The Diablo series has come to life once more in the last two years with the release of the remastered Diablo 2: Resurrected, the launch of Diablo Immortal, and the upcoming next mainline installment Diablo 4. While Diablo 2: Resurrected and Diablo 4 follow the more familiar franchise formula of action RPG dungeon crawling with limited elements of multiplayer, Diablo Immortal presented something a little different. Blizzard released the free-to-play, MMORPG in June of this year, and since then it's been at the heart of a number of controversies.
Fans weren't too pleased with the game for a few reasons, but chief among them was the aggressive presence of microtransactions which unfairly balanced the game and created a pay-to-win scenario that hasn't gone down too well with players. Diablo Immortal may still have its fans, but it hasn't managed to shake its negative reputation since its launch. It joins a long list of mobile games with similar setups, but there are many other titles that have much less aggressive microtransactions as well.
The Diablo Immortal Controversy
Blizzard didn't get off to the best start when it came to Diablo Immortal. When it was first announced at BlizzCon in 2018, fans were disappointed that the next Diablo game wasn't going to be a PC-focused title that forwarded the overarching story. Fans were appeased when Diablo 4 was confirmed to be in development the following year, but the damage had already been done. As well as the inauspicious start for the mobile game, Diablo Immortal also came under heavy fire for its ubiquitous use of microtransactions.
Microtransactions are nothing new, and while they are becoming more and more common in games looking to add new content post-launch or for titles trying to find ways to capitalize on their releases, they can rub a lot of people up the wrong way. Having things like cosmetic items that players can purchase is the more harmless version of this, as they are completely optional and don't affect the gameplay or give gamers purchasable advantages. However, when they're disguised as optional in free-to-play games but are actually fairly integral to proper progression, that's when gamers get annoyed.
Diablo Immortal's monetization has been seen by some as very predatory. While gamers were expecting microtransactions in Diablo Immortal, it wasn't clear until they were actually able to play the game how expensive these would be. Too many aspects of the game were locked behind unexpected paywalls, and there's a near-constant push from the game for players to spend money. Diablo Immortal is an example of how not to do mobile microtransactions, but there are some games that have handled it a bit better.
Pokemon GO
Capitalizing on the popularity of the worldwide phenomenon, Pokemon Go brought the iconic creatures to mobile with an augmented reality game. Players could find, capture, train, and fight with various Pokemon that they encountered throughout the world. It became an instant success, encouraging many to go outside and attempt to collect them all. While the game is free-to-play, there were in-app purchases like Poke Balls, Incense, and Bag Upgrades. However, a lot of these items could be obtained through leveling up rather than relying purely on purchasing with real-world currencies.
EVE Echoes
Another mobile version of an established franchise, EVE Echoes is the mobile spin-off for the sci-fi persistent world MMORPG EVE Online. EVE Echoes offers the same space-based experience as its counterpart, with players able to build their own adventures among the stars. They can engage in dogfights, join factions, explore the galaxy, and utilize EVE Echoes' unique playstyles and systems. There are in-app purchases, but these are very much optional and do not represent a pay-to-win structure.
Bloons TD 6
Released in 2018, Bloons TD 6 is the sixth entry in Ninja Kiwi's tower defense series. Building on the format of the previous games in the franchise, Bloons TD 6 lets players create their defenses using a variety of monkeys, structures, and traps as they work their way through the thirty-seven levels and multitude of modes. Players can earn in-game currency by completing challenges and participating in weekly events to buy upgrades, additional features, and cosmetics. While there are power-ups and other purchasable elements, they're not necessary for progression and the game can be easily played and beaten without these additional advantages.
Minecraft: Pocket Edition
Mojang's sandbox title Minecraft became a gaming sensation after it was released in 2011. The mobile version, Minecraft: Pocket Edition, was released shortly after and is a comprehensive port of the original game although not all of the features of the original PC or the console versions are present. There are some in-app purchases, but these mostly include skins and other cosmetics and don't fundamentally change the gameplay. This is a sharp contrast to games like Diablo Immortal where microtransactions are a primary part of their framework.
Shadowgun Legends
Madfinger Games' Shadowgun Legends is an FPS and the third mainline installment of the Shadowgun series. With a combination of role-playing and MMO elements, Shadowgun Legends has a variety of PvP and PvE quests and modes for players to engage in. Although it's hard for mobile shooters to compete with console versions, Shadowgun Legends presents a pretty solid gameplay experience. There may be quite a few ads and prompts to spend cash, but gamers can still access a fair amount of loot without shelling out money.
Cytus 2
While there are lots of rhythm games on mobile, Cytus 2 is one of the better ones. Its aesthetics will appeal to anime fans and its simple but entertaining gameplay will entice music-minded gamers. There is a wide range of charts to suit gamers of all abilities, so Cytus 2 can be as challenging or straightforward as they choose. With songs from a global list of musicians, players can access a number of tracks through the base game, or purchase new ones in-game. Although this significantly broadens the music on offer, microtransactions don't offer material advantages and are purely for additional content.
Diablo Immortal is available on Mobile and PC.