Frustrated Casual Gamer
November 27, 2024 8:42 AM Subscribe
One of my almost daily pastimes is listening to audiobooks, and, since I can no longer crochet due to aging hands, I like to play casual games to keep my hands occupied. I'm frustrated by the in-app purchases model, and wonder if either a GameBoy or a Steam account would give me access to casual games where I pay up front and then am done paying.
I was an avid gamer in my youth, but haven't done any extensive play of games like the Zelda, Mario, Donkey Kong oeuvre in a long, long time, except for some games I played with my kids as they were growing up.
These days, I like casual games: not-too-tricky puzzle games, word games, match 3s, and the like, though I'm open to exploring other genres. I don't like fight games or anything that relies too much on being speedy. I'm frustrated by phone games and the in-app purchases/all ads all the time model, in part because I'm super-susceptible to spending stupid amounts of money (in small increments) in a game I really like.
Is it time to get ,say, a Nintendo Switch? Would a Steam account get me access to what I'd like? I'd be perfectly happy with a previous gen Switch and older games, as it would all be new to me. Specific game recommendations welcome.
I was an avid gamer in my youth, but haven't done any extensive play of games like the Zelda, Mario, Donkey Kong oeuvre in a long, long time, except for some games I played with my kids as they were growing up.
These days, I like casual games: not-too-tricky puzzle games, word games, match 3s, and the like, though I'm open to exploring other genres. I don't like fight games or anything that relies too much on being speedy. I'm frustrated by phone games and the in-app purchases/all ads all the time model, in part because I'm super-susceptible to spending stupid amounts of money (in small increments) in a game I really like.
Is it time to get ,say, a Nintendo Switch? Would a Steam account get me access to what I'd like? I'd be perfectly happy with a previous gen Switch and older games, as it would all be new to me. Specific game recommendations welcome.
If you're part of the Apple ecosystem you might want to look at Apple Arcade. It offers a large number of casual games for a monthly fee. No ads, no in-app purchases.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 8:48 AM on November 27 [8 favorites]
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 8:48 AM on November 27 [8 favorites]
Response by poster: lol GameBoy. I meant Switch, obviously.
posted by Well I never at 8:48 AM on November 27 [3 favorites]
posted by Well I never at 8:48 AM on November 27 [3 favorites]
The Android version is the Google Play Pass. You get access to many games with no ads or in-app purchases.
posted by skunk pig at 9:01 AM on November 27
posted by skunk pig at 9:01 AM on November 27
You may scoff at the term Gameboy, but I've known several adults who own a later-model Gameboy (usually Gameboy Advance or DS) that they use that to waste time instead of on their phones. Go check out a nearby pawn shop, they're probably not expensive and you can build your library from eBay, etc. I don't know if the controller layout will be difficult for aging hands though (which may apply to the Switch too)
posted by AzraelBrown at 9:04 AM on November 27 [1 favorite]
posted by AzraelBrown at 9:04 AM on November 27 [1 favorite]
The New York Times' game suite has expanded beyond crosswords to include lots of minigames - annual subscription, no ads, no freemiums.
posted by nkknkk at 9:14 AM on November 27
posted by nkknkk at 9:14 AM on November 27
Response by poster: I think I’m going to start with Apple Arcade, thanks!
posted by Well I never at 9:50 AM on November 27 [2 favorites]
posted by Well I never at 9:50 AM on November 27 [2 favorites]
Some game recs to get you started- some of these are available both on mobile and Steam.
Balatro Poker-inspired deck building
Slay the Spire Deck building
Dorfromantik Tile placement
Monument Valley Puzzle
Mini Metro Transit system builder
Loop Hero Tile placement with RPG mechanics
posted by EKStickland at 10:02 AM on November 27 [4 favorites]
Balatro Poker-inspired deck building
Slay the Spire Deck building
Dorfromantik Tile placement
Monument Valley Puzzle
Mini Metro Transit system builder
Loop Hero Tile placement with RPG mechanics
posted by EKStickland at 10:02 AM on November 27 [4 favorites]
Last year I purchased a miyoo mini, which is like a Gameboy but can play games from that era up to about PS1 times.
It was about 100 Canadian dollars and I also got a microsd card to hold a bunch of games files (I can send a link to the pack I used if you like).
It has been a great offline way to bribe my son to enjoy being in the car.
I tried a cheaper one first but it really wasn't great. This one looks like a Gameboy and works really well.
posted by Acari at 12:03 PM on November 27 [1 favorite]
It was about 100 Canadian dollars and I also got a microsd card to hold a bunch of games files (I can send a link to the pack I used if you like).
It has been a great offline way to bribe my son to enjoy being in the car.
I tried a cheaper one first but it really wasn't great. This one looks like a Gameboy and works really well.
posted by Acari at 12:03 PM on November 27 [1 favorite]
+1 to the Netflix games recommendation. My kid downloaded a Netflix version of a tower defense game on my phone and from what I can tell he doesn't have to deal with all the ads and nag screens that most freemium games bombard you with.
