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Mobile games you shouldn't miss that you can play on PC

There are excellent mobile games, but sometimes it’s the platform where you least feel like playing. Even though it’s convenient to play anywhere, without being tied to a fixed screen in a physical location, that doesn’t mean it’s the best place to play for many people. Where we have a big screen and a controller, or a proper keyboard and mouse, all mobile devices can take a back seat. That’s why we’ve chosen eight excellent mobile games that you can find on Steam and that you shouldn’t miss just because you don’t want to play them on your phone. […]

There are excellent mobile games, but sometimes it’s the platform that feels the least appealing to play on. Even though it’s convenient to play anywhere, without being tied to a fixed screen in a physical location, that doesn’t mean it’s the best place to play for many people. Where we have a large screen and a controller, or a proper keyboard and mouse, all mobile devices can take a back seat. That’s why we’ve chosen eight excellent mobile games that you can find on Steam and that you shouldn’t miss just because you don’t want to play them on your phone.

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Infinity Nikki

Having arrived on Steam literally yesterday, April 28, this is one of the big surprises of last year. Behind its sweet aesthetic clearly aimed at a female audience, there is an excellent open-world adventure game with a captivating narrative and more than interesting puzzle and exploration mechanics. A game that deserves a chance if you are a fan of the last two The Legend of Zelda or Genshin Impact.

Wizardry Variants Daphne

The grandfather of all modern RPGs is Wizardry, but it hasn’t had a game worthy of its name for many years. At least until they released this gacha last year where you don’t need to invest a single euro to play. Now playable on PC, it’s the perfect time to discover one of the Wizardry games that has best captured the old-school essence of the franchise while adapting to a modern sensibility, all without abandoning what makes Wizardry the franchise it is.

Monument Valley

Created by Ustwo Games, this trilogy of games was born for iOS but has made its way to PC, collecting numerous awards and critical acclaim along the way. And it’s no wonder. It is a puzzle game with absolutely exceptional artistic design, featuring fascinating puzzles that continue to grow with each new sequel, feeling more than just a mobile game due to its tremendous finish. One of those must-have games for puzzle lovers. Or for lovers of good games.

Cat Quest

Another game that is on its third installment and, justly, started its journey simultaneously on PC and mobile. Being a 2D Action RPG in the style of the classic The Legend of Zelda, its two greatest achievements are being tremendously beautiful and adorable and having a fascinating open world. Improving tremendously with each new sequel, it is a franchise that has managed to find its own personality and whose fans eagerly await each new installment for good reasons.

Dreamlight Valley

The great Disney game of recent years is taking the mobile world by storm, but you don’t have to play it outside of your PC if you don’t want to. Available since its launch on both consoles and computers, this life and adventure simulator invites us to dive into the Disney worlds and discover what it is like to be a Disney princess, or at least, an inhabitant of their worlds. All of this while Donald gets angry non-stop for reasons we don’t quite understand.

What the Golf?

If there is an absolutely hilarious game that many more people should play, it is What the Golf? A game that originally came out for iOS and just a month later for PC, and that you shouldn’t miss. Why? Because it is a golf game where absolutely nothing works like in real golf. Sometimes you have stealth missions. Sometimes you are the ball. Sometimes the rules are those of soccer. What are you doing reading instead of running to play it?

Fantasian Neon Dimension

The latest game from the creator of Final Fantasy was locked on Apple mobiles for years, causing many fans to miss out. Now Fantasian Neon Dimension is available for PC and consoles to prove that its creator still knows how to make tremendously memorable and unique games in the form of some of the best JRPGs in the world.

World of Goo 2

World of Goo was one of the first indies to stand out. How can a sequel be 15 years later? A metanarrative madness about the very existence of the sequel to World of Goo that is, moreover, an excellent sequel in its own right. Because World of Goo 2 is also World of Goo 3. And World of Goo 4. And we could keep going like this for quite a while, but if you like World of Goo, it’s better to experience it for yourself rather than stopping to explain it to you.

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Arknights will have a collaboration with the world's biggest franchise: Sanrio

Arknights fans have several reasons to celebrate Christmas. Besides the classic reason, which is Christmas itself, they have another one: their reference game has a major collaboration underway. And we say major collaboration not to emphasize, but because it truly is big. Because they have decided to collaborate with what is likely the biggest franchise in the world: Sanrio. The home of Hello Kitty. All the characters, but none on the battlefield. Although it’s true that neither Hello Kitty nor Kuromi will join the battle, you will be able to get cosmetics of the iconic Sanrio characters. The doctors will have […]

Arknights fans have several reasons to celebrate Christmas. Besides the classic reason, which is Christmas itself, they have another one: their favorite game has a major collaboration underway. And we say major collaboration not just to emphasize, but because it truly is big. They have decided to collaborate with what is likely the biggest franchise in the world: Sanrio. The home of Hello Kitty.

