Call of Duty: Mobile brings impressive shooter mechanics to your phone, with graphics that feel closer to a gaming PC than most mobile titles manage. I expected very little going into testing COD: Mobile, especially since I've been a Black Ops lover on PC since its release. That said, I fell in love, in an extremely competitive way.
You can compare it to the rest of my picks in the best mobile games for iPhone and Android.
- Free, with optional cosmetics and a battle pass
- Available for iOS and Android
Eight-minute matches add up fast
Console-quality graphics and constant matches make Call of Duty: Mobile one of the more data-hungry games on this list. An AT&T MVNO plan can keep the cost down while you queue up match after match.
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US Mobile
Unlimited Premium Plan
$39.00/mo
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Cricket
Supreme Unlimited Plan
$55.00/mo
with AutoPay; $60 for the first month.
+ $9.99 Upfront
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Consumer Cellular
Unlimited for Ages 50+ Plan
$35.00/mo
+ $10 Upfront
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What Call of Duty: Mobile gets right
Half of your touchscreen handles movement, while the other half controls your perspective, and it works together more smoothly than I expected. The auto-shoot option is a nice touch too, since it means you're not scrambling to find enough fingers to tap, move, and turn all at once. Matches run around eight minutes, including load time, with the goal of eliminating the other team as many times as possible.
Image: Jessica Santero | WhistleOut
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You don't actually need to sign up
There is one catch that I didn't appreciate, though. If you don't want to create an account, whether you prefer protecting your digital footprint or personal data, the app pushes you toward creating an account before you even get a chance to try it as a guest.
Let me be clear: You don't need to sign up. You can tap out of the account prompt and play as a guest right away, but it's an easy thing to miss if you're moving quickly through the setup screens. Beyond that, the actual shooting experience is hard to put down and will probably make you want to sign in to save your stats anyway.
Is Call of Duty: Mobile worth downloading?
If you like first-person shooters, Call of Duty: Mobile is an excellent pick. And it's free, which is huge considering I remember paying full price for the same franchise on Steam.
I expected very little going into testing COD: Mobile, and I fell in love, in an extremely competitive way.
Jessica Santero, WhistleOut Staff Writer
How I tested Call of Duty: Mobile
- Attempted to play as a guest to test the account sign-up prompt
- Played multiple matches to time load screens and match length
- Tested the touchscreen movement and perspective controls, including auto-shoot
- Compared the graphics against expectations set by playing Call of Duty on PC
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Call of Duty: Mobile: FAQ
Is Call of Duty: Mobile free?
Yes, Call of Duty: Mobile is free to download and play, with only a few optional features you can purchase.
Do you have to sign up to play Call of Duty: Mobile?
No, you can tap out of the account prompt and play as a guest right away. Just be careful, because the app pushes you to sign up multiple times.
How long is a match in Call of Duty: Mobile?
Matches run around eight minutes, including load time.
What are the best free mobile games right now?
Call of Duty: Mobile and Egg, Inc. are the best free mobile games right now. Both are ad-free and pretty addicting, if you ask me.
Jessica Santero
Staff Writer
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