Finding something good to play on your phone can feel absolutely overwhelming. There arewaytoo many games out there for even the most hardcore gamers to wade through, let alone a more casual gamer who just wants something fun to play!
Fortunately, we’ve been hard at work tracking down the best mobile games that are actually worth your time. Whether it’s free-to-play games or premium purchases, you absolutely can find quality experiences that are hard to find anywhere else. Below you’ll find our picks for what you should consider playing.
Each entry will include notes to let you know what to expect from each title. For example, “gacha” games typically involve a sort of gambling component that could tempt you to spend more real life money than you’re comfortable with, and “FOMO” (Fear Of Missing Out) refers to if a game has limited-time content that will disappear if you don’t play at certain times. These typically go hand-in-hand with “free” games, and while some gamers can ignore these elements, others may struggle with them. This is why games with these elements will be plainly marked as such.
We’re still in the process of building this list, so check back with us as we continue to play more mobile games and see what’s worth playing!
If you just want free-to-play or non-gacha games specifically, check out either of these lists below:
The best non-gacha mobile games
The best free-to-play mobile games
Monument Valley
Monument Valleyis a short but sweet perspective-based puzzle game that I couldn’t stop playing from the moment I picked it up. It’s that right mix of accessible controls and brain-teasing challenges, with an abstract story that just has some captivating vibes if nothing else. There’s actually not a lot to say here, since so much ofMonument Valleycan’t really be explained with words, butjust know that it’s an award-winning game for good reason.
Vampire Survivors
It doesn’t get any more pick-up and play than this now-classic cult hit. Take your survivor out for a spin, kill enemies with auto-attacks, unlock new levels, characters, and weapons, and attempt to survive to the end of the level. With more classic Italian memes than you can count on four hands, a tasty soundtrack, and classic 8-bit sprites and looks, there are hours of fun to be had for a minimal price. And let’s not even talk about the many DLCs. The winner of countless prizes from both audience and critics, this is one game that will be impossible to put down, just one more go… andiamo!
Monster Hunter Now
If you were alive in 2016, I’m going to assume you heard ofPokemon GO. That concept of venturing outside to catch some of the world’s most iconic fantasy monsters took the world by storm, and that game is still going strong today. That said, developer Niantic has tried to replicate that success with many other games since then, and I’d argue thatMonster Hunter Nowis the company’s best work yet.
Based on Capcom’sMonster Hunterseries,Monster Hunter Nowis completely beginner friendly. Instead of looking for fantasy creatures to catch like inPokemon GO, you’ll hunt down fearsome monsters lurking in parks and street corners alike. Battles only last about 75 seconds, but you’ll have to tap and swipe strategically to both land blows and dodge powerful attacks. Defeating monsters gives you materials to craft better equipment, which lets you hunt down more tough monsters. It’s a simple loop, but it’s so immediate and easy to understand that it’s hard not to get immersed before you know it.
If the idea of a game that encourages some exercise interests you,Monster Hunter Nowis a great pick. It supports four-player co-op as well, so if you have some friends with you, this is the title to dive into.
Balatro
Another smash hit and a neverending game of poker that is inspired by classic roguelike games as well as card games. Here, the Jokers are really wild and you will need a curated selection of them, along with spending your chips on power-ups that you need if you want to get to the end of your ante. Built around an infectious gameplay loop that makes it hard to put downBalatrois perfect for both quick gameplay bites and also slightly longer sessions. Nominated as the best mobile game of 2024 by many magazines and critics, this is one you’ll just have to keep installed on your mobile device.
Deemo
Deemoremains, to this day, one of the most iconic rhythm games you may find on mobile devices. The piano-focused gameplay and soundtrack perfectly fit touch devices, and the song selection here is incredible. Sure, there’s a lot of DLC (as is to be expected from most rhythm games), but there are so many jams to enjoy here.
What really elevatesDeemoabove its competition is its setting. The game mixes some light exploration and puzzle solving elements in here, which all build a story that becomes surprisingly emotional at its climax. Whether you’re a rhythm game beginner or expert, there’s something for you to enjoy here.
WhileDeemohas since seen a free-to-play sequel and a semi-remake, the original game remains arguably the best due to its sheer variety of songs. But regardless of whichDeemoyou choose, you can’t really go wrong.