All the characters, but none on the battlefield

Although it is true that neither Hello Kitty nor Kuromi will join the battle, you will be able to get cosmetics of the iconic Sanrio characters. The doctors will have three new outfits to choose from. Remedy in a Cup of Leung Cha for Lee, Party in the Garden for Goldenglown, and Stream Above the Clouds for U-Official. All of them available in the game store.

Additionally, there are also different cosmetic packs available in the store. For those who want a bit of everything, or a lot of each, from this collaboration. And while it’s a shame that there’s nothing free and everything involves going through the store, you have until January 3rd to decide: Santa Claus might decide that you can’t live without a bit of Pompompurin in Arknights.

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Tower defense games are among the genres that are steadily gaining popularity, especially in the mobile platform. With the hands-off gameplay and strategic design, combined with the portability and convenience of mobile devices, no wonder more and more gamers are making the switch.

How to start playing Age of Empires Mobile

Age of Empires Mobile is a game that has proven that strategy games can succeed on mobile. Even those that do not sacrifice an ounce of their depth and complexity in the process. As accessible and as deep as its older PC siblings, it is a game that requires some time to acclimate, but offers a lot in return when we do. That’s why we offer you some tips here to help you know how to dive into this successful new iteration of the longest-running strategy game franchise. How to start with Age of Empires Mobile To begin, […]

Age of Empires Mobile is a game that has proven that strategy games can succeed on mobile. Even those that do not sacrifice an ounce of their depth and complexity in the process. As accessible and as deep as its older PC siblings, it is a game that requires some time to acclimate, but offers a lot in return when we do. That’s why we offer you some tips here to help you dive into this successful new iteration of the longest-running strategy game franchise.

How to start with Age of Empires Mobile

To begin with, there’s nothing better than knowing how to choose which civilization best suits your play style. And while it’s true that all have their pros and cons, the Koreans provide the most benefits for those just starting out in the game. With an impressive loot limit of +500k, in addition to a +10% in resource production, this means we will obtain many more resources when attacking other players and also produce resources more consistently with our villagers. This will allow us to establish a very good foundation before deciding on a specific civilization.

In fact, the decision of which civilization we will play with does not have to be permanent. We can change civilization at any time, as long as we pay 200 empire coins. To do this, we will have to click on the portrait in the upper left side of the screen, then on the icon next to the flag of our civilization, and there we can select our civilization. A simple option if we choose the Koreans.

When it comes to managing what you do in the game, you need to keep some important keys in mind. Constructions, in addition to resources, take (real) time to build, so it’s important to assign as many buildings to construct as you can humanly manage before closing the game. Similarly, don’t skip any of the tutorials. Even if you think you already know everything about the game from playing other Age of Empires, Age of Empires Mobile has its own unique features and you could end up suffering the consequences if you decide to rush too much to start playing as quickly as possible.

The most important: Age of Empires Mobile is (effectively) a mobile game

To conclude, it is important to consider the particularities of Age of Empires Mobile. To begin with, it is a mobile game. Try to get all the codes you can, as they will help you a lot. Once you reach chapter eight, join an alliance, as the advantages you will gain from it will be significant. And considering the importance of heroes in this game, particularly powerful units that provide unique benefits on the battlefield, you should acquire one of them as soon as possible. The gaming experience changes radically when they are on the battlefield.

With these tips, you should be more than capable of tackling the first steps of Age of Empire Mobile with some assurance. The rest is in your hands. Building an empire is not easy and will depend on your skill, but don’t let the game’s peculiarities prevent you from conquering the world.

Age of Empires Mobile DOWNLOAD

Age of Empires Mobile is a free strategy game from developer Level Infinite. Not to be confused with Age of Empires: Castle Siege, it is the latest attempt from Microsoft to break into the ever-competitive mobile gaming industry. It directly takes inspiration from the popular Age of Empires series on PCs.

