The idea that gaming is the preserve of teenage boys and stoned students – perched on the edge of their unmade beds, huddled over their games consoles amid a sea of junk-food wrappers – has become a tired cliché.
The gaming fraternity is, well, no longer a fraternity, having shaken off its long-standing boys’ club image and been joined by the sisterhood. And we’re not just talking teenage girls in hoodies and oversized headphones.
According to the National Enquirer, Angelina Jolie was "addicted" to Angry Birds on the set of Kung Fu Panda II, while Megan Fox is widely reported to be a fan of Mortal Kombat. And have you heard the one about Kim Kardashian being a self-confessed Call Of Duty conoisseur?
Yes, it's official: Gaming has hit the mainstream. From the geeky to the glamorous and everyone in between.
According to a US study published in June [2013] by the Entertainment Software Association, nearly half of all gamers (47%) are female and the average age of gamers in 2012 was 30.
Perhaps the key to this cultural shift in the gaming landscape can be found in another statistic that emerged in the same survey - that a third of respondents play games on their mobile devices.
Once upon a time, an interest in gaming demanded a commitment in the form of a pricey console. You couldn't just dabble - you had to come right out and admit your allegiance to the cult. But now with hundreds of thousands of gaming apps - catering to all tastes and available for instant download at a mere snip (if not for free) on your smartphone or tablet - the pastime has never been so accessible.
And an interest in role-play or deadly combat is no more a pre-requisite than the latest X-Box. From word games and logic puzzles to business strategy challenges and adventures with characters from your favourite films and TV shows, there is a game to suit you whatever your personal taste - and now you can play it wherever and whenever the mood takes you.
So it's hardly surprising gaming is becoming the pastime of choice for bored commuters who are looking for a few moments of escape from the daily grind - or the perfect excuse to avoid the gaze of fellow commuters.
The only problem left is how to navigate through the thousands of games available to find the right one for you. To help with your choice, we've compiled a list of our favourite commute-friendly games apps.