Tap Titans: Mindless, addictive fun

SINGAPORE — Some games are fun because they challenge your dexterity, patience and even your intellect. Tap Titans — free to download on Android and iOS devices — does none of that. Yet, it is easily one of the most addictive games I have played recently.

The beauty of Tap Titans lies in its remarkably simple gameplay. Your character has to continually defeat monsters, known as titans, to progress to the next level. There are no fancy puzzles or obstacles to solve. Your only task is to tap the screen as fast as you can to deal damage to the titans.

For each defeated titan, you earn coins, which you can spend to upgrade your character or hire heroes to help you. The titans do not even attack your character. Your only obstacle is in the boss round, where there is a time limit.

The game has no storyline, no endgame or any real objective. Your only focus is on defeating the next titan, and the next, and the next, over and over again. It is repetitive, yet also incredibly addictive. Crucially, it is simple enough for all ages to enjoy and it is also an excellent time-waster.

Some elements of Tap Titans are reminiscent of classic role-playing games from the 1990s and early 2000s. For one, the character you control looks suspiciously like a rip-off of Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII. The side heroes and the titans also appear to be homages to classic role-playing games or anime.

But what some gamers may truly appreciate about the game is its approach to character progression.

In many freemium games today, it is practically impossible to make significant progress without spending some actual money. Tap Titans is almost like a call back to a “simpler” time of gaming when a lot of fun was derived from spending hours training characters to gain rewards, improve their skills and boost attacks.

Critically, Tap Titans is also an example for how free-to-play games should be. Although you can spend real money if you wish, I have found after hours of playing that you never really need to do so.

Also, there are no distracting ads on the main screen. Instead, from time to time, fairies appear carrying treasure chests that earn you more coins or special boosts if you watch or click on an ad.

The game is currently the ninth-most-downloaded free app on the Singapore iTunes Store.

If you are looking for something that will suck up your time with no barrier to entry, Tap Titans is the game for you.