Mobile games have exploded in popularity amongst the Loyola student body. Free, quick to download, and easy to play, these games can be enjoyed for minutes or even hours, which surely has led to their popularity.

One such game, Supercell’s Brawl Stars, has recently gained popularity with students. The game currently has over 375 million active players worldwide. Brawl Stars offers a variety of characters, all with different abilities, playstyles, and matchups.

Any bus ride to campus or walk through the commons shows just how popular this game is as Cubs yell to each other commands for what to do in-game. The game is able to keep Cubs hooked with constant updates urging players to keep leveling up, which creates a need for other players to “grind” to stay competitive with their peers.

“Honestly, I feel like I have to keep playing so that I’m not a lower level than my friends. Everyone’s always playing, so to stay on track I need to as well,” said Gavin Carey ‘25.

This is not the only mobile game that has spread through Loyola. Clash of Clans, six years older than Brawl Stars and also developed by Supercell, has seen a renaissance within the Cub community. Its base-building gameplay, timed upgrades, and new updates have brought back attention to this game.

Reagan Lantin ‘27 explained his experience: “I just recently started playing after two years off. So much has changed, it’s overwhelming. I could easily spend two hours a day playing.”

Both Brawl Stars and Clash of Clans have regular updates that raise the maximum level possible, giving players a higher goal and, more importantly, a reason to never stop gaming. They also utilize in-game purchases that allow players to level up faster.

The more players advance, the more hours they spend trying to continue advancing, creating an endless cycle of incentives and quests.

As students spend more time playing, interaction and community increase (for example, the Loyola Clan formed on Clash of Clans recently). This source of community helps bring Cubs together.

In the words of Christopher Javier ‘27, “Playing mobile games with my fellow Cubs makes me feel even more a part of the brotherhood.”