The universe of mobile video games is immense and it can be hard to know where to start. To make the search easier, a panel of editors and experts has shared their favorite titles, those they consider essential on any Android device. Below, we present their recommendations, along with some of the latest news that is getting people talking in the mobile gaming world.
8 Ball Pool: Competitive Billiards in Your Pocket
Samuel Fernández, editor at Xataka Android, highlights this classic billiards game. “Although for a long time I preferred single-player games and quick matches, lately I have found great satisfaction in competing against other people. That’s why my first choice is 8 Ball Pool,” he comments. He recommends it for its excellent physics system and a progression mechanic that gets you hooked. “Winning matches not only gives you in-game coins, but also experience. In addition, victories give you boxes with parts to improve your cue collection. If you add tournaments and the option to play without guide lines to that, it becomes a game you cannot miss.”
Asphalt 9: Speed and Luxury Graphics
For speed lovers, Enrique Pérez from Xataka recommends Asphalt 9: Legends without hesitation. “I use mobile games to distract myself and one of my favorite genres is racing. Asphalt 9 is exactly what I need: impressive graphics, an incredible sense of speed, and different game modes,” he points out. Although he admits that in-app purchases are frequent, he claims that “Gameloft has created a classic and an essential game that offers hours and hours of fun.”
Alto’s Adventure: Beauty and Simplicity that Captivate
Javier Pastor, another editor at Xataka, confesses that he doesn’t play much on his cell phone, but there is one title that captivated him. “One of the few games that has managed to hook me on the small screen has been Alto’s Adventure.” He highlights its combination of simple mechanics with a fantastic visual experience, making it very easy to want to play over and over again to beat your own records. “It reminds me of that ‘Tiny Wings’ I enjoyed so much years ago,” he concludes.
Bridge Constructor Portal: Ingenuity and Acid Humor
Iván Linares, from Xataka Android, presents a challenge for the mind. “It seems simple because you ‘only’ have to build bridges, but the practice is very different,” he warns about Bridge Constructor Portal. The game forces you to solve engineering problems using physics, all set in the universe of the famous game Portal. “The final touch is added by the voice of GLaDOS, the artificial intelligence that, with her acid comments, gives the game a unique personality.”
Call of Duty: Mobile: The Complete Experience on Your Cell Phone
Frankie, editor at VidaExtra, explains why the mobile version of Call of Duty was an immediate success. “The game’s spectacular debut is justified from the first match: it looks surprisingly good and plays even better.” The title is free, includes its own Battle Royale mode, and has a very well-thought-out progression system that directly competes with giants like Fortnite and PUBG, always maintaining the essence of Activision’s successful saga.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night: An Immortal Classic
For the nostalgic, Frankie also recommends Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. “Konami’s classic adapts to mobile devices while maintaining everything that made it a legend,” he states. This title offers the incredible 2D action and adventure that made the saga famous, inside a castle full of secrets that will keep you captivated for entire afternoons. An important detail is that, although touch controls work well, the game is compatible with traditional controllers, which greatly improves the experience.
Cut the Rope: Puzzles and Physics for Everyone
Antonio Sabán, coordinator of Genbeta, leans towards casual games that marked an era. “I have to recommend Cut the Rope. The mechanic is as simple as getting a piece of candy into a little frog’s mouth.” It’s a physics-based game where you must cut ropes at the precise moment so that the candy not only feeds the character, but also collects all the stars in the level. “At first it’s very easy, but later on it gets quite complicated,” he assures.
News and Notable Releases
In addition to the editors’ recommendations, the mobile market continues to grow with new releases worth checking out.
Machinarium: Adventure in a Robotic World
This charming puzzle and adventure game puts you in the role of a robot trying to rescue his girlfriend from a gang. Although the story is simple, its visually rich world, cute characters, and clever puzzles are its main attractions.
Chants of Sennaar: Deciphering an Ancient World
With an “overwhelmingly positive” rating on Steam, Chants of Sennaar finally arrives on Android. This adventure and puzzle game transports you to a colorful world inspired by the story of the Tower of Babel. Your goal as the Traveler is to reunite the different factions of the world that cannot communicate with each other. To achieve this, you will have to learn and decipher their various languages and writings, solving puzzles based on logic and observation.
Destiny: Rising: A New Sci-Fi Shooter Lands Globally
NetEase Games has globally launched its new sci-fi shooter, Destiny: Rising, for iOS and Android, after surpassing 10 million pre-registrations. Developed under license from Bungie, the game is set in an alternative timeline and takes players to explore the mysterious Red Sea Rift in an action-packed adventure.
