28 votes

What are some quality mobile games?

What are some quality mobile games among the sea of trash that you'd like to rep for not being garbage?

38 comments

  1. [6]
    asoftbird
    Link
    There's a bunch of PC ports that are really good. Rollercoaster Tycoon has a really good port and is the original game minus addons. There's also Terraria, Prison Architect and Stardew Valley that...

    There's a bunch of PC ports that are really good.

    Rollercoaster Tycoon has a really good port and is the original game minus addons.

    There's also Terraria, Prison Architect and Stardew Valley that have mobile ports, all very fun.

    FTL mobile is probably my favorite game.

    11 votes
    1. [2]
      weystrom
      Link Parent
      FTL on iPad is match made in heaven

      FTL on iPad is match made in heaven

      4 votes
      1. Ember
        Link Parent
        It's an amazingly good game. I played hours of it on PC when it released, and gladly replayed it for hundreds of more hours when I bought my iPad. Hard to believe only two developers worked on it.

        It's an amazingly good game. I played hours of it on PC when it released, and gladly replayed it for hundreds of more hours when I bought my iPad. Hard to believe only two developers worked on it.

        1 vote
    2. moocow1452
      Link Parent
      I am still waiting for FTL for Android, and I will likely wait forever. But I'm okay with that.

      I am still waiting for FTL for Android, and I will likely wait forever. But I'm okay with that.

      1 vote
    3. [2]
      Heichou
      Link Parent
      I forgot that Stardew got a mobile port! That sounds like a wonderful thing to have on the go

      I forgot that Stardew got a mobile port! That sounds like a wonderful thing to have on the go

      1 vote
      1. Adys
        Link Parent
        It's really fun on Switch as well!

        It's really fun on Switch as well!

        2 votes
  2. [6]
    weystrom
    (edited )
    Link
    Progress to 100 One of the more creative uses of the device you're playing on. Pass 100 puzzles by utilizing sensors on your phone or tablet, like shaking it, spinning it really quickly, touching...
    • Progress to 100
      One of the more creative uses of the device you're playing on. Pass 100 puzzles by utilizing sensors on your phone or tablet, like shaking it, spinning it really quickly, touching the screen with 11 fingers (i'll leave the solution up to your imagination) and more stuff like that.
    • Super Hexagon
      One word - AGAIN. Soundtrack keeps you hooked for hours.
    • Hearthstone
      Even though Blizzard is greedy, the gameplay is pretty fun, it's like MTG lite. Just don't sink any dollars into it, being competitive is not worth it.
    • Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP
      "Point and click" adventure with a really cool soundtrack.

    Also as @asoftbird has mentioned, there are a lot of good ports for iOS: FTL, Transistor, Papers Please, Banner Saga, XCOM and more.

    If you're on Android there is a world of emulation, even N64 and PSX games are running well on modern devices. There is always a question of touch screen controls being suboptimal, but I've played through the biggest JRPGs on my phone.

    There's one game that i'm trying to remember, it was about passing 100 of challenges with your device that involved spinning it in certain ways, talking into a microphone and using sensors in weird ways. Super neat idea, but for the life of me I can't remember the name.
    UPDATE: found it, it's called progress to 100

    7 votes
    1. Silbern
      Link Parent
      Preach! I've been grinding through Minish Cap on my Android on my bus commutes, it's great. I've even got a slide out physical keyboard on my old ass phone, which does make the button mashing a...

      If you're on Android there is a world of emulation, even N64 and PSX games are running well on modern devices. There is always a question of touch screen controls being suboptimal, but I've played through the biggest JRPGs on my phone.

      Preach! I've been grinding through Minish Cap on my Android on my bus commutes, it's great. I've even got a slide out physical keyboard on my old ass phone, which does make the button mashing a lot more pleasant. It's not as smooth as on the real thing, but it's sure a lot more vivid on an OLED!

      3 votes
    2. [4]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. [3]
        lionirdeadman
        Link Parent
        Didn't Apple kinda ban those from the Appstore? How do you even get ROMs? Genuinely curious.

        Didn't Apple kinda ban those from the Appstore? How do you even get ROMs? Genuinely curious.

        2 votes
        1. [3]
          Comment deleted by author
          Link Parent
          1. [2]
            lionirdeadman
            Link Parent
            Right, jailbreak... I really don't get why someone would do that but I see.

