the Gods and Starburst use unique bonus features, minigames and exciting storylines to hold a player’s interest and deliver on gameplay. The more you play, the more you’ll learn which are your own personal favourites.
Battle Royales
The immense popularity of Fortnite has paved the way for other multiplayer battle royale titles to take over the gaming market, but, despite this, the original is still holding strong. Fortnite now has over 350 million registered players and has generated billions of dollars in revenue since its release. The focus of such games is survival as each player battles multiple opponents in a frenzied rush to be the last one standing. Map exploration, scavenging and customization are all essential features in this genre, and a free-to-play approach is often implemented in order to access the widest audience.
Apex Legends, PUBG Battlegrounds and COD: Modern Warfare are other popular battle royale titles, particularly within the mobile sector. Many of these games are free to download and play, they don’t require a complex skillset to get started, and most sessions last less than half an hour. For these reasons, and more, battle royale titles are proving extremely popular amongst Canadians as well as with the rest of the world. Top Canadian eSports players like Williams “Zayt” Aubin and Evan “Cented” Barron have made their name and their fortune playing Fortnite on the international stage.
Casual Puzzles
Some of the top downloaded gaming apps are match puzzles such as Triple Tile and Candy Crush Saga. This genre of game takes a fairly simple premise, such as matching up rows of the same symbol, and then provides players with hundreds of increasingly difficult levels to work through. In terms of a quick pick-up-and-play title, it’s a premise which cannot be beaten. Candy Crush Saga has become famous the world over as one of the most successful titles in the category, and it is currently the top casual gaming app in Canada. There is something undeniably satisfying about progressing through the levels as you solve puzzle after puzzle, picking up power-ups and boosters along the way.
