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Super Mario Run/App Store

These are the easiest smartphone games to play with one hand

Or if you want to hold a cup of tea or coffee while you play. Your choice really.

IF YOU’RE LOOKING for a smartphone game to pass the time, it’s very easy to find one.

If you’re looking for a game to play one-handed while you use the other to drink tea, coffee or hold onto something, it’s a little bit harder but there’s still a large collection of free and premium games for you to try out.

(The criteria for this list is that all game featured here use portrait mode. Certain games like Alto’s Adventure and Rayman Fiesta Run may have equally simplistic controls but were excluded as they require you to play in landscape mode).

You Must Build A Boat
For: iOS, Android
Cost: €2.99

Matching blocks is the simple core to what is a compelling and fun game. Fight monsters, gather resources and upgrade your equipment, boat and crew, later levels can be hectic but it’s never punishing. A rare puzzle game that is fun to play for both short and long periods.

EightyEightGames / YouTube

TwoDots
For: iOS, Android
Cost: Free

A simple game, TwoDots’ gives you a limited number of moves and challenges to complete, all of them involve connecting similar-coloured dots.

The freemium nature may annoy some as you have a limited number of lives and the randomly generated levels can make or break certain challenges but underneath it all, it’s still an addictive experience.

Dots / YouTube

Tap Titans II
For: iOS, Android
Cost: Free

The premise of Tap Titans – a game where you defeat enemies by tapping as fast as you can – sounds more like a game of attrition than fun, but it manages to be compulsive. The presentation is rather polished and seeing the damage and gold numbers get larger and larger compels you to keep going.

Game Hive / YouTube

Threes!
For: iOS, Android
Cost: €2.99

The best games are easy to understand yet hard to master and Threes! has that in spades. A sliding block game where you combine factors of three, the goal is to create as large a number as possible but with limited spaces and new cards being added, it gets tricky, but you always feel encouraged to try again.

Also, the art style and music are top-notch.

Asher Vollmer / YouTube

Super Mario Run
For: iOS (Android coming soon)
Cost: Free (€9.99 for full game)

Mario’s debut may have split people down the middle. Some feel it captures the feel of a traditional Mario game while others feel the high price and constant need for an internet connection are more examples of Nintendo not understanding mobile. Whatever your opinions, Super Mario Run is definitely worth trying out.

The free version only allows the first three levels, but the coin challenges – where you collect pink, purple or black coins dotted throughout the level – will keep you busy.

Nintendo Mobile / YouTube

 

Solitaire Collection
For: iOS, Android
Cost: Free

Some things will never change. Day will turn into night and Solitaire will always be available to play. If you’ve played any version before, be it on Windows 95 or elsewhere, you know what to expect here. And you know what, that’s part of its charm.

Screen Shot 2016-12-16 at 12.08.35 Microsoft Solitaire Collection / App Store Microsoft Solitaire Collection / App Store / App Store

Monument Valley
For: iOS, Android
Cost: €1.99 (iOS), €2.99 (Android)

Guide a silent princess through locations that would be at home in an art gallery. The isometric style isn’t there for show either as rotating levels and moving objects helps you progress.

This is a game that’s more about the journey rather than the destination and if you still haven’t played it yet, you’re missing out.

millsustwo / YouTube

Crossy Road
For: iOS, Android
Cost: Free

It’s hard to put together any list of smartphone games without mentioning Crossy Road. Simple mechanics, quick taps and swipes, and lovely pixel graphics make it a delight to play and the perfect way to kill some time.

Yodo1Games / YouTube

Read: What is bringing classical and video game music together? This Irish woman >

Read: You know you can play thousands of classic games online, right? >

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5 Comments
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    Mute Gareth (The Chimichurri)
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    Mar 3rd 2021, 11:34 PM

    The variety in these products is just an example of how diverse this market is and why there should be the correct legislation on cannabis in order to kick start our post covid recovery… Legalise, tax and regulate, it’s high time!

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    Mute Ross
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    Mar 3rd 2021, 11:48 PM

    @Gareth (The Chimichurri): a handful of posters on here don’t agree so therefore that shouldn’t happen!

