While many popular mobile games have online and mobile functionality, a relative few harness the power of live technology. This can come in many forms, from live-streamed games to altering the game depending on your real-life experience. So, these are the best games that utilize live technology differently.
The quiz game show still played live
In 2018, HQ Trivia proved a colossal hit, offering real money rewards for smart, quick-thinking quizzers. It even had Dwayne Johnson present the show one time. Though it became a huge success in 2018, the runners ran out of money, leading to its unceremonious collapse two years ago. The final game saw over 500 viewers compete for $5.
Shortly after the app’s owners threw in the towel, an unnamed investor picked it up. The devs gave it back, and pumped some much-needed funds into the titlke. So, the live-streamed, real money quiz game lives on, with games taking place each day. Their Twitter account keeps players in the loop for quiz times. And even puts out special auctions and events, like HQ After Dark.
Playing the French classic in real-time
When physical games like board games, pen-and-paper RPGs, and casino games went digital, there was the very real fear that they would lose a sense of community. Players, some imagined, would no longer experience the social element of gaming. Enter the inclusion of online chat rooms, multiplayer gaming format and live gaming options. It’s safe to say that the digital era has adapted to encourage the social element through the online medium.
For example, consider the classic table games and how they have been revolutionised by live streaming. By combining a game control unit and optical character recognition technology with the usual live streaming kit, anyone can go to an online casino to play live roulette on the go. Players watch a human croupier go through the actions of the game. The croupier places chips on the table via the UI on their mobiles between rounds to make bets. Then, the wheel is spun, and the croupier calls the wins.
Altering your reality in real-time
Augmented reality gaming was expected to explode after the release of Pokémon Go. Still played by a colossal count of people to this day, the 2016 release showed what was possible and set a very high bar. An AR revolution didn’t really take off, but several gems that utilise the technology to augment to live world around you are still running hot.
Using a similar set-up to Pokémon Go, Jurassic World Alive lets you roam the world to find dinosaurs, collect them, and battle with other players. The game is quickly approaching its four-year anniversary, having been updated regularly since its launch. Another strong choice is Knightfall AR, which puts the digital board game on any surface in your home so that you can strategise the defence of a siege.
Live technologies are strong enough now that they can be the basis of a whole game, regardless of the real gaming elements. The examples above are just a handful of the best examples of this niche corner of mobile gaming.