5 mobile games that deserve to be on British stamps
British gaming heritage is getting recognition, but only those from decades ago
Here in the UK, Royal Mail just announced and showed off their new range of video game-themed postage stamps, all of which show love to the wonderful heritage of the British video game industry.
And I think it's fair to say that it's a wonderful idea. The likes of Wipeout, Tomb Raider, Lemmings, and Populous have become iconic game franchises, and without them the gaming landscape today would be very different indeed.
Though it's also a little bittersweet. The fact is that many of the development studios responsible for these games have long since closed down, the properties sold off, and the franchises essentially existing in a state of limbo. These are relics of a bygone era as far as the video game industry as a whole is concerned, and while it's wonderful seeing the industry respected like this, it's also a little heartbreaking.
After all, the franchises that are included, and aren't arguably dead, are now developed in other countries entirely. WipeOut Omega Collection? Developed in Sweden. The latest Tomb Raider games? America and Canada. It's a bit heartbreaking, but these show the world what the British gaming industry used to look like, not what it is today.
Which is exactly why something had to be done, and here I've decided to list off gaming franchises that are relevant in the UK right now. These are the gaming franchises that actually produce jobs right now, contribute to the economy, and prove that the British gaming industry isn't just historically important, but relevant in the modern era. You can also play them on mobile, which always helps.
Here are five British gaming franchises you can play on mobile right now that deserve a space on British postage stamps. And let us know what games you want on postage stamps, if any, in the comments below…
1
Broken Sword
Broken Sword is undoubtedly incredibly important to the history of British gaming - it's just inarguable. This point and click series has been seen across a variety of platforms, and everyone that has played the games believe them to be classics, and for good reason.
Even now, nearly seven years on from the last entry in the franchise, and twenty four years on from the first, people are begging for another entry, and something tells me that series creator Charles Cecil will absolutely deliver on that promise, in good time. Until then, we can play the series on our phones…
2
Beneath a Steel Sky/Beyond a Steel Sky
Charles Cecil is going to love this list, isn't he? Yes, the next game on the list is the 1994 cult classic Beneath a Steel Sky, another point and click classic that inarguably made waves when it released, and still has fans feverishly begging for more in the modern era.
And wouldn't you know it, a sequel, Beyond a Steel Sky, is in development right now. I actually took a look at Beyond a Steel Sky in action at Gamescom 2019, and they are putting together an authentic and heartfelt successor to a game many people hold incredibly dear.
3
The Room
The Room was one of the mobile games that truly began legitimising mobile devices as a fully fledged, deserving gaming platform. When the original launched back in 2012 it made huge waves, as of 2016 the franchise had sold more than 11 million copies, and The Room: Old Sins launched in early January 2018 - and guess what? It was good.
Fireproof Studios are based in Guildford, a place well known for experienced game development studios, and despite the game being entirely unrelated to Tommy Wiseau's movie of the same name, it has amassed the same kind of cult following, albeit with less ironic enjoyment in place of something more genuine.
4
Judge Dredd vs. Zombies
This is on the list because we need to give props to Rebellion and 2000 AD. 2000 AD was an incredibly important and influential comic series in the UK at one point, with Judge Dredd being one of the most recognisable comic book anti heroes for the time.
In the modern day the name still holds weight, but we should give props to Rebellion's publishing and software departments alike all the same for managing to thrive in a competitive industry and holding on to some of the most important comic properties in the business.
5
CSR Racing
CSR Racing isn't exactly the biggest mobile game, but it has such a large, dedicated playerbase that ignoring it on this list would be crazy. This is the kind of mobile racer that players will spend hours upon hours playing, collecting cars, and loving every moment.
NaturalMotion has done an amazing job of keeping their key racing franchise popular ever since release in 2012 with CSR Racing 2, continued updates, and more. Now, people are chomping at the bit for a CSR Racing 3, and given the franchise's success, we can only assume they're working on it.