How many players does Age of Empires Mobile have in 2024? Reasons to play it

Age of Empires Mobile is one of the big surprises of the year. If we had been told at the beginning of the year that one of the most popular games of 2024 would be a strategy game from a franchise known for its depth, we would have laughed. But here we are. Age of Empires Mobile has proven that the formula can be brought to mobile phones. And the numbers prove it. With more than two million downloads in the last month and over five million since its launch, it is one of the strongest releases of 2024. Demonstrating that Age of Empires still has […]

Age of Empires Mobile is one of the big surprises of the year. If we had been told at the beginning of the year that one of the most popular games of 2024 would be a strategy game from a franchise known for its depth, we would have laughed. But here we are. Age of Empires Mobile has proven that the formula can be brought to mobile phones. And the numbers show it.

With more than two million downloads in the last month and over five million since its launch, it is one of the strongest releases of 2024. Proving that Age of Empires still has a lot to say when it comes to strategy. And there are good reasons. Because in addition to being a free-to-play game with in-game purchases, it is a game that has shown it knows how to elegantly transfer the Age of Empires experience to mobile phones.

If you expect an exact replica of the PC games, as is evident, you will be disappointed. Some of its depth and certain micromanagement elements have been left aside, but this is in exchange for delving into other specific aspects of the experience. Building our empire, constructing our buildings, and gathering materials remain crucial, but now more than ever, war gains importance. In battles against other players, we can loot their resources, which is also a valuable way to advance our goals.

What is so special about Age of Empires Mobile?

Because Age of Empires Mobile has a feature that its older siblings lack: it is persistent. This means that we don’t have to start from scratch each time; instead, we build our city, manage it, and every time we go to battle, it will be to continue expanding our city. This is important because the online map will always be there, and we can form alliances or start wars against our neighbors in quick and intense skirmishes for domination.

If you like games like Domination or Rise of Kingdoms, but need a game with a bit more depth in management, Age of Empires Mobile is the perfect game for you. A strategy game with enough depth so that it doesn’t run out in a couple of weeks, but not so complex that it becomes unmanageable on your mobile phone. The best of both worlds, always available in your pocket.

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Grimguard Tactics is a tactical RPG for mobile devices that is revolutionizing the networks

“Grimguard Tactics: End of Legends” is a tactical RPG that’s generating a lot of buzz before its release, and you can pre-register now.

Mobile gaming is an ever-evolving space with constant new releases. Interesting video games that manage to create a great anticipation before their launch are the norm. However, some stand out more than others. And among those that seem to have the potential to be a hit, there’s Grimguard Tactics: End of Legends.

This Tactical RPG with a strong emphasis on story already has 300,000 people pre-registered, but it has expectations of reaching a million. And what does the game offer us? Dead gods in a horrible world devastated by an impossible cataclysm and a band of unlikely heroes willing to save it. Or die trying.

Like games such as Zenless Zone Zero, this is a gacha. That means that collecting our heroes and their equipment pieces is part of the game’s charm, so you should keep that in mind. Additionally, the game also has a village building component that adds a touch of variety and promises to make it very interesting.

Grimguard Tactics: End of Legends will be released on September 12th and can already be pre-ordered on both the iOS App Store and Google Play for Android. In addition, if they reach one million pre-orders, they will distribute juicy bonuses to all players, so what are you waiting for to sign up?

Grimguard Tactics: End of Legends DOWNLOAD

Grimguard Tactics: End of Legends is an epic, dark fantasy RPG strategy game available for Android devices

The next trendy game will make you manage a restaurant… with BTS

BTS tienen ahora su propio juego de móvil, BTS Cookin On, donde tendremos que gestionar un restaurante para conseguir photocards.

BTS is one of the most popular groups in the world. It’s not like we’re going to discover anything new by saying this. K-pop is here to stay and, although its normalization has led to them not making as many headlines as before, they still cause a sensation. That’s why it shouldn’t surprise us that they also have their own video games, in which we can even cook with our favorite idols.

BTS Cooking On is all about that. This is a game where we get to cook together with the members of BTS to expand our restaurant while keeping our customers happy. Why? To grow our business, increase ranks, and advance in the season pass, which includes photo cards and other BTS souvenirs that we can collect. Something that no true BTS fan could miss.

Now available, BTS Cookin On will be available both on the Apple Store and on Google Play. In addition, they currently have a challenge where, if they reach 50,000 RTs before August 23rd, they will give away several souvenirs related to the BTS boys for free. So don’t hesitate, and dive into the world of BTS right now on your mobile phone.

BTS Cooking On DOWNLOAD

BTS Cooking On is a free simulation game that invites players to join the TinyTAN characters in a fun adventure where the joy of cooking meets the world of BTS.

