The 10 Best New Mobile Games You Can Buy Right Now
Overwhelmed by the App Store? Think Google Play’s too clunky? With so many mobile games being released every week, finding the ones worth a download can be a daunting task. That typically means sticking to the top-grossing charts, but you’ll often miss some great stuff if you don’t dig deeper.
Rather than have you do the digging, though, we’re more than happy to handle the shovel. Here are the 10 best mobile games released in May 2015, and be sure to check out last month’s picks in case you missed them.
Brickies
(iOS | Free)
Just about everything Noodlecake Games touches turns to mobile game gold, so it’s no surprise that this colorful twist on Breakout is smashing. It’s pretty straightforward — bounce the ball into the bricks, naturally — but a suite of crazy power-ups, a countdown timer, and delightful graphics give it tons of character and replayability. Though currently out only on iOS, it’s coming to Android in early June.
Skiing Yeti Mountain
(iOS, Android | Free)
Can you find the mysterious beast terrorizing Yeti Mountain? Who cares? The real reason to play this throwback slalom skiing game is for its terrific touch controls, clever writing, and spot-on retro delivery. Find the yeti? Bonus.
Legend of Grimrock
(iPad | $4.99)
Fans of old-school role-playing games can’t miss this iPad port. A 2012 hit on the PC, Legend of Grimrock is a first-person crawl through dank corridors and diabolical enemies that hearkens back to the days of Ultima Underworld and Eye of the Beholder. Solving puzzles and fighting baddies is just as fun on the tablet as its bigger kin, and though it’s not the most stable iPad game I’ve ever played, it’s a deep, old-school treat for gamers of a certain age.
Til Morning’s Light
(Fire Phone/Tablet, iOS | $6.99)
It’s you, a mansion, and a 200-year-old curse in this creepy adventure from Amazon Game Studios. Tons of puzzles are scattered around the creaky old house; you’ll track down keys, collect coins, and work through brainteasers as you try to find your way out. You’ll also take on otherworldly enemies in rhythm-based combat bits, though the real star is the game’s great delivery.
Knights of Pen & Paper 2
Retro turn-based strategy games are a dime a dozen, but few are as fond of their source material as this D&D inspired series. Knights of Pen & Paper 2 skewers role-playing tropes while delivering some legitimately solid gameplay. You’ll take on the duties of both dungeon master and players, first building an adventure, then guiding your band of heroes to the glorious — or bitter— end. Its jokes don’t always land, but it delivers more than enough D&D fun to warrant a $5 dip in the Wallet of Holding.
Ball King
The NBA Finals are upon us, but if watching the Warriors and Cavaliers shoot it out isn’t enough to cure your basketball jones, check out this free hoops game. Its aim and shoot mechanics are easy to understand, but the more shots you make, the trickier it gets. It takes a cue from fellow iOS game Crossy Road by giving you all sorts of ridiculous items to unlock and toss into the basket. Doughnuts? Dice? A tire? Planet Earth? You can fork over real-world money for these, but the game pleasantly keeps in-app purchase requests to a minimum. Slam dunk.
Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions
(iOS | $4.99)
There are countless twin-stick shooters out there, but only one Geometry Wars. Well, three, if you want to get technical. But it’s been a long five years since this neon arcade game has appeared on a mobile device, making Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions kind of a big deal. As it turns out, it’s also kind of a great game. Slick controls (you can hook up a gamepad if you don’t dig the digital touch sticks), gorgeous graphics, a mesmerizing EDM soundtrack, and over 50 levels of increasingly insane action will keep you glued to the screen.
Into the Circle
(iOS | Free)
Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most interesting. Such is the case with the stylish Into the Circle, a soothing, physics-based take on curling. Just fling the disc into the circle, aiming for a perfect landing. Then fling it again. The more you chain together, the higher your score.
Desktop Dungeons: Enhanced Edition
Don’t let that hefty price tag freak you out — this robust roguelike game delivers brilliant, bite-sized, randomized dungeons to explore with 20 different character classes. The enhanced version includes a couple of new ones, and the Daily Dungeon challenge is a great fit for its portable new home. Already a success on the PC, this port works well on both Android and iOS devices.
Biz Builder Delux
Kairosoft has come a long way since exploding onto phones with the still-awesome Game Dev Story. The company’s latest is about building successful shops of all types. Like with its earlier work, you’ll need to hire help, advertise your wares, and unlock tons of opaque secrets to hit it big. You’ll also need to quit your real job because Kairosoft games are among the most addictive around.
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