In most cases, the best types of games are triple-A titles that you can experience on your TV or monitor, however, we're not going to talk about your console or gaming desktop right now, and sometimes, you may need a smaller device.
Although you might think of all sorts of games, such as shooting, tribes, cards, candy, farming, or other weird combinations, there are actually a lot of great new games coming out on the App Store and Google Play, and the number is growing all the time. When you're commuting by bus, or traveling long distances by train, the best mobile games can help you get through long commutes.
We've compiled some of the best mobile games on the market, some for free, some for a bit of a cost, but all of them can provide you with a decent entertainment experience on the go.
1 Minecraft
It's as simple or complex as possible – it's entirely up to you, Minecraft is a perfect game that lives up to the hype of the major platforms. Explore infinite worlds and build everything from the simplest homes to magnificent castles, play in Creative mode with endless resources, or delve into the world in Survival mode to craft weapons and armor to fend off dangerous creatures.
Whether you like to wander around in creative mode or take on challenges in survival mode in pursuit of perfection, this masterpiece will always feel flawless. Although not unique, it has found its place in the gaming market and is in the top category on the list of the best games. It's an open world worth exploring, with new packaging and textures, and complex and varied gameplay that means Minecraft is always moving forward.
2 Star Dew Valley
For the farm-run type, we now have Stardew Valley, which worships classic farming. The rules of the game are simple: inherit a piece of land and take care of crops and livestock. What delights you is the beautiful art style, the relaxing soundtrack, and the variety of fun tasks you take on around the farm and community. You may find that this game makes you more relaxed than sipping a cup of hot bourbon chocolate by the crackling fireplace.
You inherit the old farm that your grandfather left behind in Stardew Valley, and start a new life with the old tools and a few coins left by your grandfather. Can you adapt to life in this small town and turn this old, overgrown farm into a thriving home? Stardew Valley is full of activities such as building farms, rescuing community centers, dating villagers, etc., but the game doesn't force you to do any of that, you are free to do anything, and if you just like fishing on the beach, it's completely achievable.
3 Call of Duty
We usually wait a while before adding a game, but Call of Duty is so popular and rated so high that we move faster than usual. The game has both a normal FPS mode and a 100-player battle royale mode. Once you launch the game, there's a ton of things waiting for you to do. Call of Duty is completely free, but if you need some beautiful decorations, you'll need to pay for them.
4 Genshin Impact
It is a role-playing game with gacha mechanics that has received critical acclaim for its beautiful visuals and excellent gameplay. The game looks and plays a bit like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but no one seems to mind. You can summon new characters through the gacha system, and the visual elements, game mechanics, and completely open world make it much less restrictive than most types of games.
5 Super Touring Car Race: Motor Sports
Super Touring Car Racing is one of the best racing games on any platform, and competitors like Riptide Cruiser iOSAndroid and Asphalt iOSAndroid are also good, but this game ticks almost all expectations and is free of in-app purchases and annoying ads. You get great graphics, great controls, plenty of playable content, tons of cars to unlock, controller support, and a variety of racing styles.
6GREY
GRIS is a fantasy adventure game with puzzle platforming elements, where a young girl gets lost in her own world while dealing with a painful experience. There's no such thing as player deaths, you just have to explore the world, solve some puzzles, and have fun. There is little to no text during the game, and the story is told through visual elements. It's an artful game and one of the best options in its class.
7Animal Crossing: Pocket Camping Plaza
If everything in this world is fair and equitable, you can play Collections on your mobile device! Luckily, Nintendo preempted the release of New Horizons in 2017's Pokemon Release, which has almost the same core as the console version, collecting trash, making friends, dodging loans, and setting up your own campsite – all the charm of animal transformation will bring to you.
8 The Fugitive
In this game, you're stuck in a prison to serve your sentence, but you'll slowly realize that with the right tools, good planning, and a rare opportunity, it's possible to escape from prison. Even though the graphics look old, the complexity of the game may be higher than you might think. You can steal tools from the cafeteria or buy gear from connected prisoners to fulfill the escape plan. This game is challenging, perfect for passing the time, and great fun for those who like to solve puzzles.
9 Mario Kart Tour
Nintendo has made some mistakes with mobile gaming, and while the Mario Kart Tour has received some slam in terms of microtransactions, the truth isn't that bad. It's definitely a very fun game and now even supports online multiplayer. Although it can't compare to the quality on the Switch, however, you'll still get a lot of unexpected fun. The game is completely free, unless you top up in order to buy a character from a random pipeline.
10 Monument Valley
It's an Escher-style casual puzzle game where you take control of Ada, the silent princess, on a mysterious mission in a place called Monument Valley. To make it to the finish line, you'll need to explore hidden paths, discover optical illusions, and defeat the mysterious Raven Man. Every detail is so cleverly designed that it's easy to get a wonderful experience like never before.
11 Monument Valley 2
The entire Monument Valley series is absolutely commendable, and overall, the game features some of the most ingenious and polished visuals. You can even feel the therapeutic effects of warmth, and then it's easy to lose yourself and focus on something that triggers emotions in a limited story. Here's a suggestion, when playing games, turn your phone to Do Not Disturb in order to fully immerse yourself in the delicate world of feelings.
12 mini subways
The principle of the game is to design a metro network that works for the expanding city's population, planning a line between two stations to allow cars to travel quickly. When new stations appear, modify the route plan in time to continuously improve transportation efficiency. Weigh the trade-offs against limited funding and resources. Are you keeping up with the pace of urban development?
13 Pokémon: Go
As a mobile game that has set the whole world on fire for a summer, Pokémon GO still has a staggering number of die-hard fans. Most people like to be in their room, but this game makes walking and going more fun, and Pokémon HOMEiOSAndroid is further integrated with Pokémon to provide perfect support for Pokémon GO. Now you can collect all the game's Pokémon in one Mega Treasure Vault.
14 Marvel: Super Battle
Remember how popular Marvel vs Capcom: Infinity is? It's the closest game to it, and just by pulling out your smartphone, you'll get access to tons of finely crafted Marvel characters, as well as some fancy costumes and replacements. If you're a manga fan or, like us, you're looking for something to pass the time, this game is definitely worth checking out.
15 Aalto's Adventures
High-speed skiing has never been easier than Aalto's adventures, and the simple one-touch controls let you guide Alto (and several other unlockable characters) down the hill while performing all sorts of tricks and navigating changing weather conditions and various other factors. With endless beautiful mountain views, stunning day/night transitions, and elegantly captivating background music (you should definitely wear headphones), this is a game that any phone should have installed.
16 Aalto's Odyssey
It's a sequel to Aalto's adventure, and while the original is still amazing, the new one could be even better. You'll gain new skills to glide along walls, giving you more control over your jumps. In addition, some new environments have been added to allow you to experience Zen mode in order to enjoy the visual and auditory feast of the game.
17 PUBG: Exciting Battlefield
It's a free-to-play survival shooter where you'll experience what it's like to be placed on an island with 99 other players to see who will survive in the end. The PC version of the game has been a huge hit and looks great on smartphones as well. Once you've landed on the ground, you can loot all kinds of resources in case you need them and do your best to survive to the end. You can either go it alone or create a team of up to four players.
18 Battle Royale
Want to win battles without any complicated skills? Battle Royale might be for you. Choose your own landing spot on the island map, jump from the plane to find weapons and shields, track weapon drops to get more advanced equipment, and hide in buildings and bushes to wait for your opponents to come and send heads. For this simple survival shooter, a game usually doesn't last more than 10 minutes. While the free game itself is fun, you can also buy some cool new skins to boost your charm.
19 Shadow Spear: Legendary
Despite not being able to experience a console game like Destiny on mobile, Shadow Gun gives you infinite proximity and is probably the best first-person shooter game on mobile, offering a home base (more like a city) where you can buy weapons and armor, or gamble to earn more in-game currency. The game itself is excellent, and you can increase your fame through story missions, unlocking puzzles, and destroying enemies. It's easy to be reminded of fate in the console game when you're holding unique interstellar weapons and other firearms.
