You know those times when you’re on the bus or the MRT, and you’re holding onto the handrail with one hand while trying to play your iPhone game on the other to pass the time? Some games just aren’t that good for playing without both hands, but we needn’t be deprived of our entertainment on the long journey home.
Here’s a list of the best iPhone games that you can play with just one hand, without taking into account the size of your phone.
1. Two Dots
The game looks really simple, and in terms of gameplay, it probably is. All you have to do is swipe between two or more coloured dots to clear your board. In earlier levels, it’s a real cakewalk, but higher levels are where the game really starts to make you sweat, with near-impossible puzzles and crazy obstacles.
Available On: App Store and Google Play
2. Threes
Before 2048 came around, there was Threes. But what most people don’t realise — thanks to the 2048 hype — is that Threes is much harder than 2048 will ever be. While the concept behind 2048 was much simpler — add similar numbers together to make bigger numbers — Threes has many more rules and variations that could make even 2048 champions sweat. Sure, multiples of threes all add up when you swipe them together, but pesky ones and twos only add to each other (1 + 2 = 3), and you have to make use of them to move on in the game.
Throw that rock into your 2048 victory, and try again.
Available On: App Store and Google Play
You can also play 2048 game online and its variations like 2048 Cupcakes, 2048 Pokemon, 3D, 5X5 and more using your device web browser.
3. Alto’s Adventure
The snowboarding game that takes place in the mountains is a clear choice — despite the intense concentration you need to complete each goal, it’s an easy game to play while holding onto the handrails in the bus, and one that will stick with you for a long time. Just tap to jump and tap and hold to make a flip.
The beautiful scenery and the adorable llama on a snowboard you can eventually unlock also makes the gameplay that much better.
Available On: App Store
4. Ridiculous Fishing
If your friends tell you that fishing games aren’t fun, then they probably haven’t tried Ridiculous Fishing. Granted, it’s not the usual way that fishing works, but with gameplay that includes firearms and chainsaws, I don’t think anyone’s complaining.
Using the gyrometer in your phone, you first have to tilt your handset to try and avoid as many fish as you can while sinking your hook as low as possible. The moment you snag a fish, you can then begin reeling in as many others as possible on your way up. The moment your haul reaches the surface, pull out your gun (or any other weapon you’ve unlocked) to shoot as many of the fishes as possible. The more fishes you shoot, the more money you get.
Available On: App Store and Google Play
5. Temple Run
Temple Run is a classic, so much so that they’ve adapted recent movie Maze Runner into a game that includes the exact same concept. Though each game is doomed to disaster (our brave hero never actually makes it to safety), there’s nothing quite like a good run. Swiping to turn around corners and slide under obstacles, tapping to jump, and collecting coins and powerups to gain advantages, Temple Run and its predecessors aren’t likely to fall out of style anytime soon.
Available On: App Store and Google Play
6. Drop7
What would happen if Tetris and Connect 4 had a lovechild? It would probably look a lot like Drop7. The number game is unexpectedly addictive, and will keep you hooked for so long that you won’t even realise how long your journey home took. All you have to do is to match the numbered discs to the actual number of discs in each row or column. Simple enough to pick up, way too hard to put down.
Available On: App Store and Google Play
7. Monument Valley
This beautiful adventure game is perfect for winding down after a long day. With gorgeous artwork, a soothing soundtrack, and a tap-and-play gameplay, Monument Valley is perfect for working at your own pace without losing momentum in the unravelling of its story. There may be a high price tag on this game, but its out of this world puzzles is unrivalled.
Available On: App Store and Google Play
8. Doodle Jump
The linear jumping game still has some presence left in Doodle Jump, the game that first made a huge splash way back in 2009. It may be just an upward jumping game to many, but to some, its simple gameplay is just another way to reach mind-blowing scores that no one else would have expected.
The Doodle Jump record of 113,000 is 18 minutes long — how high can you jump?
