Back in the day, I was that kid — the one who blew his whole afternoon (and week’s allowance) at the arcade. I still remember the hypnotic glow of the cabinets and the feel of that joystick. Not long after, we picked up an Atari 2600, and eventually a 5200. But somehow, I missed the Nintendo era entirely. Life’s funny like that.
I didn’t get back into gaming until the Windows XP days. A few years later, I went down the rabbit hole of Apple and Linux. And yeah, yeah — I know, Apple isn’t exactly a gaming system. But hey, you can run games on a Mac… it’s just not the same as a full-blown custom gaming PC with high-performance parts.
📱 15 Years of Pocket Gaming… and the Disappointment
Believe it or not, I spent the next decade and a half mostly gaming on my iPhone. Go ahead, laugh. I get it. But mobile games can be good — a few, at least. Still, any serious gamer knows that most phone games are a pale imitation of what PC gaming offers.
My favorite genres? I lean hard into real-time strategy (RTS), first-person shooters (FPS), and RPGs. I like games that force me to think and challenge me — I actually prefer when I don’t win all the time. If I’m crushing 70% of the matches, I lose interest fast.
🤨 Why Mobile Games Fall Short
Let’s be honest: it’s not the hardware that holds mobile games back. Apple and Samsung devices are powerful enough to handle impressive visuals — even if they’re squished onto a tiny screen.
The real issue? It’s the games themselves.
Too many mobile titles focus on microtransactions instead of good gameplay. When I see a “$170 bundle” pop up for some digital perk, I seriously wonder: who’s paying for that? Apparently, someone is — but it’s not me.
Most base-building strategy games on phones strip away any real agency. You don’t control troops directly. There’s no thinking outside the box. There’s a reason no one brags about being “amazing” at these games. So most of them get deleted within the hour. A few hang around for a couple days — tops.
🎮 Final Fantasy I — Still a Legend
Then I stumbled across Final Fantasy I on Apple Arcade. I’d never played it before, and I figured it was time.
And you know what? A 30-year-old game with pixel graphics and simple mechanics still holds up. Why?
Because the devs actually set out to make a great game, not a cleverly disguised money vacuum. The story’s basic but solid, the dialogue doesn’t waste time, and the visuals? I expect them to be retro. That’s the charm!
Three days in, and I’m still looking forward to each break just to get in a few more minutes. That’s what good game design feels like.
🦖 ARK: Survival Evolved — Surprisingly Good on Mobile
Another exception to the mobile rule is ARK: Survival Evolved. Yeah, it’s got microtransactions, but they’re not essential. You can still enjoy the full game loop.
Sure, the mobile version is toned down compared to the full PC version — mostly because of interface limitations — but the devs did a solid job of keeping the look, feel, and gameplay consistent. That said, I still prefer the PC experience, hands down.
💻 So… What System Is Best?
Look, we’ve all heard the arguments: PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, or PC. Everyone picks a side. But honestly? It’s kind of silly.
A good game is a good game — no matter the platform. But if you really want to see what games can do… you know where this is going:
👉 Come see us at Lithgeek Custom Gaming Computers, located at 85 Main Street, Lithgow. We build high-performance, custom gaming PCs designed for the games you want to play — whether you’re into retro classics or cutting-edge titles.