Conflict of Nations: World War III
Perhaps you don’t like your mobile games to be quick and immediate, but you prefer long-term strategy and deep thinking. This grand strategy MMO will definitely be the perfect title for you, putting you inside a World War III scenario. Choose a nation from a very long list of selections and then, well, you can decide if you want to expand its military resources or perhaps prefer focusing on technological research or, even better, economic development.
The fate of the world is yours, as you form fragile alliances and plan global dominance on the battlefields. A deep and thought-provoking free-to-play experience that still remains one of the best mobile strategy games around.
Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent
Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continentis incredibly similar toAnother Eden. It’s a free-to-play RPG with a gacha system that, otherwise, plays almost exactly like a full-priced RPG. This one also comes directly from the team that brought us the consoleOctopath Travelergames, so that iconic HD-2D pixel art style translates perfectly here.
That alone could cementChampions of the Continents’place on this list, but the game also innovates onOctopath Traveler’s combat system in ways that arguably improve on the original. You control a party of eight characters here, and managing who’s on your front and back lines is crucial to success. Additionally, likeAnother Eden, this one doesn’t feature much time limited content. You can experience a console-quality story filled with dramatic twists and turns entirely for free, with an enormous abundance of character-specific sidequests to chase down as well.
Some story objectives can require a bit of grinding to overcome, but everything is perfectly doable as a free player. Even if you’ve never playedOctopath TravelerorOctopath Traveler 2, this one’s worth your time.
Game Dev Tycoon
Ever wanted to create the best 16-bit game ever or revolutionize the history of gaming in the 80s? WithGame Dev Tycoonyou can do exactly that, by starting your own video game development company in your small garage. Employ the best minds around and crack that whip to make them create the best-selling games.
Don’t forget to also research new technologies and invent new genres and hybrids. Climb that ladder to become the new Blizzard entertainment and gain fans from all over the world. A now classic experience that is even more fun on mobile, highly recommended for both casuals and experts of the genre.
One Deck Dungeon
One Deck Dungeonisn’t the most exciting board game adaptation ever made. However, as far as table top games go,One Deck Dungeonis one of the best solo pick-up-and-play games you can ask for. This simple game of dice manipulation is surprisingly captivating, which makes it a perfect game for mobile devices.
One Deck Dungeontasks you with taking one or two heroes through randomized dungeons filled with baddies to fight and traps to disarm. Rather than using any kind of traditional turn-based combat, encounters are resolved though rolling lots of dice and using skills to manipulate those dice to hit certain thresholds. It takes a second to get used to, but once you have a hang of it, it becomes incredibly hard to put down.
If you want the kick of a campaign board game without the setup or time commitment those generally involve,One Deck Dungeonis for you.
Shattered Pixel Dungeon
If you have been looking to crawl and explore in classic Pixel Dungeon fashion, then this Shattered iteration will bring back that experience. This is all about employing the right strategy to survive enemy attacks and difficult bosses; there will be no button mashing or having to learn the right time to press buttons.
There is a bit of a learning curve as you’ll have to learn how to best use all the tools at your disposal, but that’s definitely part of the experience. Consider that the game is ten years old and still receiving updates today, also thanks to its huge fanbase.
Another Eden
Chrono Triggeris often calledone of the greatest RPGs of all time, yet it has never gotten atruesequel. While explaining the whys of that would encompass an article on its own, clearly writer Masato Kato and composer Yasunori Mitsuda still have a lot of love for that title. So fittingly,Another Edenis a free-to-play RPG that involves these two industry legends, and it feels an awful lot likeChrono Trigger.
What makesAnother Edenso great compared to countless hero-collector gacha games is that this one really feels like a classic,Final Fantasystyle RPG. It’s a story driven adventure that has you exploring towns, dungeons, and chasing down sidequests without any stamina systems to limit your playtime. What’s more, the game is incredibly light on time-limited content, so even a totally new player shouldn’t feel like they missed out by starting now.
This one’s definitely for RPG fans. But if you want a game to really sink your teeth into, you can’t go wrong here.
Candy Crush Soda Saga
Chances are you don’t need any explanations on what makesCandy Crushsuch an immediate and fun experience. But if you are on the hunt for match-three puzzle games and don’t want to pay even a single cent for one of the best gaming experiences on mobile, then there is no better title thanCandy Crush Soda Saga. With millions of positive reviews on the Play and App Store, along with hundreds of different levels and endless candies to use, this is great fun for all ages.
