Some app store games come and go in a flash. Others, though, manage to capture the imagination of consumers like no other. Among Us is definitely one of those games, taking a fairly classic set-up and dressing it up in a way that has taken the world by storm. If you've never played Among Us, it's definitely worth a moment's time to see what the hype is all about.

Features

Among Us is a multiplayer game that is, at least on its surface, very similar to crowd-based games like Werewolf or Mafia. Players take on the role of one of several characters who are assigned specific tasks on a ship or space station. One of the players, however, has a secret task to kill off the other players one by one.

The game comes into its own once the competitive aspects of the game start moving forward. The bulk of the players must complete their tasks without dying; the intruder, however, needs only to kill off the other players. When the regular crew discovers what's been done, everyone is called together to vote on who the impostor might be and to eliminate that player. As such, the game becomes one that's as much about social engineering as it is about the actual game mechanics.

Benefits

Among Us has become incredibly popular not just because of its entertainment value, but also because of the relatively low barrier to entry. Not only is the game free to download but it also has incredibly simple controls. There is an included tutorial mode that allows players to master all aspects of the game without playing with others, but even those who jump in to the main mode of the game can pick up the mechanics easily.

The game also benefits from its social nature. Players are called together to discuss who might be the intruder and those who put a great deal of effort into understanding social dynamics can master the game in a unique way. This is one app that really depends on the human element to make it stand out.

Pros and Cons

The point in Among Us's favor might be the ease of adoption, but one should also point to how much control the game gives players. Players can not only pick their character, but those who run the game can set up the rules and augment the experience as they see fit. That, combined with the randomness that comes from the social elements, makes Among Us a game that feels very different every time that it is played. It's very easy to get in a round or two of the game quickly but it's also just as easy to spend hours playing the game.

The human factors is also a negative, though. The game has a major problem with cheaters, and there are even those among the legitimate players who will immediately leave matches if they do not get the positions they want in the beginning. The social game can also be very hard to engineer, leaving many players feeling like whether they win or lose is entirely up to chance.

Conclusion

Among Us is certainly a phenomenon but it's also an entertaining game. It may not be for everyone, but it does represent something that feels truly unique. If you're a fan of asynchronous multiplayer games or if you want to see just how sneaky you can be, this might be the app for you.