Sometimes we need to get up from our desk and go touch grass and get some free vitamin D. Thankfully, with the power of modern tech we can play video games wherever we are. “But Shawn,” you might ask, “I don’t have a gaming handheld and I used the last of my money to buy a Capri-Sun.”
Fear not, my juice loving friends, for the cellular rectangle that is in your pocket will suffice! And since the mobile gaming market is full of crappy games, here are what I believe are the best games to play on mobile in 2025.
Downwell
Downwell is a 2015 vertically scrolling rogue-lite shooter that has the player control a curious man exploring a well he fell into. With the controls consisting of moving left and right and a jump/shoot button, the game could not be any easier to pick up and enjoy. In spite of this, however, the game does offer quite a bit of a challenge, with hoards of enemies sometimes overwhelming the player.
The simplicity of this game drew me in, as I fell in love with the old school charm of pixel art. Although the game is not particularly colourful, I find that the deep black on a modern smartphone screen capture the ambience perfectly as you travel further into the well.
The game is available on both Android and iOS at the low price of $2.99 – a price that’s well worth it when considering this game was a one-man job.
Bloody Bastards
This wacky game is yet another one-man project. Set in medieval times, Bloody Bastards takes the player on a world tour of 1v1 duals. The controls are pretty unique, with two touchscreen analogue sticks controlling the left and right arm respectively, and tapping for screen edges for movement. This odd combination of controls opens up the possibility of several strange strategies using the vast choice of weapons and armour, which are unlocked by progressing through the game’s fights. The player’s freedom of choice goes as far as allowing you to go with a build that dualwields shields, which sounds fun, but unfortunately very ineffective when it comes to fighting (I learned that the hard way).
Bloody Bastards also has the option for casual or ranked online PvP, adding another dimension to the game for me as I enjoyed seeing other players’ loadouts. That said, be aware that the online PvP may be a bit cutthroat for some, as I myself got destroyed in the few matches I’ve played.
If you’re up to progressing and becoming the world dualling champion of medieval times, I would highly recommend this game, as it’s free on Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store, with the option of purchasing the game to remove ads.
Old School Runescape
Back in 2013, the popular MMORPG developed by Jagex got a mobile port, allowing you to get the full nostalgic experience from the portability of your phone. For the uninitiated, Old School Runescape (OSRS) is a classic point-and-click fantasy multiplayer RPG with 27 skills to progress, quests with several boss raids, and mini-games to choose from. I personally grew up playing this game on my old family computer many years ago, and I still have distinct memories of slaying Hill Giants with my adamant scimitar for loot.
The world of Gielinor is brimming with content, and Jagex makes sure that the community has a say in what content makes it into the game by using a polling system that every player can vote on before major updates are made.
While OSRS is undoubtedly fun, there is a catch. The greater part of the world and 9 of the 27 skills are locked behind a monthly paywall along with the majority of the quests. It is possible to buy said membership with in-game currency, but that would require you to be quite well established in the game before you can afford doing that. However, it is possible to experience the low to mid-level areas of the game for free, which is what I would recommend a newbie to do in order to find their bearings.
The Battle of Polytopia
Ever wondered what it’s like to be a conqueror? Now you can roleplay as one! In this vibrantly coloured game, players take control of a tribe of their choosing as they build an empire and attempt to defeat the other tribes across a procedurally generated world.
Polytopia features three game modes: Perfection (highest score in a set number of turns), Domination (conquer all opponents), and Creative (custom game setups), which allows you to pick and choose what you feel like playing at the time. My personal favourite feature however is the option to pass-and-play. In this day and age, local multiplayer is rare to come across, and being able to play along with a friend is a breath of fresh air.
Conclusion
Whether you’re sipping juice in the mid-day sun and want to play a game, or want to just kill some time while you queue for a game of League of Legends, the above games are among the top mobile games I’ve ever played and have personally enjoyed, and I’m certain you will too.
