Games to play on the flight to E3

Ten and a half to twelve hours. Stuck in a metal tube with smelly journalists. Yep, you’re going to need something to take your mind off it all.

Of course, the sensible thing will be to sleep. After all, you’re not going to get any sleep for the rest of the week. But if you insist on clinging onto consciousness then MCV has compiled a handy list of games that are well worth your time as you try not to plummet 35,000 feet into the ocean.

We’ve picked out a selection of games here for smartphones, 3DS and Vita. And the Nokia 3310. Yes, the Nokia 3310. What’s your beef? The thing sold nearly 130m units! That’s a big target market right there.

Here’s the list:

Fire Emblem: Awakening
Format: 3DS
By: Nintendo/Intelligent Systems
If you believe the critics, and we do, Fire Emblem: Awakening is the best thing in the world ever. 92 it has on Metacritic, and mixes real-time strategy with RPG gameplay and a bit of relationship building. It’s a lengthy game, too. So charge up that 3DS.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Format: iOS (iPad)
By: LucasArts/BioWare
The 2003 hit sci-fi RPG is apparently one of the most robust iPad games you can buy. If you missed the acclaimed Xbox original, a game that helped establish BioWare as one of the best developers on the planet, now is a great chance to discover it.

Limbo
Format: Vita
By: Playdead
The wonderful downloadable adventure came to PlayStation Vita very recently. If you’ve not played it yet, give it a download and your flight to Los Angeles will fly by. Or at least until Vita’s battery dies.

Luigi’s Mansion 2
Format: 3DS
By: Nintendo/Next Level Games
To be honest, if you’re a 3DS owner you’re pretty spoilt for choice right now. There’s a LEGO City title, Donkey Kong Country Returns, a new Pokemon Mystery Dungeon. But our favourite is Luigi’s Mansion 2. This sequel to the 2002 GameCube launch game came out in March and features plenty of humour and gameplay.

Impossible Road
Format: iOS
by Kevin NG
Control a ball as it tumbles down a narrow road, try to reach the bottom. Sounds simple but it’s actually bloody hard. People seem to like it and it has a quirky art style, so worth a shot.

Ridiculous Fishing
Format: iOS
by: Vlambeer
A combination of rods, fish and high powered weaponry. Incredibly ridiculous. Twitter loved it.

Soul Sacrifice
Format: PlayStation Vita
By: Sony
This geeky action RPG was the best-selling PS Vita game last month, and is from the one of those fellas who helped create Mega Man. But Mega Man this is not. Good though.

Star Wars Pinball
Format: iOS, Android, Vita
By: Zen United
Two Star Wars games in the list? Yep. This one is both available as a standalone game and as DLC for Zen Pinball. It depends how much you like flicking balls around, really. Eurogamer gave it a 9.

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages/Oracle of Seasons
Format: 3DS
By: Nintendo/Capcom
These two Zelda games came out back in 2001 for Game Boy Colour and were developed by Capcom. Criminally forgotten about, you can now buy them for under a 5 each on the 3DS Virtual Console. The two link up as well.

Nimble Quest
Format: iOS, Androd
By: NimbleBit
Nimble Quest answers that age-old question: What happens when you combine an RPG with that once great mobile game, Snake.

Thomas Was Alone
Format: Vita
By: Bossa Studios
This indie puzzle game from Mike Bithell is well loved and came to Vita back in April. It is one of many great indie titles you can pick up on Sony’s portable.

Snake
Format: Nokia phones
By: Gremlin
Sometimes the classics really are the best.

AND FOR THE WAY HOME:

Animal Crossing: New Leaf
Format: 3DS
By: Nintendo
Say goodbye to real life and welcome to the world of Animal Crossing. It’s picking up 9s and 10s all over the place (a few 8s, too), it’s the sequel to a cult Nintendo series that isn’t really cult anymore. The problem? It’s not out until next Friday. One for the journey back.