Playing Mobile Games During Load Shedding

With South Africa’s ongoing struggles with load shedding, it’s more important than ever to have entertainment options that don’t require power from the grid. Mobile games provide the perfect solution, allowing you to play on your smartphone or tablet anywhere – even when the power is out. In this post, we’ll look at some of the best mobile games you can play during load shedding to help pass the time productively.

Word Games

Word games are a great choice for load-shedding games since they don’t require the internet or much processing power. Popular word game options include Scrabble, Words with Friends, and Wordscapes.

Scrabble is a classic word game that tests your vocabulary and strategy. You can play against friends online or on the computer. Games are quick to start up and you can save your progress if the power cuts out. It’s easy to pick up where you left off.

Words With Friends is like Scrabble but allows you to challenge friends to games. You can play in turns even if your opponent isn’t online at the same time as you. This makes it great for occupying yourself during load shedding without needing constant internet.

Wordscapes takes word games in a puzzle direction. You’re given a landscape image and clues of letters that form words across or down in the puzzle. Figuring out the words is tremendously satisfying and it’s easy to get lost in solving puzzles during power outages. The colorful graphics also make it more engaging than traditional word games. All of these word games can provide hours of fun without power or data requirements for load-shedding games.

Puzzle Games

Puzzle games are another rich mobile gaming category for load shedding. Popular puzzle games like Candy Crush Saga, Bejeweled, Puzzle & Dragons, and Two Dots offer a variety of matching, connecting, and strategic puzzle gameplay.

Candy Crush Saga is likely the most well-known mobile puzzle game of all time. Each level challenges you to match same-colored candies to clear them from the board within a limited number of moves. Levels ramp up in difficulty to keep you engaged for a long time. It’s simple to pick up for a few minutes of play during an outage.

Bejeweled is a classic “match 3” puzzle game where you swap adjacent gems to make groups of three or more of the same colour. It’s colorful, relaxing, and highly addictive. Levels are bite-sized so it’s easy to make progress even with intermittent power.

Puzzle & Dragons require more strategic planning as you match orbs to activate skills and battle monsters. It mixes puzzle and role-playing elements for richer gameplay. Two Dots is a more abstract puzzle game where you connect dots in levels to complete objectives. Both provide a challenge as well as a distraction during load-shedding games.

When the lights go out, puzzle games offer engaging and portable entertainment you can enjoy for as long or short as you like until power returns without internet dependency. Their mix of challenges, visuals, and relaxing gameplay make them ideal load-shedding games.

Casual Games

Casual games encompass a wide variety of lower-commitment mobile games ideal for playing in short bursts. Games like Subway Surfers, Temple Run, Angry Birds, and Cut the Rope are perennial favourites for their pick-up-and-play nature perfect for load-shedding situations.

Subway Surfers has you swiping to manoeuvre a character down subway tracks and tunnels collecting coins while avoiding obstacles. Levels are quick but the goal is to beat your high scores. It’s easily pocketable for any power outage.

Temple Run also relies on swiping controls to keep a character running and dodging barriers in ruins. Both Subway Surfers and Temple Run still thrill years after their release with their simple addictive mechanics making them go-to load-shedding games.

The Angry Birds franchise has spread across various games, but the original slingshot-based gameplay remains fun. Knocking structures down at innovative levels provides jumps of satisfaction. Cut the Rope tasks you with slicing the rope in each stage to feed a cute monster candy, testing your timing and problem-solving abilities. These classics will never lose their appeal as portable and engaging ways to pass load-shedding time.

Role Playing Games

For gamers seeking deeper and longer-form experiences during load shedding, mobile role-playing games (RPGs) deliver rich adventures. RPG mainstays like the Pokémon franchise along with expansive games like Summoners War, Dragon Quest, and Final Fantasy provide 30+ hours of gameplay each.

Pokémon Go revolutionized augmented reality gaming but the main series for Pokémon RPGs remain challenging role-playing load-shedding games. You pick a starter Pokémon and journey across the region battling gym leaders and rivals to become Champion. Deep strategy and collection systems keep gameplay compelling for many hours, perfect for long outages.

