With an increasing percentage of people owning a smartphone in Singapore (about 88 percent1), gaming has become a common activity played on mobile devices, especially among children and youth.
Smartphone games are easily accessible and are one of the most popular ways to pass time and have fun. Each player comes to the game world with a certain goal, looking for something special.
Some of the reasons why children and youth play mobile games include:
- To relieve stress
- To make new friends
- To get a chance to be whoever you want to be
- To be a winner
In this article, TOUCH Cyber Wellness shares with us five popular mobile games played by children and youths in Singapore. Discover the trending mobile games of today and connect with your child by playing the games together, or by striking up a conversation about the games they enjoy!
Minecraft: Pocket Edition
Minecraft: Pocket Edition is a mobile version of the legendary PC game Minecraft. The gameplay of the mobile version is similar to the PC version. Gamers have options where they can play either in the creative mode where they will have all the resources, or they can play in the survival mode, where they will have nothing in the inventory and have to earn all things from scratch.
The survival mode is the most challenging mode; if you get caught by the spiders, creepers, or zombies, you will lose all your resources and will have to start from the beginning.
Some of the skillsets required to play this game include creativity.
Genshin Impact is a large, free exploration roleplaying game (RPG) that can be played anywhere and on any device. In the game, you are allowed to change characters rather than weapon kinds. Some characters use one-handed swords, others use bows, and others carry magic books. As you play, you build up your four-person party and swap characters on the fly. When you accumulate equipment, you may utilise it to upgrade your finest weapons. This also leads to what may be the big war.
Characters may have their strengths enhanced in various ways, such as increasing a character's level and improving artifacts and the weapons that the character equips. In addition to exploration, the player can attempt various challenges for rewards. Players can control their characters and perform actions such as running, climbing, swimming, and gliding which are limited by stamina. Some characters possess abilities that can alter the environment, such as freezing water to create an ice path that can aid the player in traversing terrain. Players can obtain food from hunting animals, gathering fruit and vegetables, or purchasing them from a store. Players can also procure ore that can be refined and then used to create weapons or enhance their strength.
Some of the skillsets required to play this game include coordination and money management.
Roblox is an online platform and storefront where users go to play games. Roblox is not a game, it is a place where people play games made by other developers. What makes Roblox different from anything else in the games industry is that all the games are made by its users. On Roblox, the fun doesn’t just come from playing games, it also comes from making games.
All the online games you see on the platform have been built by members of the Roblox community for members of the Roblox community. Players can build the ultimate theme park, compete as professional race car drivers, star in a fashion show, become a superhero, or simply design a dream home and hang out with friends.
Roblox allows players to buy, sell, and create virtual items which can be used to decorate their virtual character that serves as their avatar on the platform. Clothes can be bought by anyone, but only players with a premium membership can sell them.
Some of the skillsets to be developed from this game include creativity, programming, coding, and entrepreneurship.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, commonly known as ML or MLBB, is a mobile multiplayer online battle arena game designed for mobile phones. The game is free-to-play and is only monetised through in-game purchases like characters and skins.
Each player can control a selectable character, called “Hero”, with unique abilities and traits. There are 6 roles that define the main purpose of heroes: “Tank”, “Marksman”, “Assassin”, “Fighter”, “Mage”, and “Support”. These roles determine the responsibilities of players for their respective teams. For each match, players can earn in-game items to set specific builds (offensive or balanced) for their heroes, depending on their game strategies.
The game sets two teams of five against each other in real-time, with at least 10-second matchmaking and 10-minute matches. Players must fight over three lanes to take the enemy's tower and protect their own in a traditional battle arena game. There is no hero levelling or pay to play aspect—winners and losers are determined by skill, ability, and strategy.
Some skillsets needed to play this game include strategy, teamwork, and communication.
Call of Duty: Mobile is a free-to-play shooter game. Gamers are given two modes to play: Battle Royale, where you have to survive the 100-player experience and Multiplayer, where you’ll participate in traditional five versus five team-based combat. With new updates added, many other game modes have been included such as zombies action and sniper versus sniper battle.
Players can choose to play ranked or non-ranked matches in multiplayer mode. It has two types of in-game currencies: "Credits", which are earned through playing the game, and "COD Points", which are bought with real-world money. It is possible to play the full game without paying, though some exclusive character and weapon skins can only be bought with COD Points. Apart from standard matchmaking, a private room for both the multiplayer and battle royale modes can also be accessed where players can invite and battle with their in-game friends.
Some skillsets needed to play this game include strategy, teamwork, communication, and quick reflexes.
We hope you have learnt more about the trending mobile games your child may be playing and enjoy a fun conversation with them! Find out about their favourite characters, the equipment they are targeting to purchase with in-game currency, or the strategies they use to level up.
Downloading the game apps on your mobile device and trying your hand at the games would help with understanding your children better. Who knows, you may enjoy playing the games yourself and be one of your child’s gaming buddies!
Remember, your focus should be on knowing your child better and bonding with them. So, try to stay neutral in your opinions about the mobile games and enjoy your time together!
To speak with an expert, get in touch with TOUCH Cyber Wellness here or call the TOUCHline at 1800 377 2252 (Mondays to Fridays, 9am to 6pm).
TOUCH Cyber Wellness (TCW) is a pioneer and leading non-profit agency that champions cyber wellness and media literacy education in Singapore. Since 2001, TCW has reached more than 320 schools and one million youths, parents, educators and counsellors through its education, advocacy and intervention efforts.