The mobile revolution is well and truly underway in Nigeria with local and international companies alike doing all they can to tap into this burgeoning industry with untold potential.
As the cost and availability of mobile data is made more desirable to the country’s young population it is perhaps no surprise that gaming apps along with those geared towards entertainment, in general, are the ones making the most headway.
Here are some of the best hip and happening apps which are setting tongues wagging and pulses racing all the way from Lagos to Kano.
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Home Grown Games Flourish
Based in Kenya and Ghana, Leti Arts have been at the forefront of creating mobile games that give voice and prominence to African characters, which has gone down well with Nigerian gamers tired of always having to put up with generic American or European avatars. Their main game which has garnered international praise is Africa’s Legends: Reawakening.
For those wanting games made even closer to home there’s Nigerian based developer Gamesole, who’s most recent game Gidi Run was a huge success and was based around the underhand dealings of traffic police.
Card Games Dealt Up Online
Considering the enduring popularity of traditional card games such as Whot and Thuni, it comes as no surprise that Nigerians are loving being able to access similar games on their mobile screens, with sites queuing up to offer them everything from classic card games of yesteryear or modern and more complex games.
For those who like their card games cute and furry there’s Exploding Kittens, for big bluffs and tall stacks there’s the PokerStars’ app and for players who can’t resist a bit of dungeons and dragons there’s Mega Crit’s Slay The Spire
Board games Go Online to the Delight of Many
Whether it’s a real brain-teaser like chess or a word puzzle like Scrabble board games are almost as popular as card games in Nigeria, with the country even boasting one of the best Scrabble players in the world, 2016 World Champion, Wellington Jighere.
Although there are over 100 Scrabble clubs in the country, players can now meet up online as well and practice their skills with mobile app versions of all of their favourite games including Scrabble, Monopoly, Risk and many more. As older generations start to find their way online via phones provided them by family members it should be no time at all before Nigerian players are dominating boardgames both offline and online.
AR Has Nigerians Exploring the World Around Them
Although the likes of Pokémon Go was perhaps better suited to the well-lit streets of European and US cities, rather than the back alleys of Lagos, that didn’t stop Nigerians coming out in force to play the game, intent on trying to catch them all. Although the craze has somewhat died down now, you still may find the odd diehard fan searching high and low for that last illusive Pokémon to net.
Other AR games which are capturing the imagination of Nigerian mobile gamers include the classic of the genre, Ingress Prime, as well as Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, which allows players to do battle alongside Harry, Hermione and Ron.
Sports Games That Fans of the Real Thing Adore
With the country’s soccer heroes revered by those who watch them compete week-in week-out in the likes of the Premier League, there’s nothing better than logging on and playing as your favourite team on the likes of FIFA Mobile, Pro Evo or Football Manager.
Although South Africa is the current African breeding ground for the continent’s best FIFA Esports players it seems only a matter of time before Nigeria has its very own Esports star, who will no doubt have been introduced to the game via the mobile version of the game.
PM NEWS