There is no denying that smartphone and tablet use is on the rise, and has been for some years now. It’s likely that most people you know will own such a device and use it for a plethora of purposes. What you may not realize is that many people use their mobile devices as a platform to spend some time gaming!

Gone are the days where you had to sit in front of a TV with a games console to spend some time playing your favorite titles. For some years, console brands like Nintendo and Sony have brought out a range of handheld gaming devices. Today, the emphasis on accessible gaming is even stronger than ever before! Thanks to technological innovations, smartphones and tablets now have hardware specs that rival those found in desktop and laptop computers.

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As a result, we are now able to play a range of resource-demanding games on our mobile devices. What’s more, we don’t have to invest in any additional hardware accessories to do so! Did you know that in 2015, over 164 million people in the U.S. alone played games on their mobile devices?

With all that information in mind, why is the mobile gaming industry so widespread and growing at such an exponential rate? Here’s an insightful look at the science behind mobile gaming:

Delayed gratification

The thing about any computer game is that you cannot finish it within the space of a few minutes. Often, you have to dedicate days, weeks, even months to the cause before you reach the end.

It’s that delayed gratification that draws us into computer games and makes us addicted to them in some respects. It applies not just to console or PC-based gaming titles but also to those on mobile platforms too. With thousands of mobile games to choose from, and that’s not even talking about the ones in the Apple App Store or Google Play, there’s something for everyone!

Ease of use

One of the reasons for the surge in mobile gaming popularity is the ease of use. We don’t have to learn how to use the device to play a game because we’re already familiar with the device’s controls.

Most mobile games are played on touchscreen phones and tablets, so there’s no need to learn what a particular button does in a game, for example.

There’s plenty of online help

Let’s say that you start a new and popular game on your iPhone, but you’re unsure how best to progress through each level. The good news is that the Internet makes it easy to discover walkthroughs or “cheat sheets” to new and existing games titles!

So, whether you wanted a Mobile Strike guide or a helping hand with Candy Crush Saga, you won’t have to scratch your head for very long!

Mobile gaming is social

Although it’s the last point in today’s article, it’s by no means the least important. One of the features of mobile gaming is that it’s a social exercise. The vast majority of titles for mobiles and tablets can be played with friends, family, and even strangers via the Internet.

It’s clear that the future of mobile gaming is big and isn’t about to decline anytime soon.