Summary
I like to play games.
I just don’t play them the way most people do.
I don’t have a console, a TV, or a gaming handheld.
Bertel King / How-To Geek
I play real “gamer” games, sure, but I do so on my phone.
To me, a keyboard and mouse feel better suited for work than for fun.
I grew up a console gamer, though I haven’t had one in around a decade.
Bertel King/ How-To Geek
But I sold it anyway.
I found it too big and unwieldy for my lifestyle.
I’ve ultimately discovered that I really enjoy Android gaming.
Bertel King / How-To Geek
The selection is vast, ranging from casual-but-gorgeous mobile experience to console ports that play better with a controller.
Importantly, my phone offers the most flexibility about when and where I can play.
I can play something chill while my wife and I are curled up with each other and our screens.
Bertel King / How-To Geek
I can drop my phone on a dock and use a Bluetooth controller.
I can connect to an external display when I can go for a more immersive experience.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
My current phone is theGalaxy Z Fold 5.
Bertel King/ How-To Geek
My previous one was the Motorola Edge+ 2023.
High-end Motorola phones are the second-best bet.
The iPhone 15 and Pixel 8 are compatible, but older models aren’t.
Bertel King / How-To Geek
The Z Fold 5 can cast video to anything I’ve thrown at it.
8BitDo Pro 2 Bluetooth Controller
The 8BitDo Pro 2 is my favorite Bluetooth controller.
Just about any Bluetooth controller is up for the task, so go with what works for you.
Bertel King/ How-To Geek
Logitech Pebble Mouse
When you’re connected to an external display, a cursor mimics touch input.
Gestures like pinch-to-zoom can’t be replicated with a mouse.
I Play Both Mobile and PC Games
I primarily play mobile games.
NVIDIA GeForceNOWis my go-to cloud gaming option, since it provides access to much of my Steam library.
Streaming so far has worked for me.
I’ve played several hours ofSea of Stars, though that isn’t particularly demanding.
Don’t Nod’sTwin Mirror, though released in 2020, is more demanding.
It doesn’t matter.
It feels right at home with AR glasses, which output at 1920 x 1080.
The same can be said for point-and-click adventure games, likeMachinarium.Monument Valleyis a masterclass in making a game adaptive.
With cloud gaming, I have given little thought to the reality that the games are being streamed.
Once launched, the games feel native.
I rarely experience lag or buffering.
It feels a bit magical, really.
It’s like gaming on a projector rather than a TV.
The immersion doesn’t quite compare to VR.
Unlike goggles, glasses do not block out light from around your eyes.
you’ve got the option to always see the rest of the world around you.
you could tint the glasses pitch black, but light will still come in from around the sides.
That’s why using the glasses feels more like a home theater experience than a virtual one.
You still need to dim the lights if you want the deepest immersion.
The biggest downside to the experience has been managing battery life.
The glasses draw power from the rig they’re connected to.
None of the docks or USB-C hubs I own have worked.
As unconventional as it may be, I can highly recommend gaming on AR glasses connected to a phone.
