The 10 Best Mobile Games for iOS and Android
All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
Don’t doomscroll more depressing news, use that phone to lift your mood instead. The best mobile games will bring a little joy to your day, whether you’re killing time on the commute or chilling on the couch. And these games are all addictive slices of gaming pleasure that we have been gorging on for years.
As smartphone screens and processing power have grown, the lines between mobile gaming and just gaming have blurred, and you can find tons of great mobile games that have been ported or adapted from other systems (Minecraft, Call of Duty, Fortnite, Roblox, Stardew Valley, Grand Theft Auto, and the list goes on). But all of these titles are best enjoyed on other platforms. Our picks here are games that work especially well on your phone.
Snag one of the best mobile controllers to level up your smartphone gaming. You may also be interested in subscription services like Google Play Pass or Apple Arcade. You can even play some Android games on your PC now.
Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today.
For Bursting Balloons
You might imagine a game featuring cartoon monkeys popping balloons would lack depth, but you’d be wrong. I love Bloons TD6, and there’s enough challenge here to keep you bursting balloons for months. Tower defense games are perfect for smartphones because they work well with touchscreen controls and are easy to dip into, and the levels are like mini puzzles to solve.
A Classic Racer
This retro racer is a loving tribute to classic arcade racing games like OutRun and Chase HQ. You take part in races across the world with vibrant backdrops, nostalgic 16-bit tunes, and accessible gameplay that requires focus and fast reactions. Easy to pick up and exhilarating, this is the most fun I’ve had with a racing game on my phone. Although the base game is free, there are several in-app purchase expansion packs with new tracks. Apple Arcade subscribers can also try Horizon Chase 2.
City Building
Can you manage a rapidly growing subway system for a major metropolis? This incredibly addictive puzzler has a hypnotic flow as you build new stations and add trains to successfully shift passengers around each city. Seductively simple, this game sucks you in immediately, but the challenge mounts quickly, and it is hard to put down. The follow-up, Mini Motorways (iOS only), is also worth a look, but nothing beats the original.
Tap Controlled Runner
There are some great endless runners, from Canabalt to Subway Surfers, but Alto’s Odyssey took the genre to new heights. The simplest of tap controls makes it very easy to grasp and play one-handed on your phone as Alto slides down massive randomly generated dunes, avoiding obstacles, performing tricks, and collecting coins. But the developers do a solid job of adding mechanics and changing up the gameplay as you advance, and it’s gorgeously atmospheric. If you enjoy this, the snowboarding predecessor, Alto’s Adventure (iOS, Android), is also very good.
Beautiful Scenery
Playing Monument Valley is like stepping into an Escher painting and trying to navigate through it. Each pastel-colored chunk of geometry is a puzzle to solve, as you try to find ways to manipulate the environment and allow a princess to pass through. The simple story, chill vibe, and lovely style make this one of the best mobile games for all ages. It’s just a shame it doesn’t last longer, though the sequel, Monument Valley 2 (iOS, Android), is almost as satisfying.
Tower Defense
As perfect as Bloons TD is, there’s room for another tower defense series in your life, and it should be Kingdom Rush. This medieval fantasy world is overrun with monsters, and you are just the hero to slay them by building defensive towers (archers, mages, artillery, and infantry). A super cute comic book style and humorous vibe that reminds me of Dungeon Keeper detract from the wanton violence, making this suitable for any mobile gamer. There are five main games in this series—Kingdom Rush: Alliance (iOS, Android) is the latest, released this year—and they are all beautifully made, deeply addictive, and genuinely challenging.
Scavenging Adventure
The impossibly cute Sneaky Sasquatch is an utterly unique adventure game where you must scavenge for food without getting caught by the park rangers. As you begin to explore, you learn that the park needs cash, and the only way to save it is to find all the missing pieces of the treasure map and uncover the bounty. Along the way, you can disguise yourself as a human and take part in activities, from snowball fights to golf tournaments. It’s every bit as charming and weird as it sounds. Sadly, this one is still exclusive to Apple Arcade.
A Slasher Puzzle
This sliding puzzle game casts you as the killer in an ’80s slasher flick; think Jason Voorhees. Things get gory, but the blocky voxel look allows the game to lean into comical territory. There’s plenty of variation as you send hapless teens to their doom and try to evade trigger-happy cops. The mechanics layer up nicely as you progress through the isometric levels, earning coins to help you on your murder rampage. There is a sequel, Slayaway Camp 2 Netflix & Kill, but only for Netflix subscribers.
King of the Castle
In Reigns, you play as the king with a stream of requests from your needy advisers, which you can accept or reject by swiping left or right, y’know, like Tinder. But be warned, heavy sits the crown, and most of your decisions will have unforeseen consequences down the line, many of which lead to your untimely demise. It can get repetitive, but there are two further releases in the series: Reigns: Game of Thrones (iOS, Android) is a must for fans of the show, and Reigns: Her Majesty (iOS, Android) is a worthy sequel.
Game Maker
If you’re looking for a comforting, relaxing game, Game Dev Story is tough to beat. The idea is to build a game development studio and ship as many games as you can. You’ll start shipping turkeys, but your staff can level up, you can hire better folks, and you can buy licenses to develop for new consoles as you progress until you start to earn rave reviews. All the Japanese developer Kairosoft’s simulations feature similarly charming pixel art, and many are just as fun to play. (I also recommend TV Studio Story, Grand Prix Story, and Convenience Stories.)
