Best Games to Play on a Smartphone Emulator

[Games Retrospect]

I recently got a used Android phone and it came with a bunch of apps already installed (which I deleted as soon as I could.) One that drew my attention was a Game Boy Advance emulator with a Pokemon game in it and this made me think. Which do you think are the best games to play on smartphones. And I mean this in the sense that games like Pokemon, which are slow-paced and turn-based, are perfect to play on smartphones because you can take your time and you don't really need a D-pad for precise controls. So what do you think are the best games to play on a smartphone emulator that don't require a proper d-pad or strong reflexes?

[atarifan88]

I have played Atari & Intellivision games on my phone but the fun just doesn't translate. Having touch controls is not the way to play classic games, IMO.

[jhd]

I have the Atari Greatest Hits collection on my phone, but I only really play a very few games. As noted, the controls are not really adequate for fast action games.

 

I also have a SNES emulator that is only used to play RPGs -- I am a massive fan of that genre, and turn-based combat works acceptably with the on screen controls.

 

In addition, I play a handful of strategy games that are not emulated.

[mr_me]

I have played Atari & Intellivision games on my phone but the fun just doesn't translate. Having touch controls is not the way to play classic games, IMO.

Treasure of Tarmin should be playable.

[atarifan88]

Treasure of Tarmin should be playable.

Maybe, but having an emulator on a phone just for one game isn't really worth it.

[youxia]

JRPGS and SRPGS would be the most obvious hints, if you're into this sort of stuff and if you specifically ask about emulation. Off top of my head, Shining Force series and Dragon Quest are quite awesome. There's also heaps of amazing strategy games of more Western persuasion for the assorted microcomputers. Rebelstar series for ZX Spectrum is one of my favourites, with Laser Squad still one of the best games ever.

 

Personally, I prefer my NDS for emulating such stuff though. On my phone I mostly play Nethack, emulation-wise I only ever bothered with Level-9 text adventures - another genre suited for touchscreen.

Edited May 16, 2018 by youxia

[Flojomojo]

Maybe, but having an emulator on a phone just for one game isn't really worth it.

 

Worth what? The space? Emulators and old games are tiny. The time? Nothing wrong with having a few favorites. Pokemon or Zelda games can last a long time.

 

Pokemon is probably the most played GBA game on emulators, but I would encourage you to venture outside the moldy oldies. Teeny Titans is a lot like Pokemon, but with better graphics and a more modern sense of humor. It's on everything and is a pay-once, play-forever game. https://www.cartoonnetwork.com/apps/teen-titans-go/teeny-titans/index.html

[atarifan88]

Like I said, for the systems I play (pre-crash), having emulators on my phone do not capture the same experience as it would playing on a TV. Better yet, an 50" HD TV!

[ClassicGMR]

I'm a huge fan of Advance Wars on the Gameboy Advance. I'd imagine that's something that would operate very well with on screen controls.

[Flojomojo]

Here's another excellent old-style game you can play: The Quest. It's even on sale.

 

Think outside the oldies! You made another thread about console ports. There's more to gaming than retro and ports!!