AOL launches social games with Cellufun

AOL doesn’t want to get left out of social networking games. Such games are taking off on social networking sites such as Facebook, where Zynga and Social Gaming Network have launched popular viral games.

Today, AOL is announcing an ad-supported mobile gaming community channel with games provided by New York-based Cellufun, a venture-backed company.

AOL said it is starting to make use of its Third Screen Media acquisition as all mobile banner ads on the games are being powered by Third Screen Media. The games will be tested popular titles that have proven themselves on mobile phones already.

The Cellufun “Call of the Pharoah” game relies on a pyramid scheme to get other players to join.  Cellufun also makes “The Mobile Ring,” a political boxing game where Obama and Clinton can square off against each other in pugilistic combat. The game has been played more than 2 million times in the past four months. Thanks to these games, Cellufun’s gaming community has grown from 1 million unique visitors a year ago to 5 million now.

The games on AOL’s mobile portal will be available for free and be ad-supported. The ad inventory will be sold by AOL’s Third Screen Media.

Mobile users can access Cellufun’s games from wireless handsets here.