The story of Flappy Bird could be used as evidence that our universe does not run on logic. If you aren't caught up with the Internet hubbub surrounding this controversial mobile game, check out Dave's synopsis of Flappy Bird's rise and fall.
"I am sorry Flappy Bird users," said Nguyen, "22 hours from now, I will take Flappy Bird down. I cannot take this anymore."
Long story short: Flappy Bird is a bad game that became popular because it became popular. The game has few gameplay merits and let me tell you that there are so many better alternatives that you could be playing. Your time is precious so play games that are actually good!
Forget Flappy Bird and give these infinite runners a try instead. These games are available on both Android and iOS, but if you're on an iOS device, you should also consider reading our earlier roundup of iPhone infinite runners.
BADLAND
BADLAND is everything that Flappy Bird should've been. It's a shining example that gameplay depth is possible even with a premise as simple as "keep moving to the right." The similarities with Flappy Bird seem obvious at first glance - you control a bird that flaps its way through the world - but BADLAND kicks it up a notch.
The world is cleverly designed, the gameplay is refined, and the controls are responsive. You'll find more obstacles than simple, repetitive pipes here. There's an emotional undercurrent thanks to the thematic backdrop of the game (you're investigating what's going wrong with your home forest) and the artwork is a stunning reminder that games are art.
There's also a local multiplayer mode where up to four players can play together on the same device. Cutthroat and lots of fun - the way local multiplayer ought to be.
Download Link: Android (Free), iOS ($0.99)
Run In Crowd
Let's say you actually did enjoy Flappy Bird for its simplicity and mindless repetition. If that's the case, you'll love Run In Crowd. Like Flappy Bird, your character constantly moves to the right of the screen. You have one action - jump - and the goal is to jump over pits rather than flapping between pipes.
Why is Run In Crowd better? For one, it's nowhere near as frustrating to play. There are no deceptive hit-boxes or lag-induced deaths here. Instead, what you get is a smooth and clean gameplay experience that's fun and relaxing yet strangely addictive. But that isn't even the best part.
There are two defining features of Run In Crowd: one, you're always racing alongside other players, and two, the world in which you race changes on a daily basis. Every day presents a new challenge for you to overcome, which is a great thing for a game as polished as this.
Download Link: Android (Free), iOS ($0.99)
Vector
Vector is a fantastic endless runner that fits very well into modern society's "Big Brother" state of mind. You play as a mindless worker in a dystopian future who decides he can't keep living as a slave, so he breaks free and tries to run. Government agents are trying to catch you - how far can you make it?
The best part about Vector is that it incorporates parkour. That's right. If you're a fan of leaping from high places, rolling to break your fall, scaling walls and gates, and generally being a badass, then you'll love this game. There are hundreds of parkour moves that will not only keep you entertained but challenge you as you progress to the end.
Download Link: Android (Free), iOS (Free)
Subway Surfers
At first glance, Subway Surfers looks like a simple clone of the Temple Run series. I never really liked Temple Run but it's hard to deny the fact that it single-handedly popularized the "run forward while collecting coins and dodging obstacles" game type on mobile devices. But just because Temple Run was first doesn't make it the best.
Subway Surfers just feels like a smoother, more complete game package. The art is stylish, clean, and vivid, which is a big contrast to Temple Run's sharp, generic, and frankly boring graphics. The game's theme is more compelling: you play as an urban graffiti artist who must outrun an inspector through a metro railway site. I'll take that over the clichéd "temple treasure hunter" trope any day.
Despite the existence of in-app purchases in Subway Surfers, they're wholly unnecessary if you don't want to spend money.
Download Link: Android (Free), iOS (Free)
Jetpack Joyride
Jetpack Joyride is a relatively older game, but one that's so fun that it still deserves to be mentioned. From the creators of Fruit Ninja, this game really knows how to keep you hooked and wanting to play more. It's similar to Flappy Bird in that you always run to the side and must dodge obstacles, but there's more.
As the game's name suggests, you can pick up various types of jetpacks that impact gameplay in different ways. The controls are responsive, the art is beautiful, and the mission system is designed to stave off excessive repetition. When combined, all of that makes it hard to walk away from Jetpack Joyride.