            Right, jailbreak... I really don't get why someone would do that but I see.

            1. [2]
              Comment deleted by author
              Link Parent
              1. lionirdeadman
                Link Parent
                I just meant that jailbreaking is really inconvenient due to updates breaking it and honestly, if you're gonna do that, I would've just gone for an android phone.

                I just meant that jailbreaking is really inconvenient due to updates breaking it and honestly, if you're gonna do that, I would've just gone for an android phone.

    3. Heichou
      Link Parent
      I recently tried emulating Animal Crossing GC on my Xperia XA2 Ultra but after about a half hour it just force closed lol. I've never been able to find Gameboy/DS games that aren't pokemon that...

      I recently tried emulating Animal Crossing GC on my Xperia XA2 Ultra but after about a half hour it just force closed lol. I've never been able to find Gameboy/DS games that aren't pokemon that keep my attention

  3. scruggy
    Link
    Here is a similar thread from 3 months ago with a bunch of mentions.

    Here is a similar thread from 3 months ago with a bunch of mentions.

    6 votes
  4. [2]
    hhh
    Link
    I’ve been liking the battle of polytopia. it’s basically a simplified, pocket version of civ with a cute, low-poly aesthetic.

    I’ve been liking the battle of polytopia. it’s basically a simplified, pocket version of civ with a cute, low-poly aesthetic.

    6 votes
    1. Diet_Coke
      Link Parent
      I usually don't do anything with my iPad, but I played this recently since I was flying. It really made the time go by fast. It's not strategically very deep and I'm 99.9% sure everyone on the...

      I usually don't do anything with my iPad, but I played this recently since I was flying. It really made the time go by fast. It's not strategically very deep and I'm 99.9% sure everyone on the leaderboard is cheating somehow, but as a way to kill a few hours it is great.

      2 votes
  5. [3]
    Gyrfalcon
    Link
    I've got a few! Game Dev Tycoon: port of the PC version I think? It's very fun to play. Hoplite: turn based navigation through the depths of the underworld to retrieve the Fleece of Yendor....

    I've got a few!

    • Game Dev Tycoon: port of the PC version I think? It's very fun to play.
    • Hoplite: turn based navigation through the depths of the underworld to retrieve the Fleece of Yendor.
    • Seedship: a nice little text based game where you take on the role of a starship AI finding a new home for humanity.
    5 votes
    1. [2]
      Arthur
      Link Parent
      I have seedship on my phone as a fun low battery, no WiFi game to play when I've got a few minutes to burn but I don't quite understand if I'm playing it right. In terms of story it's more fun to...

      I have seedship on my phone as a fun low battery, no WiFi game to play when I've got a few minutes to burn but I don't quite understand if I'm playing it right. In terms of story it's more fun to look for the perfect planet, but the longer you play the harder it is to get a high score. The highest number of points I have is 11300 (is that actually high?) and I got that from randomly lucking out on a good planet first time. I still like the game because I'll play anything that has to do with space, but the mechanics seem a bit broken.

      1 vote
      1. Gyrfalcon
        Link Parent
        That's a little higher than my best score I think. And I agree on the mechanical weirdness point, though I think the need to balance the possibility of negative events against finding a better...

        That's a little higher than my best score I think. And I agree on the mechanical weirdness point, though I think the need to balance the possibility of negative events against finding a better planet is interesting. There are very occasional positive events too!

        1 vote
  6. [3]
    Apos
    Link
    Lichess Simon Tatham's Portable Puzzle Collection Transmission None of them have ads. Lichess is awesome. You can play, solve puzzle, or watch the Lichess TV.
    • Lichess
    • Simon Tatham's Portable Puzzle Collection
    • Transmission

    None of them have ads. Lichess is awesome. You can play, solve puzzle, or watch the Lichess TV.

    2 votes
    1. [2]
      lionirdeadman
      Link Parent
      Lichess is a lot of fun, I wish I didn't suck so much however, haha.

      Lichess is a lot of fun, I wish I didn't suck so much however, haha.

      2 votes
      1. Apos
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        Edit: I feel you. Watching channels like Chessbrah on Twitch is really nice to get better: https://www.twitch.tv/chessbrah

        Edit: I feel you. Watching channels like Chessbrah on Twitch is really nice to get better: https://www.twitch.tv/chessbrah

        1 vote
  7. nothis
    Link
    There's very, very few but enough to get frustrated about the lost potential due to F2P cash-grabs dominating the space. Some I like (all iOS, don't know about Android): Ridiculous Fishing,...

