If you have a smartphone (particularly an Android or an iPhone), you don’t need to splash out on a console to play video games. If you think mobile gaming consists of just Snake and Candy Crush, you couldn’t be more wrong.
There’s a huge amount of quality titles available, some of which are free, that provide more than just meaningless fun in the doctor’s waiting room. These really are decent games.
We won’t try to hoodwink you – if gaming is your main hobby then it’s unlikely that mobile gaming will quench that thirst of yours forever. However, if something happens to your console or PC and you find yourself with only a phone or tablet, it’s not the end. In fact, it’s the perfect opportunity to explore a realm of gaming that might just surprise you.
It’s also worth noting that controllers like the Backbone One and the Razer Kishi now make it possible to play games on mobile in more of a console-style fashion. You can read our recent Backbone One review to learn more about that.
To help you get started with mobile gaming, we thought we’d share what we think are the top 10 mobile games to play at the time of writing (both iOS and Android). From card games to platformers to games slightly more unique – keep reading to see what that rectangle in your pocket is capable of.
13. Rise of Cultures
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We thought we’d start with a game you might just have seen advertised about the internet. While these dubious ads might put you off, we’re here to say that this one ain’t so bad. A lot of mobile games come under the genre of “idle game” – which means that after a while the game plays itself, and you only have to check in every now and again.
Rise of Cultures is a great example of this, which means you can fit it around your busy schedule. It’s also a great game for history fans who love Age of Empires but don’t quite have the time to play. Maybe not one for core gamers, but great for casuals.
Download Rise of Cultures for free on Android or iPhone
12. Fortnite
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More than just a battle-royale game, Fortnite is a cultural phenomenon that features multiple ways to play. Not only can you play the main experience without the building (and without any teammates if you prefer to go it alone), but you can also undertake a number of fan-made side experiences in Creative mode.
Fortnite is changing all the time, but there’s almost always something tempting in the battle pass that you work towards over time, earning XP across all the different modes in the game. It’s a great way to spend your spare time, and it’s free to start playing too! It also runs particularly well with mobile controllers like the Backbone One. Of course, though, you’ll need a good internet connection to get the most out of it.
Play Fortnite on mobile with Xbox Cloud Gaming
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11. Two Dots
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With a gorgeously simple art style and heaps of cutesy characters to boot, Two Dots is one of the most underrated games on mobile in our opinion, and it offers multiple ways to play as well.
On top of the hundreds of free levels in the main part of the game (which is a fun spin on the match-three puzzle formula), Two Dots also has weekly treasure hunts where you can peruse beautiful artwork in search of characters, items and other random stuff (think Where’s Wally with a bit more chic).
Play Two Dots for free on Android or iOS
10. Before Your Eyes
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When we first played the PC version of this game, we were absolutely blown away by its heartfelt storytelling and a very unique gameplay mechanic – you control the game by blinking, with the main character’s life quite literally flashing before your eyes.
You can read our Before Your Eyes review to see what else we had to say about it, or read our Before Your Eyes interview to learn all about the developers and how they ended up partnering with Netflix to get this award-winning game onto mobile devices.
Play Before Your Eyes on Android or iOS (free with a Netflix subscription)
9. Genshin Impact
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Genshin Impact, like Pokemon Go years prior, took the world by storm when it came out for free. This was in the midst of lockdown, too, so – like Animal Crossing – it was a lifeline to those in need of gaming comfort.
It’s a gatcha game, which means the gameplay loop revolves around in-game currency being spent to receive a random in-game item. With new items coming out all the time it might seem a little daunting to start now, but many people do, and there are plenty who swear it’s never too late to start Genshin!
Download Genshin Impact for free on iOS or Android
8. Wayward Souls
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Wayward Souls is a fantasy adventure game that somewhat resembles the old top-down Zelda series, with a gameplay loop more akin to a roguelike. The challenge of this game is a step up from all we’ve mentioned so far, but we thought it was time to include something that tests your abilities.
If you’re a fan of Hades, or even the Souls series, and fancy something similar on your phone, we recommend Wayward Souls.