Switch games are pretty good about not nickel and diming you with micro transactions BUT quite a few of them will have additional DLC that you have to pay extra for if you want them. Generally no ads for them but like in Mario Kart you'll see courses and characters but it'll tell you you need to get the DLC if you want to use them. One thing about the Switch is that it allows you to play more involved games in a casual manner because you can just hit the power button and it'll go to sleep and then continue when you have time again. It might not be ideal for games where you need to keep a lot in your head while you're playing but you could easily play 10 minutes of a Mario or Zelda game, put the Switch down and then continue later on.
If you subscribe to the paid online service then you can also play original NES, SNES, Gameboy, N64 and Sega Genesis games depending on which tier you subscribe to.
A Steam Deck is like a Nintendo Switch on steroids with the benefit that you can pay PC prices for games. The Switch has a lot of ports so makes it a great device for playing games that are 5+ years old but you could have to pay $20+ for the port while it'll be a $5 game on Steam. Of course the Steam Deck is a lot more expensive so you'd have to see if the savings on the games makes the whole thing make sense. If you plan on getting a lot of PC games then that might be the way to go.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 12:24 PM on November 27
Switch games are pretty good about not nickel and diming you with micro transactions BUT quite a few of them will have additional DLC that you have to pay extra for if you want them. Generally no ads for them but like in Mario Kart you'll see courses and characters but it'll tell you you need to get the DLC if you want to use them. One thing about the Switch is that it allows you to play more involved games in a casual manner because you can just hit the power button and it'll go to sleep and then continue when you have time again. It might not be ideal for games where you need to keep a lot in your head while you're playing but you could easily play 10 minutes of a Mario or Zelda game, put the Switch down and then continue later on.
If you subscribe to the paid online service then you can also play original NES, SNES, Gameboy, N64 and Sega Genesis games depending on which tier you subscribe to.
A Steam Deck is like a Nintendo Switch on steroids with the benefit that you can pay PC prices for games. The Switch has a lot of ports so makes it a great device for playing games that are 5+ years old but you could have to pay $20+ for the port while it'll be a $5 game on Steam. Of course the Steam Deck is a lot more expensive so you'd have to see if the savings on the games makes the whole thing make sense. If you plan on getting a lot of PC games then that might be the way to go.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 12:24 PM on November 27
I love my Apple Arcade subscription! It has everything from "keep my hands occupied" games like Spades, Gin Rummy, and Stitch to full-fledged engrossing games like Stardew Valley and Wylde Flowers. It's been slow on updates for a while, but quite a few games are dropping in December and January, including the original Final Fantasy! I'm so thrilled to grindgrindgrind those levels!
posted by epj at 12:56 PM on November 27
posted by epj at 12:56 PM on November 27
IF you happen to already have a Netflix account, their games (at least on iOS devices) do not have ad breaks and I haven't encountered any in-app purchases so far. I am playing a Netflix Solitaire that has a tiny banner, it's non-intrusive.
Most (all?) of the Netflix casual games are pay to play games that have had their dark pattern microtransactions stripped out but the dark patterns are still there. In some cases this can be really annoying.
posted by Mitheral at 2:42 PM on November 27 [1 favorite]
Most (all?) of the Netflix casual games are pay to play games that have had their dark pattern microtransactions stripped out but the dark patterns are still there. In some cases this can be really annoying.
posted by Mitheral at 2:42 PM on November 27 [1 favorite]
Second Apple Arcade, it's a pretty good deal and you get to try a bunch of stuff. I want to point out that you don't have to use touch controls for most of the games -- you can sync a game controller to your phone and use that. I'm not sure which ones are supported exactly but I know PS4 and PS5 controllers work great for this.
Also second Balatro, it's a pretty hot game right now for good reason. I don't even like the deckbuilder genre much but I love Balatro. There's a mobile version too. Don't be misled by the poker theme, it's very much not a gambling game.
I'd also recommend Vampire Survivors (also for both PC and mobile). It's cheap, very accessible (all you do is move your character around), but has a good amount of surprisingly deep gameplay in it.
posted by neckro23 at 3:54 PM on November 27
Also second Balatro, it's a pretty hot game right now for good reason. I don't even like the deckbuilder genre much but I love Balatro. There's a mobile version too. Don't be misled by the poker theme, it's very much not a gambling game.
I'd also recommend Vampire Survivors (also for both PC and mobile). It's cheap, very accessible (all you do is move your character around), but has a good amount of surprisingly deep gameplay in it.
posted by neckro23 at 3:54 PM on November 27
if you are on the iphone, the two games I have been able to pay a single fee to unlock (i too hate small payments and ads) and then had to eventually delete because of absolute obsession are: Offline Games (specifically the number matching - my kid got over 250M, not a typo, so we are in a war) and the Battle of Polytopia. I play them while watching tv as they are super chill and last about the length of an episode, for times when I'm not knitting.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 9:42 PM on November 27
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 9:42 PM on November 27
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But I am also curious about other answers to this question. This is how I keep from doomscrolling and as a general habit I like how that's working out for me.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:48 AM on November 27 [7 favorites]