20 Riptide Speedboats: Rebels
It's one of those games that seems impossible to complete on a mobile phone, and the gorgeous graphics are stunning. As an ignominious former champion, you must compete against other racers, perform stunts, defeat various bosses, and reclaim your former glory.
21 Hearthstone
Mobile devices are perfect for card games, and if you're looking for one of the best collectible gaming experiences, there's no other product that can beat Hearthstone. The game is based on World of Warcraft, with all nine races having decks based on their Warcraft equivalents and offering a variety of styles and playstyles. Whether you're looking to play a quick game or two, or you're planning to dig deeper, this is perfect.
22 Super Brothers: Swords and Sorcery
Although a few years have passed since the launch of Super Bros. Sword & Sorcery, it is still one of the best mobile games so far. You play as a warrior on a mysterious mission, and the whole adventure is full of strange, beautiful, and sad feelings. The game's pixelated art style, gorgeous soundtrack, and unique processing mechanics have spawned thousands of imitators, but it still can't be beaten.
23 Plague Inc
Plague Inc. is a fantastic concept for the gaming industry. You control an epidemic and then spread it around the world, wiping out everyone before humanity can develop an antidote. You can use a variety of tools to change the symptoms, resistance, and transmission route of the virus, and as the virus continues to spread around the world, you can earn a wealth of DNA points that you can use to improve the virus. The whole gameplay is very exciting, especially when the virus is powerful enough to mutate on its own, destroying humanity has never been so much fun.
24 BMX Adventure 3
If you like the idea of jumping up and down on your bike, then BMX Adventure is probably the best option of its kind. Use the keys on your phone to control the acceleration, select skills, and tilt your phone for crazy skill combinations. For beginners, the game controls can be complicated, but after a little Xi, it's easy to master the various off-road moves.
25 Dandala
It's a flat game with a vast unknown world waiting for you to explore. Plus, it's also a multi-platform game that you can play on a handheld console, which is probably why it's more expensive than most mobile games. If you can afford the price, Dandala will offer you a huge world with all kinds of cool game scenes, tons of mysterious creatures, and a great soundtrack.
26 fingertip driving
Whether it's on your commute to work or waiting in line at the bank, the best mobile games will always help you get through your boring time, and fingertip driving is one of them. There's a small steering wheel at the bottom of the screen, and all you have to do is control a car along the tracks. After completing the game's missions, you'll be rewarded with coins that you can use to unlock more cars. It's a very simple game, relaxing and full of fun.
27 Spectators
As a dystopian work, the Spectator deserves the highest honors, along with Replica, Papers, Please, and This War of Mine. You play as an apartment building landlord in a totalitarian state, closely monitoring tenants' every move, and it's your job to spy on them for the government. However, you can choose to either follow government regulations or secretly help the weak. Each move leads to a different outcome and is accompanied by high stakes and multiple endings.
28 unlocked rooms
The Room series from Fireproof Games is one of the best 3D escape room games ever made, and as the game continues to be updated and improved, the scope and complexity of the exploration has grown significantly, but the basic rule has always remained the same: you wake up in a closed room and try to get out in any way you can, and as the story progresses, a bigger conspiracy may emerge. The game strikes the perfect balance of challenge and fulfillment, and it's beautifully designed and detailed.
29 Hell Frontiers
Hell's Frontier is an imaginative 2D adventure game that has been imitated by other competitors since its launch. Players take on the role of a young boy who searches for his dead sister on the edge of hell. Although the story isn't particularly new, the monochrome sleek, minimalist design style creates a strong sense of immersion, and every player's experience in the game is different, and it's this style that has made it one of the most popular indie games in recent years.
30 Hero Hunters
As a third-person shooter, Hero Hunter is filled with post-apocalyptic cityscapes. You can play solo in a series of missions or in co-op mode with multiple friends. For the single-player mode, you command a team of heroes that you can pack as you experience each character. Throughout the game, each character can control and shoot individually, as well as use their different skills to influence the outcome of the battle, and of course, you'll have to strategize as a whole.
