And at the end of the year, here’s my current status in mobage. (Feel free to compare to the beginning of the year!)
A3!: by far and away my most played game this year, I can’t believe I went up 112 levels... I won’t lie, there were times I considered spending money on this game in these past twelve months - haven’t yet, but sometimes I think I’m breaking. Rank 246, featuring Fushimi Omi.
Stand My Heroes: In contrast, I totally stopped playing Sutamai towards the end of the year. The UI changes got finalized early on this year, and we got the introduction of Seo Labs to the cast, with my new favorites. At the very least, I can definitely say I like Ikuto as opposed to being vaguely into Sosei. I do want to get back into this game, honestly; Match-3 are easy time sucks. Featuring Saotome Ikuto.
On Air!: The new coly game of the year, where the popularity and longevity of Sutamai meant they could make a move onto the same territory as A3! and Enstars. I give it grief given that I didn’t really play it much, but I did like my time with it. Also has a teacher character, and I’m Hot for Teacher type, so I’d like to give it a little more attention in the new year. Rank 6, featuring Kokuyou Mamoru.
Granblue Fantasy: The mobage king. I have a Mobage account (two even), so the best part about this game is that I’m never losing my data. The English is nice and convenient but I still skip stories, so my representative “favorite,” Holy Saber (female player avatar) Djeeta, is more “This is who I’m leveling right now.” This game feeds the part of the brain that likes numbers going up, in a traditional fantasy setting, and the collab events have me paying more attention to this one than A3! at times. Rank 58, featuring female Holy Saber.
SINoALICE: My other major game this year; it’s been a toss between A3!, GBF, and SINoALICE for which game has held my attention at any given time. If GBF feeds the numbers-go-up part of the brain, SINoALICE does the same in its sadistic fairytale bent. I guess my major gripe, if anything, is that all the jobs are so pretty that I want everything. Rank 106, featuring Invader Three Little Pigs.
THE iDOLM@STER SideM LIVE on ST@GE!: iM@S block! There were times I got really focused on events this year, then the grinding got to me until it came back with a vengeance for the Christmas event. BEST IDOL JIRO summoned, okay. P-Level 33, featuring Yamashita Jiro.
THE iDOLM@STER Million Live Theater Days: The way Mirishita’s home screen is set up, oshi units aren’t really a thing, because the idea is that you’re in the 765 office and you’ll run across the girls. But I love basically all my 765 daughters so picking a favorite is just too hard. That’s a lie. Mizuki. It’s Mizuki. Unlike MSte, the bulk of Mirishita’s event play definitely focuses more on the rhythm game side, so I’ve practically dropped it; but I swear I’m clinging to the daily login ritual just because there’s nowhere else for me to find these babies now. Level 54, featuring Yabuki Kana & Julia.
THE iDOLM@STER Shiny Colors: The new kid on iM@S block started up this past June? Ish? And after we all got freed from the hurdle of overseas players needing VPNs, has kept true to iM@S style with gorgeous character art and “idol production” gameplay. Shanimasu is more like traditional iM@S games than all the phone games, with zero rhythm element - the flip side is this is a game that needs babysitting, and so I just can’t deal with the attention it needs. Featuring Morino Rinze.
Shinen Resist: Or what I unfairly call “Apocalypse A3!” - Shinen Resist is honestly a pretty good game in its own right, with nice graphics, a level-up system, and a battle system that actually feels like your participation is valid. (But if you’re like me, you can still totally auto it if you want to.) Rank 9, featuring Volker.
World End Heroes: And yet another attempt from Squeenix to hit the otome mobage market this past year (after iFan), Wahiro’s biggest contribution to mobage is bringing Ogata Megumi on for a role. It’s got a lot of kinks to work out that it won’t ever because it’s a quick cash grab from Square Enix to see what will stick, but I played one event and hit a higher rank than I did for one event in Shinen Resist, and you can draw your own conclusions. Rank 23, featuring Hisamori Akito.
2018′s been a crazy year for mobage, with a lot of new games starting up; some being postponed (Palette Parade...) and others being revamped (Otome Yuusha); and a number of losses. Cocktail Prince, they still have yet to fill your niche. (And also Wiz;Alice, which ended just two months after it started...? Even though an English version was touted? Damn.)
But there’s already some stuff to look forward to in 2019, so here’s to more mobage amazement!