Best Story-Driven Games Successfully Ported Onto Mobile

Mobile gaming is off the charts, and household names in the industry have long tapped into this booming market. Much to the pleasure of retrogamers, many classics from years past have made their way onto mobile devices. Similarly, indie gems and blockbuster hits have been made available to a broader audience for whom home consoles and PCs seem unaffordable or too difficult to navigate.

On Guru Gamer, we highlighted top PC games ported to Android. If you’re looking for more meat to your story, though, turn-based strategy games and stealth horror titles can only get you so far. So, from gritty crime mysteries to epic Norse-infused tales, let’s check out some mobile ports that pack a punch in the narrative department.

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Her Story

First launched on Windows, Her Story is more akin to an interactive film than a full-blown video game, all the more so because the footage shown in-game has been recorded in live-action. This crime fiction available on Google Play and the App Store puts you in the shoes of a detective searching the extensive video database of a woman taken into custody and interviewed seven times by police officers.

You have to comb through this massive chunk of clips to figure out which parts of the conversations are relevant to the crime you’re investigating and piece together the story of that mysterious woman. With its non-linear storytelling, this detective title takes you places you wouldn’t expect as you try to make sense of the bigger picture. Its unique narrative structure also shapes an intimate experience that evokes the classic drama of your standard crime show, only with that much more emotional weight.

Ace Attorney

The recent release of the Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy remaster has renewed interest in Capcom’s long-running legal series. Before beginning anew on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PS4, the adventures of the most likeable lawyers in gaming had been ported onto mobile. Following the tribulations of rookie attorney Phoenix Wright, the first trilogy gives you a sense of what makes this visual novel adventure franchise a storytelling masterpiece.

Despite its eccentric characters and gimmicky prosecutors, the saga crafts solid murder mysteries that keep you on edge till their satisfying resolution in the courtroom. Newcomers Apollo Justice and Athena Cykes carry on the legacy of their mentor in subsequent entries, whose trials are just as thrilling as their predecessors’. Mobile gamers might also solve cases in the shoes of prosecutor extraordinaire Miles Edgeworth, as the first Ace Attorney Investigations spin-off is available for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.

The Wolf Among Us

Derived from a comic book series, The Wolf Among Us amassed a cult following among PC gamers before landing on mobile. This graphic mystery-drama plunges you into an alternate version of 1980s Manhattan, where fairytale characters have sought refuge after fleeing their magical lands. The lives of the inhabitants of Fabletown are rocked when brutal murders hit the community, prompting Sherrif Bigby Wolf to action. Previously known as the Big Bad Wolf, this detective with a rough past is aided in his investigation by familiar faces like Bluebeard and Snow White.

This neo-noir point-and-click story is a clever reinterpretation of classic fairy tales, which arguably influenced subversive reimagining like Cinders or Alice: Madness Returns. Many software providers in the iGaming sector are exploring this whimsical theme, too. On websites like Vegasslotsonline IN, players may find free slots such as Cinderella Win Time or Snow White & The Poison Apple. Real-money online slots like Big Bad Wolf Megaways also put fairytale heroes front and centre. For those new to the scene, specialised websites provide handy tips on selecting top-tier online casinos. Sign-up bonuses and welcome packages even await first-time users.

Banner Saga

From Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla to Northgard, not to mention Valheim and Jotun, the Norse theme is having a moment in gaming. Such Northern tales span a wide variety of genres. However, the story they weave sometimes takes a backseat to full-on action. While it remains a tactical role-playing title foremost, Banner Saga strikes a stunning balance between high-octane combat and a gripping storyline.

Each choice you make in this interactive game drives the plot in a different direction, affecting its outcome as the story unfolds. Further improving on that winning formula, Banner Saga 2 brilliantly continues this emotional journey on Android. This majestic RPG is the second part of a trilogy whose epic conclusion is yet to come out on mobile, though.