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Kepa Auwae/YouTube

The games that will fill that Flappy Bird-shaped hole in your life

Because letting go is the hardest part.

SO CHANCES ARE you’ve heard of Flappy Bird being taken down from the store, meaning you’re either delighted or frustrated that it’s finally gone.

If you’re one of the latter and you need to play Flappy Bird, you don’t have to pay a few thousand euro for the privilege, there are a whole host of other (and better) games to play. Here are a few to get you started.

Badlands
For: iOS, Android
Cost: €1.79 for iOS, Free for Android

Currently at half-price as a memorial to Flappy Bird, Badlands is a sublime game that just keeps on giving. An atmospheric title, Badlands has you control your flying creature using taps and navigating a whole assortment of obstacles to reach the end of each level.

(Video: TouchGameplay/YouTube)

Punch Quest
For: iOS, Android
Cost: Free for iOS, €0.74 for Android

For those who like their endless running platformers to be a little more action-packed. Punch Quest is frantic and utterly bizarre. Seriously, how many other games would allow you to ride a velociraptor that shoots lasers out of its mouth?

(Video: Kepa Auwae/YouTube)

Dots
For: iOS, Android
Cost: Free

Both simple and addictive, Dots has you matching up similar coloured dots and wiping out as many as possible. While the premise is simple, a 60 second time limit means chaining combos and using powerups wisely becomes important.

(Video: Dots/YouTube)

Threes!
For: iOS
Cost: €1.79

Another simple to learn, hard to master game, Threes is a beautiful game that brimming with personality. Match numbers, but try to get as high a combination as you possibly can without running out of space. You’ll become helplessly addictive as you try, mostly in vain, to get a higher score.

(Video: TouchGameplay/YouTube)

Jetpack Joyride
For: iOS, Android
Cost: Free

One of the more popular endless runners out there, Jetpack Joyride is both zany and addictive. The missions and vehicles you can activate gives the game a lot of variety and means that you’ll be giving yourself one more go even after the hundred attempt.

(Video: HalfbrickStudios/YouTube)

Super Stickman Golf 2
For: iOS, Android
Cost: €0.89 for iOS, Free for Android

Golf on its own is boring, but when you combine it with bizarre courses and a good physics engine, it turns into an addictive game. There are also hats, lots and lots of hats.

(Video: TouchGameplay/YouTube)

World of Goo
For: iOS, Android
Cost: €4.49 for iOS, €3.99 for Android

Originally a PC game, the physics-based puzzler works just as well on iOS and is just as relaxing and fun. Construct buildings, bridges and other structures as you overcome obstacles and challenging puzzles.

(Video: WiiloveitTV/YouTube)

If the above somehow doesn’t satisfy you and you really, really need to play Flappy Bird, there are a few versions that are out there.

Tappy Bird
For: Android
Cost: Free

The work of Irish developer Shane O’Brien, Tappy Bird is one of the better clones out there, the watercolour art style is easy on the eye while keeping the same level of frustration and addictive nature that’s the original has.

image

(Image: Flappy Bird/Google Play)

Flappy Doge
For: Browser
Cost: Free

Exactly the same game except, as you may have guessed, you have to guide a pixelated Shiba past the pipes.

image

(Image: Flappy Doge)

Flappy Bird: Typing Tutor
For: Browser
Cost: Free

Just in case you felt tapping is too easy, you can has turned Flappy Bird into a typing simulator. It’s exactly like Typing of the Dead except it doesn’t have the horrendous voice acting.

image

(Image: Flappy Bird: Typing Tutor)

Read: 13 addictive games that almost ruined your life >

Read: Flappy Bird creator is taking the game down because it ‘ruined his life’ >

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18 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Darren Turner
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    Feb 10th 2014, 7:18 PM

    You can still play flappy bird till your hearts content as long as you don’t delete it

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kay Tighe
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    Feb 10th 2014, 8:37 PM

    Doesn’t matter if you delete it you can get it back as it will always be in your back up

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Luke Broghan
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    Feb 10th 2014, 7:33 PM

    Bring back Snake!

    31
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    Mute The Doctor
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    Feb 10th 2014, 7:37 PM

    Snake is back. It’s on the app store and Google play. It doesn’t hold up well though. :-(

    17
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    Mute Stephen Moran
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    Feb 10th 2014, 7:19 PM

    Big fan of Jetpack Joyride. The wasted hours and days all become worth it when you’re flying through the level on a rainbow jetpack in a tux and tophat.

    17
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    Mute Mark1989
    Favourite Mark1989
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    Feb 10th 2014, 8:03 PM

    Flappy Bird was taken off the market I see there’s iPhones with the game installed on eBay with 10000 asking price!

    14
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    Mute Dean Anderson
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    Feb 10th 2014, 9:34 PM

    It’s still available for windows phone. Hasn’t been taken down there yet

    1
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    Mute Jimmy Vlad James
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    Feb 10th 2014, 7:29 PM

    Flabby bird ?

    10
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    Mute Journal Man
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    Feb 10th 2014, 7:02 PM

    SSG2 is the best game on the App Store!!!

    7
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    Mute Luke Broghan
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    Feb 10th 2014, 7:32 PM

    No, it’s impossible to tell when someone’s challenged you

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Journal Man
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    Feb 10th 2014, 9:51 PM

    No you have to use common sense to know when to go back into the App!!!

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    Mute Luke Broghan
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    Feb 10th 2014, 9:54 PM

    I can’t read minds!

    2
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    Mute Sister Bonjela
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    Feb 11th 2014, 2:14 AM

    I’m waiting for Vatican Birds to come out as an app.

    4
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    Mute Ann Mc Kennedy
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    Feb 10th 2014, 7:25 PM

    Shoot bubble deluxe isn’t too bad, again, simple yet addictive!

    3
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    Mute Paddy O'Duffy
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    Feb 10th 2014, 7:11 PM

    Smart phone and tablet sales must be up due to flappy birds

    2
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    Mute Dylan
    Favourite Dylan
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    Feb 10th 2014, 7:24 PM

    Doodle Dump (Dump not Jump) is definitely a contender for best ‘endless style’ app game on the market, its free too, go try it and tell me I’m not wrong

    2
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    Mute Michelle O Driscoll
    Favourite Michelle O Driscoll
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    Feb 10th 2014, 9:14 PM

    Flappy birds has ruined my life!

    1
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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
    Favourite Mary Kavanagh
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    Feb 11th 2014, 12:12 AM

    Flappy Bird is still on Google Play. Just checked…

    1
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