Summoners War: Sky Arena immerses you in an epic war between elemental creatures you summon and evolve. Strategizing teams and rune combinations for PvP battles provide an infinite endgame. Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy transport you to epic fantasy worlds with emotive stories, towns to explore, and many abilities to master through raids and dungeons – supplying endless content possibilities during load-shedding periods.

These premium mobile RPGs offer value that rivals console games. Their ability to fully engage you through entire blackouts makes them standout options as load-shedding games for dedicated gamers. Premium games also tend to be one-time paid titles rather than relying on in-app purchases, making them sustainable entertainment during outages.

Card and Strategy Games

Strategy-minded mobile games provide challenging load-shedding entertainment through card games, conquest simulations, and puzzle tactics. Games in this realm to consider include Hearthstone, Clash of Clans, Ticket to Ride, and Splendor.

Hearthstone transforms beloved Warcraft characters and lore into a deep digital card game. Building customized decks and outwitting opponents with strategic plays provides mental stimulation during power cuts. Matches are self-contained too for intermittent play.

Clash of Clans has kept millions engaged for years with its village management, attack/defense tactics, and multiplayer clan dynamics. Upgrading your base at your own pace over many hours makes it ideal for working during protracted load shedding.

Ticket to Ride and Splendor blend strategy board game mechanics into digital versions. Route building and resource management test your planning and risk/reward decision-making for engaging yet laidback mobile fun perfect as load shedding games. These classics cultivate engaging strategic thinking during outages.

Multiplayer Games

While competitive multiplayer gaming requires steady internet, asynchronous multiplayer titles that don’t require both players to be online simultaneously offer a fun social element during load shedding. Popular team/cooperative options include Words with Friends, Hearthstone, Clash Royale and Summoners War mentioned above. But multiplayer casual games like Crossy Road and Draw Something 2 also deliver in this regard.

Crossy Road is an endless runner title where you tap to move a character across/over obstacles dodging traffic and hazards. Leaderboards pit your high scores against friends for bragging rights. It’s perfect for quick competition during blackouts.

Draw Something 2 challenges you and your friends to draw pictures based on provided words without using text, judging each other’s artistic interpretations. Guessing drawings provide lighthearted social engagement to break up time spent in the dark with load-shedding games.

These asynchronously played multiplayer games provide welcoming friendly competition and connection during unpredictable outages, making power cuts more bearable. Building anticipation to see friends’ next moves adds motivating goals when stuck inside with no electricity. Overall, mobile games excel at filling load-shedding periods productively and entertaining.

Shooter Games

For shooter fans, mobile games in this genre provide top-tier action experiences ideal for passing load-shedding time. Call of Duty: Mobile, PUBG Mobile, and Fortnite deliver console-quality multiplayer shooting alongside games like Critical Ops, Shadowgun Legends, and Dead Trigger 2 for solo play.

Call of Duty: Mobile faithfully recreates the franchise’s fast-paced multiplayer combat. Classic maps and modes from CoD titles of the past populate well-optimized 5v5 matches. Its free-to-play model means anyone can join without barriers during outages.

PUBG Mobile brought the battle royale phenomenon to phones with its growing maps players drop into to scavenge gear and eliminate others to be the last squad standing. Gripping 100-player matches takes 30-40 minutes, providing full entertainment through blackouts.

Fortnite also transports its construction-based last-man standing format to phones. Although it requires stable internet, its ability to run smoothly with friends widens its appeal. Critical Ops models tactical 5v5 Counter-Strike gameplay for a more grounded experience.

Shadowgun Legends and Dead Trigger 2 immerse you in cinematic single-player campaigns blasting through hordes of enemies across diverse missions and environments. Their production values rival dedicated shooters, making them prime isolation entertainment as load-shedding games.

Overall, this genre excels at providing the thrill and teamwork of console shooters that can spur hours of gaming during power cuts. Lower-spec phones can still run lighter multiplayer options too for an engaging social element when connectivity permits.

