3 Best Entertainment Sites and Apps for Your Phone

While spending a healthy amount on your phone just to rest your brain for a bit isn’t bad, doomscrolling has become a rising problem. But there are ways to combat that, by still using your phone for entertainment with more mindfulness involved. If you’re looking for something outside of the standard Netflix, YouTube Music, and Disney+ - then you’re in the right place.

1. Google Podcasts

Podcasts are certainly not unpopular, however, they don’t get talked about enough. This form of entertainment is perfect for busy people who have their hands busy with chores or work. With podcasts, you can fully enjoy them without getting distracted by any imagery, so your eyes won’t be dragged away from whatever you’re doing.

Plus, there is such a huge variety of genres that fall under podcasts, from educational, perfect for students, to purely comedic, ideal for those looking for a fun way to escape stress. For instance, don’t have any friends who are huge readers?

No problem - go through a bookish journey with a podcaster instead while you read along with them. There’s honestly something for everyone out there, covering even the most niche subjects.

And while there are plenty of apps you can pick to enjoy this format of entertainment, our app of choice today is Podcasts, formerly known as Google Podcasts. Released in 2018, it quickly became one of the most popular podcast apps available, as practically any podcast you may want or can think of is available on it.

However, we’d like to mention that this app will soon merge with YouTube Music, with the timeframe depending on your location. This honestly adds to its appeal as there will be fewer****

2. Video Poker

If you’ve ever played poker, you know that it’s a fun way to spend your time. Alas, it can also be quite the commitment, time-wise. Especially when considering all the strategies involved and having to think through every decision.

A quicker but just as entertaining option would be playing real money video poker. If you haven’t heard what video poker is, the concept behind the game is simple. You get dealt a certain number of cards depending on the variant and your main goal is to create the best possible hand with them. Speaking of variants, some great examples of video poker games are Jacks or Better, Aces & Faces Multi-hand, and Joker Poker. Each variation has its own rules, but they don’t stray too far from what you would be used to when playing regular poker.

Thanks to an abundance of online casinos that are cross-platform compatible, you will be able to access it as easily on your phone as you would on your PC. And you can sign up directly from your phone, along with making any deposits and withdrawals. These, by the way, are not limited to just traditional payment methods like bank wire and Visa/MasterCard, but also crypto payments. This makes it easier to ensure that regardless of your preferred way to pay for things online, you’ll certainly have the option - even if it is by courier check.

If you’re not sure if video poker is the game for you, then you can try out the game first without paying. This can be achieved simply by accessing the practice play mode, which is available to all video poker games.

Finally, even though you’re playing on your phone, you still have full access to all of the promotions and offers available on the platform. Just make sure to keep an eye out for them, so you don’t miss out on anything as they can severely extend your bankroll.

3. TikTok

You probably have already heard of TikTok, however, it still hasn’t hit the top three of the biggest platforms, with currently only just over a billion users compared to Facebook’s 3 billion. Which is honestly a shame, as this gem of an app contains content that would interest just about anyone out there.

And we are aware that we previously mentioned doomscrolling, and it’s very easy to do this with TikTok. However, it is also one of the best ways to get more unbiased news, as it is not as controlled. This is, allegedly, also a factor that played its part in its potential ban in the US, however, the rest of the world doesn’t have to worry as much about this.

Moreover, there are plenty of ways you can limit this, even the app will send videos your way warning you if you spent too much time and it's getting late where you are. You can also set daily screen time, breaks, sleep reminders, and more. So a doomscroll is easily avoidable with all of these features.

If you don’t have the app and have just downloaded it, the content will seem extremely random, ranging from in-depth scientific videos to charming dancing videos to even witchy content. However, the algorithm will do a fantastic job of understanding your preferences in a short time and show you content that is tailored for you.

Conclusion

Next time you reach for your phone and find yourself unable to figure out what to do, instead of going on your typical Instagram scroll, pick one of the above options for a new form of entertainment. You might discover very quickly that you have found a favorite way to pass time that won’t make you feel like you’re rotting your brain away.