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    Mute Gareth (The Chimichurri)
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    Mar 4th 2021, 12:15 AM

    @Ross: Alas, journal-bubble syndrome!

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    Mute Mattress Dick
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    Mar 4th 2021, 8:09 AM

    @Ross: can’t see the government legalising gateway drugs anytime soon

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    Mute JustBEERbarry
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    Mar 4th 2021, 10:20 AM

    @Mattress Dick: what about mattresses? The government should seek to outlaw them. A complete scourge on society. Nothing good can come from them. There’s a direct correlation between sleepy lazy people, lying down and mattresses. A gateway to societal breakdown. We need a minister for mattresses to curb this horrible infliction on future generations.

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    Mute pbp Bernard Wallace
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    Mar 4th 2021, 10:45 AM

    @Mattress Dick: There is no such thing as a gateway drug. This “theory has been proven false many decades ago. Do keep up

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    Mute Drunk in Dublin
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    Mar 4th 2021, 10:57 AM

    @Mattress Dick: a “gateway” drug, eh? Okay Mrs. Reagan

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    Mute Patrick McCann
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    Mar 6th 2021, 12:21 AM

    @Mattress Dick: the low number of likes should tell you how inaccurate your statement is. besides,alcohol is legal.

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    Mute Kevin
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    Mar 7th 2021, 7:17 PM

    @Mattress Dick:

    The biggest gateway drug (alcohol) has been legal in Ireland since forever. And it is THE NUMERO UNO so called “gateway” drug. Every opiate / Coke /etc addict would have started out on the Devil’s buttermilk (& probably tobacco too).

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    Mute Joe Kennedy
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    Mar 3rd 2021, 11:28 PM

    Dopes trying to bring it in. Hope they can weed out anyone else at it….and give them a hash sentence. People might use the number above to grass on them…..things gone to pot altogether!

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    Mute Paul Somers
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    Mar 3rd 2021, 11:37 PM

    @Joe Kennedy: that’s really funny and gave me a laugh. Thank you.

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    Mute thesaltyurchin
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    Mar 4th 2021, 1:01 PM

    @Joe Kennedy: Ha! very good sir.

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    Mute ⚡ Seánie ⚡
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    Mar 3rd 2021, 11:26 PM

    Hopefully they put the money towards some decent Revenue signs….

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    Mute Gareth (The Chimichurri)
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    Mar 3rd 2021, 11:36 PM

    @⚡ Seánie ⚡: what money? The money they get from selling it back to gangs?

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    Mute Vonvonic
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    Mar 3rd 2021, 10:51 PM

    Wouldn’t they just grow it?

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    Mute Alan Byrne
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    Mar 3rd 2021, 10:55 PM

    @Vonvonic: and wait 4 to 6 months ?, it’s the best way but not everyone has green fingers.

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    Mute thesaltyurchin
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    Mar 4th 2021, 1:03 PM

    @Vonvonic: Automated self grow units are still a little expensive. next few years we’ll see the market become more ‘domesticated’ like the ‘Leaf’ refrigerator, etc.

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    Mute Michael
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    Mar 3rd 2021, 11:34 PM

    I hope the Garda call to the address the drug’s are being delivered to. Before the journal tells them.

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    Mute Jazz Buckler
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    Mar 4th 2021, 12:11 AM

    @Michael: drugs

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    Mute Tom
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    Mar 4th 2021, 1:48 PM

    @Michael: would that make you happy? You must be fun at parties

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    Mute Damian Clarke
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    Mar 4th 2021, 8:00 AM

    How annoyed would you be, you order a load of coffee pods and this arrives, they would not get a 5 star rating I’ll tell you that.

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    Mute Ann Mc Shane
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    Mar 3rd 2021, 11:49 PM

    Liked and shared

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    Mute merely ed
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    Mar 4th 2021, 4:14 AM

    @Ann Mc Shane: …lifetime subscription here;)

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    Mute Liam Meade
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    Mar 4th 2021, 8:30 AM

    Mmmmmmm coffee….

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    Mute Drunk in Dublin
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    Mar 4th 2021, 10:56 AM

    Luckily cannabis grows right out of the ground so, big deal.

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