Premium Games, Free Games and Game Subscriptions Compared
Paying once, playing for free, or subscribing to a catalogue: how the three main ways of paying for mobile games compare on cost, ads and progress.
Getting Started
How to choose mobile games that fit your time, budget and taste, and how to read a store page critically.
Mobile app stores list millions of games, and most of them are free to download. That sounds generous, but it also means the store page is designed to sell, not to inform. The guides in this topic help you work out what kind of player you are, how much time and money you actually want to spend, and how to spot the signals on a store page that tell you how a game makes its money.
If you are new to mobile games, or coming back after a long break, start here. These guides use plain language and avoid jargon wherever possible.
Guides in this topic
How to Read a Mobile Game Store Page Like a Skeptic
Screenshots, ratings and "in-app purchases" labels tell you more than the marketing text. Here is what to look at, in order, before you download a game.
How Free-to-Play Games Make Money (and Why It Matters to You)
Free games are paid for by ads, purchases and subscriptions. Understanding the business model explains timers, pop-up offers and difficulty spikes, and helps you stay in control.
How to Choose Your First Mobile Game (Without Wasting Hours)
A simple way to match a mobile game to the time you have, the way you like to play, and the amount you are willing to spend, before you download anything.