Android ‘immersive mode’ apps and games

posted by Victor H. / Nov 21, 2013, 6:58 AM

Android 4.4 KitKat brings a new feature called ‘Immersive mode’ that developers can enable so their apps take over the whole screen, hiding the notification bar and on-screen buttons out of the way. Let’s make it clear - the feature is not something that users can enable, it’s purely a developer optimization. There are a few apps that already support it and the list will likely snowball in the near future, and a list of all apps we know to have it is right below.

Android ‘Immersive mode’ made a debut on the Google Play Books app in Android 4.4, and since then some developers have added support for the new feature in their apps.

Update: This list of apps is being continuously updated. Last update: 9-Dec-2013.

Immersive mode apps and games make a lot of sense when you want to have an experience free of distractions and fully concentrate on what you are doing. The benefit is biggest on devices with on-screen buttons like Nexus phones, LG’s, Sony’s and Motorola’s latest devices as the new immersive mode actually frees up a fairly large chunk of the screen. Previously, the on-screen buttons would only black out but still occupy screen space.

What are the best app candidates? Games are a no-brainer, but other types of apps like reading and browsers would also look great in full-screen immersive mode.

Apart from the games listed below, we’re all looking forward to the hottest games to get that support, but right now it’s not yet there. We’ve reached out to Gameloft and EA asking them when we can expect their games to support the new Immersive mode and we’ll update this post as soon as we get an answer.

Right now, this handful of apps all support the new immersive mode, they are listed in alphabetical order below, clicking on any of the titles will take you to the Google Play store download page:

With (left) and without (right) immersive mode
Badland
Comixology
Dayframe
Diceplayer
FBReader
Google Play Books
Google Search
Hangouts (when viewing images)
Hexage games (all)
Manga Plus Reader
Moon+ Reader
MX Player
Perfect Pixel Checker V2
QuickPic
SnapChat
Super Hexagon
Train Crisis

source: Reddit

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15 Comments

1. LiyanaBG

Posts: 381; Member since: Nov 07, 2013

awesome Idea

posted on Nov 21, 2013, 7:04 AM 5

2. bloodline

Posts: 706; Member since: Dec 01, 2011

more reasons for developers to favour the android ecosystem

posted on Nov 21, 2013, 7:24 AM 2

4. bucky

Posts: 3771; Member since: Sep 30, 2009

It's a good idea but this should just be standard a while ago

posted on Nov 21, 2013, 7:58 AM 5

3. Genersis

Posts: 219; Member since: May 29, 2013

It seems such an obvious idea, I would of thought something like it would of be implemented when on-screen buttons were introduced.

posted on Nov 21, 2013, 7:32 AM 4

5. itsdeepak4u2000

Posts: 3718; Member since: Nov 03, 2012

Liked it...

posted on Nov 21, 2013, 8:00 AM 0

6. andrak

Posts: 30; Member since: Oct 12, 2013

But while playing games how will you able to get out without buttons? I mean if the game crashes or it is badly designed and have no escape button you won't be able to get out of that app.

posted on Nov 21, 2013, 9:17 AM 0

7. Victor.H

Posts: 1026; Member since: May 27, 2011

A swipe will bring back the controls. Or I hear Google has built in always-on curse word recognition. Whatever works best for you.

posted on Nov 21, 2013, 9:23 AM 6

9. aditya.k

Posts: 496; Member since: Mar 10, 2013

LOL!? Curse word recognition? XD

posted on Nov 21, 2013, 9:33 AM 0

8. aditya.k

Pull from the top or bottom of the screen to unviel the notification/on-screen bars! If it crashes then hold your lock button for 8 seconds, it'll reset the phone! :)

posted on Nov 21, 2013, 9:32 AM 0

10. Univice

Posts: 39; Member since: Jun 15, 2010

Why put the buttons on screen to begin with - does Samsung have a patent on placing them on the base (off screen)? It is one of the items that immediately cause me to look elsewhere for my next phone. For me it's always wasted screen real estate.

posted on Nov 21, 2013, 1:16 PM 0

12. Pancholo

Posts: 380; Member since: Feb 27, 2012

It's simply a design choice. Samsung has no patent on off-screen buttons. Look at LG, iPhones, some Motorolas, etc. Eventually, on-screen buttons will only be there when needed, not when they're annoying; this is why the immersive mode exists, to compliment their on-screen buttons design choice. Now, it's only a matter of having devs support it.