Mobile Game Ideas for your Commute to Work

February 19, 2025

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A daunting, monotonous commute to work can fill us with dread — especially if we live in a busy city. One thing that can distract us from this Groundhog Day slog is the colossal universe of mobile gaming.

Not only have mobile phone games started to become a great point of interest for game design companies, but the top titles have started to rival some of the highest-grossing video console games.

Two decades ago, the idea that a mobile phone game could rival a PlayStation or Xbox game would have been laughed at. This scope has now expanded, with many iconic video console games having their own variants on the iOS and Android stores.

The main beneficiary of this shift has been the person at the bottom of this pyramid: the user.

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Fastest growing mobile gaming sectors

fastest-growing-mobile-gaming-sectors Although mobile gaming is a global industry, drawing influences from a multitude of international markets, some gaming genres have consistently proven they have what it takes to survive in the gaming world. The casino gaming industry is a clear example here. It adapted to the initial stages of the internet before quickly shifting and adapting to smartphones and more modern devices.

You can explore the best online casinos for UK players to see what we mean. Many of these games offer demo versions so you can get a feel for what you like the look of. In addition, there are a plethora of bonuses and promotions that offer options ranging from matched deposits to free spins.

Obviously, if you have not played casino games on your phone before, we don’t recommend doing so on your commute to work. Casino gaming is meant to be enjoyed in moderation, and you should only ever bet with money you can afford to lose and stick to the confines of time and deposit limits you have set yourself.

Tried and trusted mobile gaming genres

League of Legends, chess and 8-ball pool are the three pillars of mobile gaming. There was a time when Candy Crush would be thrown into the mix with these games too. In the early 2010s, it seemed as though every person and their dog had downloaded Candy Crush.

Although it doesn’t have the same appeal now as it did in the early part of the 2010s — mainly due to some negative press it began to receive in 2014 — many people still play it, especially when they’re trying to fit in a few cheeky games on their commute to work.

League of Legends has enjoyed a more successful decade. Emerging in the 2010s as a pioneering mobile game, it has spawned countless copycat games and esports tournaments. It has generated nearly a staggering $20bn.

If you’re playing League of Legends, the game is littered with in-game purchases and microtransactions. This is a huge chunk of how they made such a profit, with the game exceeding 100 million players daily for over a decade.

When it comes to 8-ball pool, there are a vast number of mobile apps that offer free versions of the game, with too many to name. If you’re on a bustling underground train, it might not be ideal to whip your phone out to play a game of 8-ball pool, but if you’re on the bus and it’s not too crowded, it’s the perfect game to play.

Possible future trends in mobile gaming

possible-future-trends-in-mobile-gaming Nobody likes to be late to the party, but being early to the next mobile gaming craze can be the cause for bragging rights if you’re early enough. I remember a friend who played Wordle long before everyone else; you’d think he’d discovered fire the way he boasted. He was the worst on the game out of the entire friend group, which is karma in action. Stay humble.

One of the latest trends causing analysts to sit up and notice is the rise of cryptocurrency and blockchain gaming, but it still isn’t near the same level of popularity that mobile games enjoy. However, there are millions of people investing in cryptocurrency and seeking options to buy it in prominent economies such as the UK, so blockchain and cryptocurrency gaming could be the next frontier for mobile game companies looking to start the next multibillion-dollar trend.

Summary

If you want to stick to a conventional mobile game, we recommend a version of 8-ball pool. If you have a particularly long commute to work, anywhere over 30 minutes, then chess is a good one to kill some time too.

In fact, chess is excellent because it keeps you focused, and your mind engaged. Games like Candy Crush would zap some people’s brain, arriving at work feeling like they have already done a 12-hour shift. If you work in an office or a job that is completely over-micromanaged, then this isn’t the best starting point, so there are other things to consider alongside the game you choose on your commute. Choose wisely!

Author Profile

Manuela WillboldOnline Media & PR Strategist

Senior Online Media & PR Strategist at ClickDo Ltd. | Editor in Chief at LBN | Summer Course Student at the London School of Journalism and passionate Digitalist.