Racing Games

Racing simulations and arcade-style racers offer exhilarating load-shedding entertainment for vehicular enthusiasts. Top free and premium options include Asphalt 9: Legends, Real Racing 3, Gear Club, and Need for Speed No Limits.

Asphalt 9 brings the iconic street racing franchise online with beautifully detailed hypercars to customize racing stunt tracks with gravity-defying stunts. Its competitive multiplayer Scene Challenges are satisfying goals to complete.

EA’s Real Racing 3 portrays authentic circuits, weather effects, and car handling across its campaign mode. Perfecting lap times against ghosts or live opponents maintains intense simulation fun when electricity fails.

For retro arcade racing thrills, microtransactions-free Gear Club and the open-world Need for Speed franchise satisfy speed desires with their contrasting driving feels. These titles span realistic to over-the-top racing, matchmaking any petrolhead’s preference during blackouts.

Match-3, puzzle, single-player campaigns or heated multiplayer- these console-grade mobile racers will keep speed demons entertained for hours on end as quality load-shedding games. Their diversity means finding an appealing style whatever your driving tastes.

Simulation Games

Mobile games have expanded into rich simulations of real-world activities too for engrossing load-shedding experiences. Farming, city planning, space, and airport management options include Hay Day, Township, Airport City, and Rise of Civilizations.

Hay Day transports you to a countryside farm where you mix farming with neighbourly interactions growing crops, raising animals, and trading goods in your co-op. It’s a relaxing yet satisfying progression that engages you for long periods.

Township envisions you as the mayor shaping your growing community by placing down industries, road networks, and zoning residential areas. Microtransactions aren’t mandatory for enjoying its empire building over many sittings ideal during blackouts.

While Airport City simulates the logistics of running a major airport through expanding facilities and placing efficient transport routes, Rise of Civilizations recreates what it takes to establish and lead an empire across eras through strategic resource planning and conquests. Across these broad genres, simulations provide educational entertainment during load shedding.

Role Playing and Life Sim Games

The Pokémon RPGs we discussed previously represent a classic style of role-playing adventure, but “life simulator” RPGs depicting simulated realities immerse you deeper through customization and choices. Popular franchises include The Sims FreePlay and BitLife.

The Sims mobile game takes the beloved home and family simulations to phones. Create unique Sims, build dream houses, and guide their relationships, careers, and hobbies and The Sims signature whimsical charm carries over perfectly.

BitLife delves further into life role-playing by simulating an entire life path from childhood to old age. You make decisions that alter how your character’s life plays out whether pursuing romance, careers, criminal acts, and more through randomly generated life stories offering varied replays for testing outcomes.

These “slice of life” RPGs truly suck you in through grounded yet amusing interpretations of real-world dilemmas within a game. Their open-mindedness provides longevity that matches premium games as go-to load-shedding entertainment.

Music and Rhythm Games

Music games exercise a different part of your brain by combining music appreciation with fast reflexes. Popular options marrying the two for mobile include Guitar Hero Live, Beatstar and Cytus II.

Guitar Hero Live faithfully brings the iconic plastic guitar controller experience to touchscreens. Slide and tap-coloured notes on time to rock anthems earning leaderboard placements in its various game modes.

Beatstar ups the difficulty of offering pro-level note streams across modern pop songs testing dexterity. Its unlockable Master difficulties push skills to new heights. For a change of pace, Cytus II presents songs as sliding panels in unique sci-fi levels requiring split-second reactions.

These auditory-visual skill tests make for engaging load-shedding activities able to immerse you in grooves for hours. The music ensures fun and never feels gritty. Rhythm gamers will stay lost in the flow while the lights remain out.

Misc. Unique Mobile Games

Rounding off our mobile gaming picks, some unique hidden gems thrive alone or with friends for a change of sensory experience during load-shedding. Mind-bending options we recommend include Monument Valley, Lara Croft GO and Florence.

Monument Valley explores dreamlike architectural impossible geometries as you guide a character through mystifying multidimensional landscapes unlocking new areas in its calming yet mesmerising isometric levels.