    There's very, very few but enough to get frustrated about the lost potential due to F2P cash-grabs dominating the space.

    Some I like (all iOS, don't know about Android): Ridiculous Fishing, Threes!, Desert Golfing, Monument Valley, Blek, FROST, Old Man's Journey.

    2 votes
  8. Adys
    Link
    I found Clash Royale to be an excellent mobile game. I've sunk tons of hours into it over the years and never felt obligated to spend money, even though it's littered with microtransactions. And I...

    I found Clash Royale to be an excellent mobile game. I've sunk tons of hours into it over the years and never felt obligated to spend money, even though it's littered with microtransactions. And I never did.

    It's the perfect format for when you're bored and want to kill a few minutes. Exactly what you'd call a toilet game. And it frustrates me sometimes but I can always just stop playing; unlike hearthstone where if I get frustrated it's going to take quite a while to wrap up and recover.

    2 votes
  9. mrbig
    (edited )
    Link
    I really like Canabalt, even got to the World's High Scores one day. It's a very good 2D infinite runner in an end-of-the-world setting with awesome art and music. Ridiculous Fishing: a wacky...
    • I really like Canabalt, even got to the World's High Scores one day. It's a very good 2D infinite runner in an end-of-the-world setting with awesome art and music.

    • Ridiculous Fishing: a wacky fishing game that gets really hard really fast ("that's what she said!" - sorry).

    • Super Hexagon is awesome, but it might make you wanna throw your cell phone at the wall.

    None of these games rely on microtransactions.

    2 votes
  10. [5]
    vili
    Link
    Arkanoid vs Space Invaders is a surprisingly brilliant remix of the two classic games, and one of the few of its type that is not built on in-app purchases. Rusty Lake is a pretty nice series of...

    Arkanoid vs Space Invaders is a surprisingly brilliant remix of the two classic games, and one of the few of its type that is not built on in-app purchases.

    Rusty Lake is a pretty nice series of free and paid room escape type puzzle games with each game pushing you a little deeper into a somewhat David Lynchian story.

    Hoplite is a wonderfully elegant design.

    If you love classic strategy board games, use Android, and fairly high complexity + functional graphics don't scare you away, check out this developer's various turn based strategy games which are modelled after historical battles. Full disclosure: the developer is a friend of mine, but I wouldn't recommend the games if I didn't think they are good.

    Also on Android, Simon Tatham's Portable Puzzle Collection is an excellent collection of over 40 classic one-player puzzle games.

    2 votes
    1. [4]
      Akir
      Link Parent
      +1 on Simon Tatham'e puzzle collection. That and Downwell are the only true "pick up and play" games I ever come back to.

      +1 on Simon Tatham'e puzzle collection. That and Downwell are the only true "pick up and play" games I ever come back to.

      1 vote
      1. [3]
        vili
        Link Parent
        Any tips on Downwell, or rather how to approach it? I own it on PC but haven't really been able to understand the attraction, which likely means that I either just don't get something, or my...

        Any tips on Downwell, or rather how to approach it? I own it on PC but haven't really been able to understand the attraction, which likely means that I either just don't get something, or my reflexes simply aren't good enough to enjoy it. I can get through a few levels and then I'm dead, usually from something I did not see coming.

        2 votes
        1. bee
          Link Parent
          I'm not who you asked, but I've beaten Downwell several times so I hope I can give some advice. These is the way I used to win, but you can obviously adapt it to your style. Use the boulder style....

          I'm not who you asked, but I've beaten Downwell several times so I hope I can give some advice. These is the way I used to win, but you can obviously adapt it to your style.

          • Use the boulder style. Floaty is nice, but you need to get used to moving quickly through levels and not landing on every enemy you see
          • Combos are important, but not as important as health. If you're about to take a high risk to keep your combo, rethink it.
          • Focus on powerups that affect the gameplay. Membership card/Apple/ etc. are useful, but you won't need them if you're powerful enough to not lose a life each level.
          • Get used to playing with all the gun modules, and always pick them up for the perks.
          3 votes
        2. Akir
          Link Parent
          Don't worry about finishing it. Approach it lik an old arcade game: you just want to play for score. My preferred way to play is floaty style; it's more amusing to try to jump on enemies and...