31 Battle for the Defense of the Kingdom
While there are plenty of tower defense games on the market, Kingdom Rush is the way to go if you only want to install one (or series) of this type of game on your smartphone. It's been a few years since the initial release, but so far this series is still the best option. The sequels include FrontiersiOSAndroid, OriginsiOSAndroid, and VengeanceiOSAndroid, each of which is a masterpiece.
32 Little 3 Legends
In the first half of 2014, the free-to-play flash game 2048 became a viral craze, but the reality is that it is a clone of another, more thoughtful game released a month ago, and this is the Little 3 saga! Theoretically, a player with a good mathematical mind can continue indefinitely, and the game ends with no more combinations on the screen.
33 cold-blooded shooter
It's an easy-to-pick up puzzle game, but it does take some time if you want to master it. The game offers a variety of characters to choose from, each with a unique weapon and attack style. Reach a certain number of victories in the Mutual Shooting mode, and you can also unlock unique gameplay such as hunting wild ducks and shooting apples. Although the graphics look cartoonish, the fight scenes can be very bloody, but despite this, this is still a fun game to pass the time.
34 Civilization War
Clash of Civilizations shares some similarities to the desktop version of Civilization, where you can pick from races with different strengths and weaknesses, and then slowly take over the world as you level up your technology, unlock units, and defeat your opponents. Don't worry about getting too hard to get started, there's plenty of beginner's tutorials along the way, and you'll soon find a way to conquer your city. You can play against the AI alone or online, and a match takes about 30 minutes.
35 Rayman Adventure
Rayman Adventure has been a delightful explosion of brilliant colors for years, and it's also a very fun side-scrolling adventure game. You can control your character's movements by touching or long-pressing on the screen, finding and collecting all the strange orbs, which may not sound that simple. In order to unlock new levels, new characters, and collectibles, you'll need to collect hard to get the perfect score, which means you'll likely have to replay the levels a few times to reach the best level.
36 micro wings
This is the only mobile game released by German developer Andreas Illiger, and the overall style is fresh and cute. You'll need to help the birds move forward with the power of their downhill and uphill gliding, flying over one continent after another. In addition, the background music of the game is also very soft and loving.
37 lifelines
Lifeline is a unique adventure game that may be a far cry from what you're Xi used to. Despite not being the protagonist of the story, your decisions can cost the protagonist his life. With astronaut Taylor trapped here due to a ship-crash and his companions either missing or killed, you will be his only hope for survival. You'll play the game in the form of real-time messaging, sending messages back and forth with Taylor to help him make various decisions. The story is presented in real-time mode, and your notification bar will receive new messages so you can be the first to know.
38 Hero Academia 2
When Hero Academia was released a few years ago, it attracted a wide range of players around the world, allowing you to choose from different hero cards and grow with your friends in asynchronous turn-based battles. Hero Academia 2 has made some improvements, bringing more refined animations and graphics, new challenges and cards, and better gameplay. You can accumulate or buy different heroes to try out different team combinations.
39 special-shaped factories
It's a top-down twin-stick touch shooter where you become the last hope against a mutant invasion after a science experiment gets badly out of hand. Improve your combat skills in the Underground Lab and delve deeper into underground scientific facilities. As you progress through the game, the number of mutants you'll encounter will increase, and the area to clean will gradually expand. You'll be accompanied by a creepy soundtrack and dimly spooky scenes, with only the bright light of a flashlight guiding you.
Ark 40: Survival Evolved
It's an excellent survival game where you start out with nothing and slowly uncover the secrets of the land as you play. You'll learn how Xi make a fire, find food, build a shelter based on the weather, and eventually craft weapons and clothing. In addition, you'll have to use strategy and tactics to tame dinosaurs and other primitive creatures and use them to cross land, sea, air, and even the underworld. Finally, you'll have to compete for survival against other player tribes to discover the true purpose of the Ark.