Crunchyroll is pulling a Netflix with video games: here’s how the new service works

Crunchyroll goes the Netflix route and begins to offer premium games with its subscription, although there is a trick: not all of its subscriptions offer it

Crunchyroll is gradually advancing, trying to position itself as one of the major alternatives in the world of streaming. Having made the leap to also work with cinemas, with their latest example being the worldwide premiere of the SPY x FAMILY movie, they continue to work on reasons for people to consider subscribing to their service. This time, moving away from anime, but not too far. Just enough to link up with another aspect very close to them and with which they are already familiar: video games.

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Because the Crunchyroll streaming platform has started to include video games as part of its subscription. However, there’s a catch. What they have labeled as their Game Vault, containing premium mobile games, is only available to their Mega Fan subscribers (a subscription that costs €6.49 per month) unlike their standard Fan subscription (which costs €4.99 per month). The games, however, will be ad-free and free of microtransactions.

To start, the Game Vault offers five games, all of them of high quality. These games are Captain Velvet: The Jump+ Dimensions, River City Girls, Wolfstride, Behind the Frame, and Inbento. Five outstanding games, among which we would particularly highlight River City Girls and Wolfstride for how exceptionally well-designed and beautiful they are.

Unfortunately, we have bad news for those with Apple devices. This service is currently available only for Android phones and tablets, although they have confirmed that it will also be coming to iOS in the future.

Furthermore, Crunchyroll has confirmed that the offering will expand in the coming months as they are working with international developers both to port their games to mobile devices for the first time and to bring existing mobile games to their Game Vault. This is something we will have to wait for, but considering they have a game publishing division dedicated to free-to-play titles, it’s expected that they won’t have any trouble expanding their catalog.

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Time Traveling to the First Selfie: Tracing the Origins of Self-Portraiture 200 Years Ago

It may seem like a modern invention, but selfies had their moment of glory in the days of Polaroids… And there are not a few people who want to show that they are its inventors.

While the word “selfie” may not have been coined until September 13, 2002, the practice had been around for a while in Australia as a synonym for, well, taking a photo of oneself. Before smartphones with front-facing cameras, it was a bit hit or miss, but people managed somehow. Because it may seem like a modern invention, but selfies had their moment of glory in the era of Polaroid cameras… And there are quite a few individuals who want to claim credit as their inventors.

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Click!

On one hand, we have Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis claiming to be the first to do it in a movie with “Thelma & Louise.” On the other hand, there are those who correct the error, pointing out that Madonna was actually the first to take a selfie on screen in “Desperately Seeking Susan,” a few years prior. Then we have Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, who also claim to be the creators of the invention. But in the end, none of them can claim the title. The first selfie in history is about to turn two hundred years old. Yes, you read that correctly.

In 1839, Robert Cornelius, a young man from Philadelphia, was experimenting with a new invention from France: the daguerreotype. In other words, it was the first photographic process presented to the general public. And the first thing Cornelius thought of was, of course, taking a photo of himself. It happened in October. After several attempts, he discovered that the key to taking a good selfie was to remain completely still for 10 to 15 minutes. Compared to now, that’s quite a long time.

Cornelius’ self-portrait not only marks the first selfie in history but also the first photograph to clearly depict a person in the United States (while examples can be found in other countries as early as 1837). You might think that Cornelius struck it rich at the time, but the truth is quite different: he opened a photography store (the second in the world) and became a fashionable figure for a few years.

However, as photography became more popular, Cornelius closed his shop and began creating lamps in the family business. By the end of his life, he had enough money to provide for his eight children, and it was only years later that his famous photograph gained recognition. From here on, there are many “firsts,” from the first couple to use a tree branch as a selfie stick in 1934 to the first mobile phone with a built-in front-facing camera in… 2003!

So the next time you get frustrated after pouting for a couple of minutes without looking good, think that before you there was a man from the 19th century who decided to stay still for 15 minutes to see how he turned out. That’s called dedication.

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Budget-Friendly Photography: Secrets to Snapping Impressive Pictures with a Cheap Phone

Your mobile is much more capable than you think: learn how to take the best photos with these tips.

Most current mobile phones integrate cameras that would overshadow the most cutting-edge devices from 10 years ago. The truth is, unless you’re a professional photographer, it doesn’t make much sense to spend thousands of euros if you’re looking for a good camera.

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Think about it this way: it’s pointless to have the latest iPhone on the market if you’re not able to fully harness its potential. However, with the right combination of techniques and a few small tricks, you can capture incredible photos and videos on any phone, regardless of its price.