Available On: App Store and Google Play
9. The Last Rocket
This 8-bit game is made up of much more than it looks. In the midst of a mobile game market that’s chock-full of rocket games, this is one that might actually surprise you. Think Mario without the Earth-like gravity pull — The Last Rocket’s adorable yellow rocket attempts to navigate many obstacles to get to its final destination.
For the developer geeks out there, The Last Rocket also has a development diary that you can download to gain insights into how this viral iOS game was built.
Available On: App Store
10. Tiny Wings
If a bird without wings was able to change its weight at will, Tiny Wings would be the game telling that story. The viral bird game — Tiny Wings came way before Flappy Bird was even conceived of — tells the story of a wingless bird navigating through many hills to find a way to fly. You might remember this game occupying all your travelling time about 5 years ago, but really, why did you stop?
Available On: App Store
11. Magnetized
This puzzle game takes game physics to a new level. As its title suggests, the game harnesses the power of ‘magnets’ to guide a floating block through several routes. The block disintegrates when it comes in contact with any wall, and there are always three glowing blocks to collect to complete each round.
To harness the magnets, all you have to do is tap and hold the screen to activate it. Like Two Dots, the higher levels get quite intense, so don’t get so engrossed in the game that you end up missing your stop.
Available On: App Store and Google Play
12. TripleTown
This game may take a bit of tutorial work and comes with a relatively steep learning curve, but once you get the hang of it, it’s difficult to stop. Like any puzzle game, you’re gifted with a grid — each move allows you to place one object. Three grass patches make one bush, three bushes make one tree, three trees make one house, and so on.
The objective? Keep building for as long as you can, and for as many points as possible. The moment you run out of space, it’s game over.
Available On: App Store and Google Play
14. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Based off a Game Boy classic, Phoenix Wright makes it to your phone with a story-based gameplay, where you play a lawyer who solves crimes, unravels mysteries, all while exhibiting over-the-top reactions that you can only expect from Japanese anime.
This baby will take up a crazy amount of space on your phone and even suck up a lot of battery, but the addictive and riveting storyline will be worth it.
Available On: App Store
15. Viral Rocket
This new release is as simple as games get — so simple, in fact, that it looks like the developers didn’t even try very hard to make it. With one finger, navigate the emoji rocket to avoid obstacles for as long as you can. This basic game was made to go viral, and may well be on its way to getting there.
Available On: App Store
16. Kim Kardashian: Hollywood
This game may be helmed by the queen of tabloids herself, but Kim Kardashian: Hollywood is a great game that keeps you playing on your quest to become an A-list celebrity. The tasks are simple tap-to-play ones, but like all social games, it may cost you a bit of waiting time or money, depending on which you’d rather spend.
Available On: App Store and Google Play
17. Jetpack Joyride
From the creators of Fruit Ninja, Jetpack Joyride is an endless runner/action video game that’s pretty much Metal Slug crossed with Sonic, and jammed into an iPhone app. Armed with a jetpack, you navigate different scenarios, gathering coins and shooting the bad guys to eventually face the boss enemies.
This game can be played one-handed depending on your skill level, but some may opt for the two-handed support when under fire.
Available On: App Store and Google Play
18. Crossy Road
Nothing’s as easy as having to tap to get your character across the road. But with sudden train wrecks, car accidents, and drownings coming into play, navigating Crossy Road one-handed will require you to not jump in fright when your adorable animal becomes roadkill — or your phone might just become one.
Available On: App Store and Google Play
19. DEVICE 6
This game might not appear like your usual ones: there isn’t a cute little avatar hopping around, there aren’t coins to win or enemies to fight. It’s a text-based game, and what it lacks in colourful, eye-grabbing graphics, it completely makes up for with an intriguing plot and convoluted puzzles. It’s like reading a really good interactive book: the ending is yours and, in extension, so is the story.
Available On: App Store
20. Flappy Bird
Who can forget the king of one-hand gameplay? Flappy Bird was the game that made us realise just how difficult a tapping game can be. If you’re lucky enough to still have the game in your phone, good for you. But for the rest of us, we’ll have to settle with the millions of Flappy Bird clones out there, some of which may actually be easier to play.
