Platform elitism in video games is a familiar debate, with some of us contributing to the discourse by dismissing mobile gaming or favoring PlayStation over Xbox and vice versa. Platform tribalism has created these insular fringe groups that promote exclusionary behavior, with each one believing its platform is the best.
- The Escapist recaps
- Nobody should gatekeep fun
- Mobile gaming is accessible
- All platforms produce “friendslop” games
- Ask The Escapist
- References
With a new year comes a new dawn, and hopefully, it’ll bring an end to this behavior in 2026. The world is bleak enough without escapism becoming nothing more than a hotbed of rubbish takes and elitist stances. Entertainment is designed to entertain; thus, it doesn’t matter how you join in, so long as you’re enjoying yourself.
The Escapist recaps
- Video gaming has always involved some level of platform snobbery; however, it’s become noticeably worse in recent years.
- Mobile gaming, in particular, often comes under heavy fire for not being a form of quote-unquote “genuine gaming”.
- But while mobile gaming gets a bad rep, so too does console gaming when compared with PC; exclusives like World of Warcraft are then used as examples of why PC is the better option.
- Yet, with Xbox slowly moving away from exclusives, and Valve creating a console-cum-PC hybrid in the Steam Machine, platform tribalism has no place in modern gaming.
Nobody should gatekeep fun
Escapism comes in many forms, with gaming being one of the numerous ways we choose to unwind. Some of us prefer to alleviate tension in an action-packed FPS on PS5, while others like to scare themselves silly by playing the latest Steam horror game, like ROUTINE. And some of us enjoy finding casual experiences on our mobiles to while away a couple of hours.
None of these platforms definitively offers greater escapism than the other; they each have their pros and cons depending on the type of game you wish to play. Even then, if someone wants to play Alien: Isolation on their tablet instead of on console, who are we to say that’s wrong? It’s a matter of preference above all else.
Although I personally wouldn’t play AAA games on mobile, simply because I prefer a big screen, that doesn’t mean my way is superior. In both instances, the player immerses themselves in fantasy, with the only difference being the conduit that facilitates the experience.
Mobile gaming is accessible
Accessibility is yet another reason why platform snobbery needs to meet its maker in 2026. Mobile and console gaming are more affordable than PC gaming, at least for the time being. As the cost of consoles increases, the gap between console and PC will be bridged, albeit in price only. Even when that happens, the accessibility that each option provides still stands.
Mobile gaming, especially, has opened up the medium to a variety of people who previously never considered themselves gamers, mainly because they didn’t own a console. Yet, if one were to claim PS5 players aren’t genuine gamers because they don’t play on PC, they’d be called ridiculous, and rightly so.
The Steam Deck is a prime example of the accessibility I keep harping on about – I’ve been able to play various PC titles because of it, all without needing a gaming PC. No, I don’t consider myself a PC gamer, but I also don’t doubt my gaming credentials because I play via a docked handheld device rather than a towering juggernaut of a PC.
I’d previously been unable to participate in some of the best gaming experiences available due to my lack of a PC – yes, I have a MacBook, but only a limited number of titles run on it. But thanks to the Steam Deck, I’ve broadened my horizons. Many people share the same sentiments about their mobile phones and tablets.
All platforms produce “friendslop” games
Paul McCartney wrote Silly Love Songs after John Lennon, among others, tried to make out that people were fed up with sappy romance. Similar accusations have been made about “friendslop” games, with many claiming they have no place, oftentimes while laying the blame on mobile gaming. Yet, they’re popular because they’re accessible, good for a laugh, and fulfill a gap that was once in the market.
No amount of platform tribalism can wash away the sins of these so-called slop games, for each platform has its fair share of them. Every platform produces casual, easy-going games that require no skill, no investment, and no overzealous loyalty. It’s about fun. About silly, meaningless experiences that delight us with ease but also bore us just as quickly. And if we’re being completely honest here, some of these vapid mobile games have better stood the tests of time than console or PC titles.
Gacha games, like Genshin Impact, or match/merge games like Candy Crush Saga, still dominate mobile downloads, and have inspired console counterparts and/or adaptations. Like it or not, mobile gaming is here to stay and is a valid part of the video games community. You can throw a tantrum and spit out your dummy, but it won’t change how the medium is ever evolving to better suit contemporary needs.
Ask The Escapist
Mobile gaming is extremely popular, bringing in a yearly revenue of billions. In the UK, 34% of gamers access the medium via mobile.
It’s problematic in that it creates an insular hierarchy, often causing others to feel excluded or unwelcome in these online spaces.
The million-dollar question, but one that, sadly, has no favorable answer. Perhaps one day it will, but I fear it won’t be any time soon. Even though Microsoft is big on everything being an Xbox, that’s only provided further ammunition to gamers who believe such a marketing campaign proves that Xbox is inferior.
As always, it’s a matter of choice, but The Escapist has compiled a list of the best mobile games. It’s a little outdated now, but it’s a great starting point for new players.
References
- Online Gaming Statistics 2025 Report (Uswitch)
Last Updated On: Dec 29, 2025 3:17 pm CET