I’ve really grown to dislike the “freemium” mobile gaming model over the last few years. At first, I truly appreciated the ability to download quality Apple iOS games for free. Increasingly, though, these games are getting more aggressive about pushing you toward pay-to-play microtransactions. You can’t play Kim Kardashian’s 2014 hit mobile game for longer than 2 minutes at a time without paying 99 cents to buy more “energy.” And don’t even get me started about the problems these games have had in the past regarding unauthorized in-app purchases by minors. It’s actually become difficult to find great games without microtransactions.
Thankfully, it seems like the folks at Apple have heard our collective complaints over microtranactions. This week, the company has created a new, curated section on its App Store called “Pay Once & Play.” It’s designed to feature great paid games without in-app purchases like Thomas Was Alone, Minecraft and the award-winning game Threes.
The games in the Pay Once & Play section may not be free, but they're still inexpensive. They’re an even better value when you consider how many hours of enjoyment you can get out of a simple puzzler like Threes without being constantly pestered to spend more money. Parents should like this new section too – after all, who needs their kids constantly pestering them for permission to unlock a new 99-cent outfit or $1.99 race car add-on?
Want to check out Apple’s selection of great paid games for yourself? Simply open up iTunes on your computer or the App Store on your iPhone and look for the “Pay Once & Play” banner, or simply follow this link.
[Image credit: Apple]