Lara Croft GO adapts Tomb Raider to turn-based sliding tile puzzles of action scenes. Creativity and lateral thinking puzzle out strategic moves in its bite-sized adventures. Florence brings a touching storyline of human relationships into play through everyday puzzles and interactions simulating a young woman’s blossoming romance in its novel gameplay style.

Games like these immerse you in artful minimalist stories for quieter solo-play moods compared to frantic multiplayer romps. They exemplify how mobile games have evolved into narrative-rich experiences as equal to any console titles nowadays as captivating load-shedding games.

Esports and Streaming Games

Lastly, for competitive gamers or those keen to spectate, mobile titles cater to esports and live-streaming entertainment through load shedding too. Popular real-time competitive games suited include Brawl Stars, Clash Royale, Call of Duty Mobile’s Battle Royale, and Free Fire.

Brawl Stars translates frenetic multiplayer brawler action to phones across arcade-style maps and game modes. Clash Royale sees the construction of card combinations reaping strategic victories matching wits globally.

Free Fire and CoD Mobile’s battle royale drops provide live competitive thrills while spectators peer in on streams. Their simplicity means following along requires little data. Overall these multiplayer staples enthral audiences via mobile esports for shared competitive fun through blackouts.

Casual Puzzle Games

Within the broad puzzle game category, more laidback titles offer relaxing challenges ideal for casual play during load shedding. Mixmaster, Flow Free, and Seven Scrolls provide vibrant yet low-pressure puzzle-solving.

Mixmaster drops coloured balls onto a board to clear matches in its zen-like puzzling. Levels are bite-sized for squeezing in quick plays between outage tasks. Flow Free connects pipes of matching colours between points to empty the board, its soothing backdrop tranquilizing frayed load-shedding nerves.

Seven Scrolls delves into adventurous puzzle-platforming retrieving scrolls across mystical mythological scenes. Its mix of exploration and logic puzzles stimulates the mind without stress. All make welcome distractions from load-shedding chaos in their easy going yet engaging designs.

Match-3 Games

The ubiquitous match-three puzzle genre continues supplying endless variations on candy, gem, and orb-matching mechanics. Popular long-standing titles include Candy Crush Saga plus new entries like Toy Blast and Village Life.

Candy Crush as mentioned maintained its candy-coloured addictiveness years since its release. New seasonal themes renew excitement despite familiar gameplay. Toy Blast tasks matching toys to trigger chain reactions busting through boards satisfyingly.

Village Life depicts cozy rustic neighbourhoods where matching ornaments beautify the landscapes. Jumpstarting these towns provides absorbing virtual projects. Together they offer relaxing yet engaging brain games ideal for casually chipping away through long power cuts.

Hidden Object Games

Hidden object puzzle adventures transport you to fantastical realms on mysterious quests locating obscure items hidden across vivid dioramas. Games like Hidden Hotel, Hidden City, and Enigmatis fit this category perfectly for mobile load-shedding entertainment.

Hidden Hotel tasks finding 150+ hidden objects across themed hotel scenes with clues. Its colourful art style envisioning elaborate backdrops relaxes the mind. Hidden City inserts puzzles within a sprawling cityscape delivering gratification and solving its secrets.

Enigmatis immerses deeper with mystical storylines across lush environments using clues and deductions. These odysseys provide absorbing solo entertainment through blackouts via their detailed worlds.

Indie Puzzle Games

The indie puzzle scene thrives on mobiles too with imaginative minimalist ideas. Monument Valley, Boxquest, and TOHU offer uniquely satisfying gameplay amidst load shedding.

Monument Valley as mentioned earlier pioneers stunning impossible architecture puzzles. Its meditative sequel Monument Valley 2 expands the experience.

Boxquest tasks rearranging blocks and obstacles akin to angular jigsaws into portals within psychedelic dreamworlds. Its abstract puzzles intrigue problem solvers.

TOHU transports to a serene infinite plane where you shape simple organic objects evolving landscapes meditatively. Together these artistic creations soothe the mind through troublesome outages creatively.