Clean your camera lenses

I’m sure when you read the title, you might have thought, “Really?” And yes, really: when was the last time you cleaned the lenses of your phone? In fact, think about the last time you cleaned your phone in general. Sometimes, when taking photos, they may appear blurry and lacking definition. Before blaming the phone, make sure the lenses are clean and free from dirt.

To clean them effectively, it’s not enough to rub them against your shirt or pants. Use a microfiber cloth, as it won’t leave any residue on the lenses. These cloths are the ones we often find for cleaning glasses, for example. If you want to go the extra mile, use a cleaning product specifically designed for glass and electronic devices (isopropyl alcohol will also work).

Take RAW photos

When taking photos, they are typically saved in the JPEG or PNG format. However, there is another format that not many people are familiar with: RAW. This format helps preserve all the details and information of a photograph, including colors, brightness, sharpness, and more. Shooting in RAW will significantly enhance the quality of the photo and make editing tasks easier.

However, there are several drawbacks to consider. Firstly, RAW photos will be much larger in file size compared to JPEG, for example. It’s also possible that some phones may not allow shooting in this format. Fortunately, most modern Android phones support RAW without any issues. As for iPhones, you can capture photos in ProRAW (Apple’s version of RAW), but it’s only available from iPhone 12 Pro onwards (and with iOS 14.3 or later).

Adjusts focus and exposure

As you may know, when you tap on a point within the camera app, the lens automatically focuses on that area. This simple gesture already ensures a much sharper image by focusing on the desired area. However, this can sometimes result in another drawback. When focusing, the exposure of the photograph adjusts to that specific area and neglects the overall image.

In these cases, it’s always best to manually manipulate the focus and exposure. And for that, lighting is key. If you don’t have good lighting, adjusting the exposure will help overcome this problem. When we talk about exposure, we refer to the amount of light that enters the camera sensor. Too much light can result in overexposed images, while too little light can make them too dark.

Although every phone has its own set of options, on an Android device, you can access manual settings as follows:

Open the Camera app and tap on a point on the screen.
A slider will appear next to the focus circle. Drag the sun icon to adjust the exposure.

Sunlight will be your best friend

As we mentioned before, lighting is essential for good photography. While exposure and the use of flash can help in specific moments or for certain effects, they can never replace good lighting. That’s why using natural light will always be your best ally.

Naturally, sunlight and the overall environment change throughout the day. With this in mind, it’s crucial to seize the opportune moment. If you want to take outdoor photos, take advantage of the following hours:

The Golden Hour: This occurs roughly 30 minutes before sunset and after sunrise. The warm tones of the sunset and sunrise will add a special touch to your photographs.
Midday: If you want to capture landscapes or animals, this is the ideal time. Between 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM, the sun is at its highest point.
- The Blue Hour: Widely known as twilight, it occurs between 20 and 30 minutes after sunset and before sunrise. Unlike the Golden Hour, it produces interesting cool tones.

Play with composition

When taking a photo, define the focal point. Who or what is the main subject? Whatever it may be, make it the most important element in the image. Experiment and change angles to add dynamism or transform how the snapshot is perceived. A good composition will make your photos much more interesting and appealing.

Fortunately, our phones provide a little help with composition: the grid. And as if that weren’t enough, it also helps us apply the Rule of Thirds.

The Rule of Thirds is one of the most basic principles in photography and also one of the easiest to apply. The grid in our Camera app is perfect for executing it. Here’s how it works: the intersections formed by the crossing lines are the strong points. Placing what we want to emphasize in these points will always result in a good photo.

Do not touch the zoom

Despite the capabilities of today’s phones, they lack good optical zoom and instead offer digital zoom. Both serve the same purpose, which is to magnify an area of a photograph without physically getting closer.

However, there are several differences: firstly, optical zoom uses optical lenses to zoom in or out of the image. On the other hand, digital zoom processes the image within the device itself. The result is similar to cropping a portion of a photograph and enlarging it, to put it simply.

The use of digital zoom comes with a drawback: it decreases the quality of the image. That’s why photos taken with digital zoom often appear pixelated and blurry. To avoid this, try to get as close as possible to what you want to photograph. You can always crop and enlarge the desired area when editing your images later on.

Use a good editing application

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom DOWNLOAD

Editing programs and applications can work true miracles. Even if our phone has its limitations, we can always enhance our photos a bit more through editing.

If you want to apply advanced effects or make significant adjustments, a computer program will always offer more options and capabilities. On mobile devices, photos are usually edited in JPEG format, which results in a significant loss of quality. However, editing on a mobile device is much faster and more immediate.