Buy Wayward Souls from the App Store or Google Play Store (£6.99)
7. Super Mario Run
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Sometimes we just want a familiar face when we’re out and about with only our phone for company. Well, rest assured, because everyone’s favourite Italian Plumber (unless you’re acquainted with a real Italian plumber) is available on mobile. And while it might look like a generic runner, the game is super fun.
It isn’t an “endless runner” but an automatic runner with plenty of different stages, each with plenty of coins to collect. There are loads of different modes, too, and a Toad Garden to build and expand with the coins you earn. Happiness in the palm of your hand.
Download Super Mario Run for free on Android or iOS
6. Among Us
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In contemporary life he is ubiquitous; on birthday cakes, in memes, in the crowd at a fancy dress party. The Among Us guy is a cultural icon, and we think this is well deserved. Another game that blew up in lockdown, Among Us is a sci-fi Cluedo in which friends must work together to keep a spaceship afloat, while one to three murderous imposters try to sabotage the whole enterprise.
It’s still enjoyed by many today as a quick social game to jump into whenever. Very simple, but truly one of the best mobile games.
Download Among Us for free on Android or iOS
5. Thimbleweed Park
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On the surface, a blend of X-Files, Twin Peaks, and ’80s retro gaming. And once you’ve dived in you won’t be disappointed. And it’s no surprise, because this point-and-click adventure comes from the same team that made the iconic The Secret of Monkey Island.
Winner of multiple awards, this game will be a blessing to your mobile. Don’t just take our word for it – try for yourself!
Buy Thimbleweed Park on the App Store or Google Play Store (£8.99)
4. Pokémon Go
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While it’s true that the craze ended about five years ago, Pokémon Go is still a great game to get into. Wandering around the real world, with an augmented Pokémon-world reality on your phone, is an absolute dream come true for fans of the franchise.
It’s also a great way to get some exercise and vitamin D as you game, but please look where you’re going. You don’t want to fall down a man-hole as you search for that rare Pokémon.
Download Pokémon Go for free on iOS or Android
3. Marvel Snap
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It wouldn’t be a complete list without the brilliant Marvel Snap. It’s a card game for Marvel fans, sure, but it’s also a game everyone can enjoy. The diverse decks of cards available are great, and the gameplay loop adheres to that marketing quote of “simple yet addictive”.
Like a lot of mobile games it’s a pick up and play kind of affair, but you can also spend all day on Marvel Snap. With the great artwork, slick gameplay, and huge range of Marvel characters, we reckon this would be a day well spent.
Download Marvel Snap for free on iOS or Android
2. Stardew Valley
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Another casual one here, but it’s so adorable we just have to give it a high spot. In this role-playing sim, players take control of a character who inherits a farm. How they continue with the open-ended story after that is up to them – if you want, you can live a quiet life of solitude, or you could get married and have children.
Just look at that screenshot, though – it’s a lovely looking game. And if you give it a chance, we think you’ll have a lovely time.
Buy Stardew Valley from the App Store or Google Play Store (£4.99)
1. Papers Please
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One of the best video games of all time was released on mobile earlier this year, so we had no choice but to whack it at the top of this list. Papers Please is a border-control-officer-sim, which is absolutely nowhere near as dull as that sounds.
Your decisions have consequences, both for the innocent (or not) people you’re letting into the fictional dystopia of Arstotzka, and for your own family at home. It’s a moral dilemma game and, dare we say it, a piece of art. You need this game, and if you haven’t already played it, download it on your phone.
Buy Papers Please from the App Store or Google Play Store (£4.49)
What about the best games on Apple Arcade?
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And here’s one final note. If you’re playing on iPhone, it’s also worth checking out Apple Arcade (click that link to learn more), a subscription service that lets you play brilliantly fun games like Alba’s Wildlife Adventure, Hot Lava and Warped Kart Racers. Of everything we’ve tried on that platform so far, those are our favourites for sure.
Those games all support controllers, too, which is always a plus if you’ve invested in a gamepad attachment for your phone. We tried to focus this article on games that are available on Android, too, but check those out if you’re an Apple-head!
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