It’s a new year, and that means resolving to do some things differently, but if there’s one resolution I’m not making, it’s giving up playing fun and addictive games on my phone. In this past year, I’ve spent many hours enjoying games like Two Dots, SimCity BuildIt, and Geometry Dash Lite. I still love those apps, but these past few weeks I’ve been hooked on the popular and extremely well-known Crossy Road.
All the ‘80s arcade game lovers will see it as a homage to one of the greatest games ever made, the 1981 classic video game Frogger. The game requires users to direct frogs to their homes by jumping on floating logs, turtles, and alligators, all the while avoiding traffic or falling in the water. If you’re interested, you can play an emulation of Frogger over at Crazy Games. Warning: it’s seriously addictive.
Homescreen heroes
This is part of a regular series of articles exploring the apps that we couldn’t live without. Read them all here.
The default character is a cute little chicken, but you can also choose from a vast library of alternatives, including a cow, a big fat pig, or even mystery characters like the Hipster Whale. Your character of choice often changes the entire Crossy Road world, which keeps the whole experience nice and fresh. For example, if you choose the penguin, then the world turns into a snowy tundra. Or if you choose the creepy Gravedigger, then the game shifts into a dark, spooky night mode.
Unlock new characters
New characters can be unlocked in several ways, including playing the prize machine or discovering them while navigating through the Crossy Road world. There are also characters released during special seasons such as Christmas and Halloween. Unlocking new characters, including limited-edition ones, is a huge part of the fun and keeps players coming back for more.
Much of Crossy Road’s attraction centers around being unbelievably easy to learn but seemingly impossible to master. The game is designed for one-handed play, whereby a single tap moves you forward, while swiping left, right, or back allows for lateral movement and retreats. If all that sounds like you’re in total control, guess again. If you stand still for too long (trying to wait for the perfect gap), an eagle swoops down and ends your run. This forces constant movement and quick decision-making.
A masterclass in retention
I found myself regularly launching the app because of an inexplicable desire to play. Unlike Frogger, which had levels, Crossy Road is an endless hopper, so you always feel like you can go further and do better. The goal isn’t to see how many levels you can complete but rather to see how far you can go before being hit by a car, drowning, or being snatched by that aforementioned giant eagle.
Psychologically, the game is a masterclass in retention. By providing micro rewards, the colorful splash of a new high score, or the ding of collecting a coin, the game constantly feeds you tiny hits of dopamine. Even the visual delight of your character being hit by an oncoming vehicle feels strangely satisfying. And when your game is over because you made a split-second mistake, you can jump back into a new one in less than a second.
Strangely, I know Crossy Road has me under its spell. I’m drawn back to it again and again, but for some reason I don’t mind. Maybe it’s the bright and vibrant graphics. Maybe it’s the cute chicken that looks like it loves a good dash through an obstacle-laden universe. Or maybe it’s just because I love a little bit of harmless fun.
Whatever the reason, Crossy Road is well worth a look. It’s 100% free, the ads are bearable, and did I mention how cute the characters are?
Download Crossy Road on iOS or Android.
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paulo.n.hatton@gmail.com (Paul Hatton)