Match-4 and Beyond Games

Variations beyond the common match-three mechanic cater to diverse puzzle tastes. Popular implementations include match-four, five, or more chain puzzlers as well as tile/block-swapping puzzlers.

Pearl’s Peril connects at least four matching pearls to score in its vibrant underwater setting. Morechain continues upgrading classic match-3 by tasking chains of five or more for bigger combos across levels.

Tiles Hop tasks rearranging numbered tile pieces to construct pictures against the clock. Patchwork combines tile-swapping with creature capturing across charming, handcrafted scenes. Across numbers matching, these excite problem-solving regions of the brain diversely as quality load-shedding games.

Jigsaw Puzzles

For a calming change of visual pace, countless digital jigsaw puzzles recreate real-world photographs and paintings to assemble piece by piece. Games like Jigsaw Puzzles, Puzzle Box and Build a Bridge offer this soothing activity.

Jigsaw Puzzles provides a library of landscape, portrait, and abstract imagery across varied piece counts. The satisfaction of completing them provides meditative mindfulness.

Puzzle Box surrounds jigsaws within mysterious containers adding a puzzle-within-a-puzzle element. Build a Bridge tasks arranging 3D roadway and architectural pieces bridging gaps conceptualizing solutions. Puzzling transports the mind peacefully through difficult situations.

Educational Games

Beyond pure entertainment, educational mobile games actively enrich minds of all ages through learning experiences doubling as addictive load-shedding activities. Popular edutaining choices span:

Khan Academy brings the acclaimed educational non-profit’s library of free instructional videos and practice exercises to phones across math, science, economics, art history, and more subject areas neatly split into bite-sized chunks.

Rosetta Stone immerses language learners across popular tongues through spoken dialogue practice, vocabulary building, reading comprehension, and cultural lessons designed for gradual mastery helping retain information through blackouts. Body takes players on an interactive journey exploring anatomical systems, organ functions, medical terminology and health topics through stunning 3D rendered environments and quizzes powerfully visualizing complex subjects for all ages.

Overall educational games aid productive use of downtime learning new skills and retaining knowledge through tricky outages via their masterfully designed gameplay reinforcing lessons enjoyably.

Board Game Adaptations

Mobile versions of tabletop classics successfully translate their strategic gameplay pleasures without the physical components. Highly rated adaptations include Catan, Carcassonne, Scrabble GO, and Ticket to Ride.

Catan as the best-selling board brings its civilization-building resource management of rolling dice and trading to phones. Matches unfold at your own pace during outages.

Carcassonne perfectly recreates placing tile features across a landscape scoring for completed roads, cities, and monasteries. Scrabble GO socializes the word classic in asynchronous multiplayer supported.

Ticket to Ride streamlining cross-country rail routes shares the desktop version’s map-centric strategic depth fitting varied attention spans through blackouts. These digital editions preserve what makes classics great through any outage.

Social Deduction Games

Deception-based social deduction titles provide light-hearted yet cerebral multiplayer fun bridging solitary gaming sessions. Among the top options chosen are Werewolf Online, Spyfall, and Secret Hitler.

Werewolf Online tasks players deduction uncovering the hidden werewolf infiltrating a village via daily roles and accusations voted upon. Spyfall challenges inserting secret locations like “The Library” testing conversational subtle clue-dropping.

Secret Hitler balances political roles trying to enact policy changes amidst the creeping fascist threat all the while figuring out friends’ true alignments furtively. Together they bring suspenseful social interactions throughout unpredictable outages.

In closing, mobile gaming’s variety across genres means finding fulfilling ways to engage during any power disruption scenario from short sessions to deep multi-hour playthroughs. From reflex puzzlers to narrative adventures to social competition, options suit every player profile keeping minds vigorously occupied through this unstable time.

Whether winding down stresses casually or diving into engrossing epics, quality gaming provides an unparalleled standard of affordable and portable entertainment ensuring load shedding never halts personal enjoyment or productivity entirely as it does many daily functions. With this diverse selection representing top-rated options, you need never feel lacking entertainment keeping the darkness at bay. Stay powered through it all with great mobile gaming!