You Must Build a Boat
The RPG-puzzle genre is robust these days, but EightyEight Games’You Must Build a Boatsticks out above the crowd. It’s a frantic and captivating take on the Match-3 formula, hitting that exact sweet spot of easy to play and difficult to master. And because each “run” of the game lasts until you lose, going back to your boat and unlocking upgrades with your winnings really encourages you to see how much longer you can go on your next run. It may not look like much, and it may only cost a few dollars, but the quality of the gameplay you’ll get here is absolutely sublime.
You Must Build a Boatis the sequel to10000000, which features the same style of gameplay. WhileYou Must Build a Boatis the superior title, I’d frankly recommend getting both games. You’re going to want more by the time you’re done.
Arknights
There are countless gacha games on mobile devices vying for your interest, but as far as those traditional stage-by-stage games go, Arknights reigns supreme. If a Tower Defense RPG with a gritty story and a strong focus on strategy sounds good to you, you’ll dig this.
Even if Tower Defense games aren’t your thing,Arknightsblends deep gameplay with simple controls in a way that will make you a fan of the genre. And while you will need to roll for new heroes via its gacha system, the game makes it easy to build your roster. It’s the perfect game to play for a few minutes or a few hours (if your in-game stamina meter allows for it at least), whether you’re at home at the go. As far as free-to-play games go, it’s hard to go wrong withArknights.
Fantasian
We’ve talked about a lot of classic RPGs on this list, but what about an all-new, top-shelf RPG exclusive for mobile devices? EnterFantasian, a game that comes to us from theFinal Fantasycreator himself, Hironobu Sakaguchi.
This isn’t just a nostalgia trip.Fantasianmixes classic RPG gameplay with new ideas to create an adventure that feels just as fresh as it is familiar. What’s more,Fantasianalso features a soundtrack by the legendaryFinal Fantasycomposer Nobuo Uematsu. The only real downside here is thatFantasianremains, to this day, an Apple Arcade exclusive title. Android users are out of luck, even years after the game’s original release. That said, if you don’t mind grabbing an Apple Arcade subscription,Fantasianis worth your time. It is as “Squaresoft” as any new game you’ll find these days, and that alone deserves a hearty recommendation
Genshin Impact
Genshin Impactlit the world on fire when it hit mobile devices back in 2020, and it’s easy to see why. It looks and sounds like something you’d play on a PlayStation 5, and its huge open world has been compared to all-time legendary games likeThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.Genshin Impactsingle-handedly redefined what mobile games were capable of, and to this day remains one of the most stunning titles you can play.
Like the entries immediately above this one,Genshin Impactis a gacha game. Collecting all your favorite characters may take time, but the game fortunately has protections in place to ensure you’ll get new top-tier characters even without spending any money. Additionally, this one requires a relatively new device if you want to really enjoy this one on mobile. But if you’re able to deal with that, you’ll easily lose yourself for dozens of hours uncovering everythingGenshin Impacthas to offer.
Fortunately, a few of us here at Destructoid arereallyintoGenshin Impact. If you want to know where to get started with this game,check out our ongoing coverage and guides here!
Dragon Quest V
Much like the classicFinal Fantasygames, the first sixDragon Questare all available on mobile devices. These classic titles have nice mix of accessible dungeon crawling and pleasant exploration that really work well on your phone, whether you want to play for a few minutes or a few hours. While everyDragon Questtitle is worth playing,Dragon Quest Vis both one of the best games in the series and one of the best RPGsperiod.
All the charm of theDragon Questseries is here, but what elevates this one is its surprisingly heartfelt story. Beginning from the birth of your player character all the way into old age,Dragon Quest Vtells a tale that mirrors the ways our real lives change as we get older. We stumble into adventures, making unlikely friends along the way, only to realize later in life how much those bonds mean to us. It’s a story of love and revenge in equal measure, all while carrying that whimsy theDragon Questseries is known for. It will stick with you long after its over, I can’t recommend it enough.
As another point inDragon Quest V’s favor, the mobile version is really the only accessible way to buy the game in English nowadays. Your only other option is to track down a cartridge for the Nintendo DS, which would wind up costing you a pretty penny. And if you’restillnot sold onDragon Quest V, know you can also collect and train monstersPokemon-style here too. This game really has it all.
