Numerous developers have rushed in to plug the void left by frustrating mobile sensation Flappy Bird, which was removed from the iOS App Store and Google Play over the weekend.
While users who already downloaded Flappy Bird can still play it on their devices, many of these copycats are rocketing up the charts on both mobile storefronts--Clumsy Bird is number one on the "top new free" section of Google Play Store at time of writing, while Ironpants is at the top of the free charts on iOS.
Who, exactly, is downloading these Flappy Bird clones in such vast quantities? Have you been tempted? If you're jonesing for a Flappy Bird fix, here are seven of the most popular alternatives right now:
Ironpants is free on both iOS and Android, and replaces the bird with a caped superhero. The controls are even twitchier than Flappy Bird, if such a thing is possible, but the relatively slick presentation ensures it's likely to do well. Does have a habit of bombarding your screen with ads that you have to click to remove, however.
Clumsy Bird on Android takes Flappy Bird and, well, basically changes the bird to look like a cruder version of red bird from Angry Birds, and also is loosely based around the Rovio-esque premise of nasty dragons stealing the eggs of Clumsy Bird. It allows users to buy overpriced packs of crystals to save themselves from death.
Fly Birdie - Flappy Bird Flyer on iOS is one of the more brazen (and currently successful) Flappy Bird alternatives, but swoops low enough to charge $0.99/£0.69 for pack of three lives.
Flappy Wings (not Flappy Bird) on Android does its best to attract those searching for Flappy Bird by even mentioning it in its own title. It's absolutely riddled with advertisements and the hitboxes feel like they're completely out of whack.
Fluffy vs Flappy Birds on iOS is another of the most unashamed clones right now, and features an extensive suite of in-app purchases: ranging from 10,000 coins for $0.99, removing ads for $1.99, or unlocking the "Ruller [sic] of the skies" for $4.99.
Tired of birds? Flappy Bee, which is out on both iOS and Android, gives you the chance to play the exact same game but with a bee. To be fair, the artwork in Flappy Bee is much nicer than many of the other Flappy Bird clones.
But what if you don't have an iPhone, iPad, or Android device? There's always browser game FlappyDoge, which is a self-explanatory blend of the two topical icons. Many flaps.
The developer of mobile sensation Flappy Bird, Dong Nguyen, removed his lucrative application over the weekend after saying it ruining his simple life, despite the game bringing its owner $50,000 a day from advertising revenue.
"I am sorry Flappy Bird users," said Nguyen, "22 hours from now, I will take Flappy Bird down. I cannot take this anymore."
"I can call Flappy Bird is a success of mine. But it also ruins my simple life. So now I hate it."