          Don't worry about finishing it. Approach it lik an old arcade game: you just want to play for score.

          My preferred way to play is floaty style; it's more amusing to try to jump on enemies and things. You build up a combo by killing monsters this way, and there is a bonus for getting longer combos.

          2 votes
  11. Migaloo
    Link
    Crashlands is a pay once game survival/build a base game. It uses a progressive crafting system where you unlock better tech as you progress through the story and explore further into the planet.

    Crashlands is a pay once game survival/build a base game. It uses a progressive crafting system where you unlock better tech as you progress through the story and explore further into the planet.

    2 votes
  12. joelthelion
    Link
    The few android games I keep coming back to: Lichess Polytopia Pixel Dungeon Another interesting one is Antiyoy. It might not be the greatest game in the world, but it has some very interesting...

    The few android games I keep coming back to:

    • Lichess
    • Polytopia
    • Pixel Dungeon

    Another interesting one is Antiyoy. It might not be the greatest game in the world, but it has some very interesting mechanics.

    2 votes
  13. Silbern
    Link
    It's super old and hasn't been updated in years, but Great Little War is a turn based strategy game for Android, very akin to Advance Wars, and I've enjoyed it quite a bit from what I've played....

    It's super old and hasn't been updated in years, but Great Little War is a turn based strategy game for Android, very akin to Advance Wars, and I've enjoyed it quite a bit from what I've played. And it runs on even a potato like my Epic 4G.

    Edit: Oh and of course, Relay for Reddit and KDE Connect if you use Linux might be some more suggestions. Relay is just amazing once you wrap your head around it, and KDE Connect solves the age old problem of how to easily transfer files between Android and computer (albeit, quite slowly).

    1 vote
  14. Ellimist
    Link
    The classic RPG Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic was ported to iOS some years ago. Game holds up super well but I’d recommend using a controller. There’s also the old Baldurs Gate games, if...

    The classic RPG Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic was ported to iOS some years ago.

    Game holds up super well but I’d recommend using a controller.

    There’s also the old Baldurs Gate games, if you like old school dungeon crawlers and even Rome Total War got a port. Although I’m not a huge fan of the lack of controller support for it.

    1 vote
  15. skullkid2424
    Link
    If you like board games, there are a number of them that have mobile apps. Most have an "AI" opponent to play against, which is great for killing time. Since I like deckbuilders, star realms and...

    If you like board games, there are a number of them that have mobile apps. Most have an "AI" opponent to play against, which is great for killing time.

    Since I like deckbuilders, star realms and Ascension are some options. I've heard that Galaxy trucker is fun on mobile, but can't confirm. They tend to be free, with paid expansions or something.

  16. gpl
    Link
    I really like "What?" No clue where the name comes from but it is a simple puzzle game that is relaxing to play.

    I really like "What?"

    No clue where the name comes from but it is a simple puzzle game that is relaxing to play.

  17. Birb
    Link
    AdventureQuest 3D is pretty fun, and it's almost entirely free to play. There are optional microtransactions for things like cosmetics and extra bank space, but otherwise the game is totally free....

    AdventureQuest 3D is pretty fun, and it's almost entirely free to play. There are optional microtransactions for things like cosmetics and extra bank space, but otherwise the game is totally free. It's still kind of early in development so there's not a ton of content yet, but for a mobile MMO I really enjoy it. It also has Artix Entertainment's usual sense of humor involved if you've ever played any of their other titles (like AdventureQuest or DragonFable). If you're into MMORPGs it's worth checking out! It's also available on Steam for PC (although the interface is definitely geared more towards mobile game play).

  18. Autoxidation
    Link
    Pokemon Go. It's unique and offers a different experience than a ported PC game, encourages walking and meeting people in your community you might not otherwise. It's the only mobile game I bother...

    Pokemon Go. It's unique and offers a different experience than a ported PC game, encourages walking and meeting people in your community you might not otherwise. It's the only mobile game I bother to play anymore.

  19. TOUnail
    Link
    KOTOR 1 & 2 got ported to mobile IIRC. Really solid games if you enjoy the Mass Effect battle system. I, personally, would play it on a PC.

    KOTOR 1 & 2 got ported to mobile IIRC. Really solid games if you enjoy the Mass Effect battle system. I, personally, would play it on a PC.