India is a country that is fast becoming one of the most technologically advanced in the world.
As a major exporter of IT and Business Process Outsourcing, it’s no surprise that many of the 1 billion+ population are incredibly technologically literate.
Part of this manifests itself in a passion for games and gaming, particularly on mobile platforms. Currently, there are about 450 million gamers who actively participate, a figure that’s set to increase to 500 million by 2025.
As you’d expect, the games they are playing broadly tie in with worldwide favourites, and here are the top six.
PUBG Mobile
While some people might think that Fortnite’s the only battle royale worth playing, fans of Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds would certainly tell you differently.
In the game, you land on a large and mysterious island where you need to arm and equip yourself before taking on all comers. The aim? You want to be the last player standing and receive the title of “Winner, winner, chicken dinner”.
Despite this slightly jokey conclusion, it’s a game that’s popular for its ultra-realistic gameplay as well as the flexible way that you can take on solo missions or team up with others in a quest for victory.
Unfortunately, the game was actually banned back in 2020, but since has since been brought back as BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India). Although the name may have changed, it is essentially the exact same game, meaning PUBG mobile still reigns supreme in India.
Free Fire
With over 100 million downloads to date, Free Fire is another battle royale spectacular. Up to 52 players can compete at any one time and the battle zone takes place in your choice of six very different environments – Bermuda, Bermuda Remastered, the Kalahari Desert, Purgatory, the Alps or NeXTerra.
Along with stunning graphics, the soundtrack to the game makes it extra exciting to play, especially when combined with the ultra-fast-paced action. There’s also the facility to tailor all of the game’s settings to create an optimised playing experience.
Aviator
Aviator is a gambling game that has become the surprise hit of the last couple of years. The premise is simple. A light aircraft takes off. The higher that it climbs, the bigger the cash prize you can win. Until that is, the cash prize disappears, literally into thin air. So, the skill of the game lies in knowing exactly when to cash in your winnings.
To help you, you can place two bets per flight. The first one acts as a sort of insurance to get your stake back, the second is to make a profit. Although most play on a mobile device Aviator can be played online via PC as well. Look for it on review sites and you could even be able to play it for free.
Ludo King
They sometimes say that the old favourites are the best – and that’s a theory borne out by the next game on our list. Perhaps it’s Ludo’s links with the ancient Indian game of pachisi that make it so popular today.
Whatever the reason, its simplicity makes it perfect to play on a mobile platform and it’s also a very sociable game for up to four players. An important element of this version of the game is the chat function – and there are also local and global leaderboards where you can make your mark if you’re a truly skilled player of the game.
Candy Crush Saga
Yet more proof that simple can sometimes be best, Candy Crush Saga is the global phenomenon that has launched many imitations, but no equals.
The challenge is to match a rainbow’s worth of different coloured candies with each other as you gradually move through the game’s different levels. There are challenges to be overcome along the way that just add to the fun and help you to progress even faster through the game.
It’s an especially good game to play if you’re just wanting to while away some “me” time. And, once you’ve started playing, it can be very hard to stop.
Call of Duty
It says a great deal about the developers of this game, Infinity Ward, that they have managed to make the best-selling console game just as effective on mobile devices. Included are many of the features of the original including several gameplay modes as well as the chance to play in both single and multiplayer versions.
You can also choose to play across several battle arenas whether the claustrophobic atmosphere of urban warfare or traversing the desert is your preferred choice.
There are also more than 50 different characters that you can choose to play as, either as a first-person or a third-person shooter. Perfect your skills and it could even be your entrée into the potentially very lucrative world of eSports.
So, there you have them. Six of the most popular games in the Indian subcontinent. There are many more that we could mention, covering every genre. But none would quite match up to this magnificent half-dozen!
Also Read:
