The evolution of technology has brought society many new innovations, including the internet, social media, and mobile games. The increase of mobile games such as Brawl Stars, Clash Royale, and others is aided by increased demand for new games, social media influence and peers. Through its gaining popularity, mobile games provide a space to relax alone, enjoy time with friends, and also create an escape from stressful situations. As society shifts to an ever increasing digital world, it is no surprise that students in the Mater Dei community turn to mobile games in their free time with friends or by themselves. The ease of access from the mobile phones everyone carries at all times makes them that much more accessible. Students often find out about these games through other students both on campus and outside the school.
One of the most popular games at school right now is Block Blast, a problem-solving puzzle game that is similar to Tetris. Junior Sofia Corzine enjoys playing this game to settle down after a hard day at school and believes it is a good way to forget about difficult situations.
“[Block Blast] is very relaxing and you don’t really have to think about work from school,” Corzine said.
After spending a long day focusing on school work, sophomore Trenton Reimer believes mobile games provide a getaway from stress and responsibilities. Smartphone apps grant him and other students access to entertainment, by which he can calm down and later be encouraged to keep focusing on the rest of his studies.
“For me, mobile games are a way to just take a break from school work and kind of just relax,” Reimer said. “So that way, whenever I’m working, I have more motivation to work because I had that break beforehand.”
When considering the benefits of mobile games, several come to mind. There are thousands of games to suit every personality, including multiplayer and single-player games. Freshman David Rodriguez finds that one key advantage of mobile games is that they are easily accessible and can be enjoyed on a personal portable device as opposed to the bulky computers that previous generations had to use.
“[I play mobile games] because it’s a lot of fun, and [unlike a cellphone] I can’t take a computer with me [to play games],” Rodriguez said. “[A computer] is really big, and I can’t fit it in my pocket.”
The rising influence of mobile games is in part due to the aspect of socializing and connectivity. Many students at Mater Dei like to play other popular mobile games, like Brawl Stars, with their friends. Brawl Stars is a multiplayer game where players battle against each other and complete quests with teammates. Games like this are popular because students can play with friends and socialize, also creating new friendships and memories.
“I think lots of other people enjoy playing [Brawl Stars] because it’s a really popular game,” Rodriguez said.
The spread of mobile games stems from highly advertised media, which students consume everyday. The advertisements are colorful and engaging in order to catch the attention of viewers, which leads to the growth and popularity of these games. Although mobile game selection has a lot of variety to suit the desires of users, a number of students at Mater Dei commonly play only a handful of games per person as a way to have an easy gaming experience and bond with friends.
“Specifically around our campus, games are pretty diverse, but I would say that on a common note, that [the game] Brawl Stars would probably be the most popular game here,” Reimer said. “I know a lot of my friends play [Brawl Stars] at lunch, they play outside of school, and these types of video games are also pretty common outside of school, a lot of kids play online through all games.”
The popularity in mobile games among high school students, teens, and other users continues to consistently rise because of how accessible the games are, and how easy it is to play with a companion, or alone if desired. Brawl Stars, Block Blast, and other games are good examples of what people enjoy playing for personal or friendly enjoyment. Students at Mater Dei enjoy playing these games with each other or by themselves to connect and unwind after a long school day. The sociality of mobile games enhances the connection between Monarchs and overall benefits students with a happy, healthy community.