Regardless, there are plenty of interesting applications available for both Android and iPhone:

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom DOWNLOAD

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From Zombies to Silence: The Mysterious Disappearance of PopCap Games

14 years have passed since that first game and since then we haven't heard much from PopCap, its developers. And it's what… What happened to them?

Surely you remember the first time you played Plants Vs Zombies: a game as simple in appearance as it was complex to master, which relied on the player’s ability to plant the right sunflowers and place the perfect plants and guessing strategies that ended on a high note, with one of the biggest hits in the history of video games (only second only to Portal’s Still Alive). But 14 years have passed since that first game and since then we haven’t had much news from PopCap, its developers. So… What has become of them?

Sexy Action Cool

Year 2000, Seattle. Jason Kapalka founds Sexy Action Cool, his own video game company, together with John Vechey and Brian Fiete. The idea was to create innovative video games that they were passionate about, even if they first had to make cheap but attention-grabbing stuff to make easy money. Their first attempt was Foxy Poker, which was about, you guessed it, a game of strip poker.

Sadly for them, the game did not succeed (for whatever reason) and in fact it is currently lost, but the fame they did not get then was achieved with their next release, the famous Bejeweled (formerly known as Diamond Mine), which at that time was played directly from the Internet. Between Diamond Mine and Bejeweled it took four months of development and they achieved more than ten million units sold between all the platforms where it was adapted, from Blackberry to… the first iPod.

Sexy Action Cool had already changed its name to PopCap, and its success was such that it even acquired a casual games company and expanded outside Seattle: they opened a company in Dublin and planned, between sequels to Bejeweled and other casual video games (such as Peggle and Bookworm), what they had always wanted to do. That is, a completely original title that would change the rules of the game.

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Defiéndete de los zombies con tus plantas

Practicing gardening

In 2001, George Fan, a Californian developer, created a game called Insaniquarium that mixed pet simulation, strategy, action and puzzles. Years later, he was still kicking around the idea of making a sequel, which eventually led to a tower defense between plants and zombies. The PopCap team, passionate about the subject, took three and a half years to put the game together before launching it on May 5, 2009. A decade after its founding, they had finally achieved what they were looking for: a more or less original, epoch-making hit.

Plants Vs Zombies (which was going to be called Lawn of the Dead until George A. Romero expressly forbade it) took ideas from Warcraft III, Magic The Gathering and Swiss Family Robinson, but gave them the perfect twist to create a little adventure game with no micropayments, the old-fashioned way. The game came to iPhone, Android and consoles over the years and became PopCap’s fastest selling game ever.

To give you an idea: in just nine days, sales on iOS exceeded one million dollars, so PopCap had an incredible future ahead of it. And then, as in all horror stories, along came the big bad wolf. In this case, Electronic Arts, which bought the company on July 12, 2011 for $560 million. And when you’re bought by someone like Electronic Arts, they want immediate results: the beginning of the end.

More plants, more zombies

Since its purchase, PopCap has not released a single original game: only sequels to Peggle, Zuma, Bejeweled and, of course, Plants Vs Zombies. In August 2012, in fact, they announced that they would lay off fifty employees to focus on developing free-to-play games with micropayments. Said and done: in 2013, Plants Vs Zombies 2: It’s About Time was fun enough to ignore the fact that every so often you were pushed to buy power-ups and novelties.

The sequel was a bigger hit than the original: it sold 25 million units in one month, setting the franchise up for success. But greed is dangerous, and after PopCap Vancouver took a chance (and succeeded) with the two great Garden Warfare games, it was time to go back to mobile: Plants vs Zombies Heroes launched in 2016 with the ability to play on any of the two teams and with a system similar to that of Hearthstone… And with increasingly annoying and intrusive ads and micropayments.

And since then, beyond another console game similar to Garden Warfare, nothing. Plants vs Zombies 3 remains an eternal promise that they’ve been developing for years and years doing something they hadn’t done up to that point: disregard EA’s pleas and listen, instead, to the fans. In July 2019, a pre-alpha was released on Android. Then, in October 2020, there was a worldwide release, but it was so criticized for continuous micropayments that it was withdrawn a month later. In 2021 there was another attempt, but so far there hasn’t been an official release… And EA is starting to get nervous.

With a broken management team, a community of fans demanding a return to the basics of the first game, a canceled animated film, and several canceled projects, the question is in the air: will they, like Rovio, manage to stay afloat, or before even from the third party PopCap has already died… but no one has warned them?