The best smartphone games ever made 

Alongside playing leading console releases like Elden Ring, gamers everywhere are discovering the benefits of smartphone gaming. While it doesn’t necessarily beat a PlayStation 5 marathon, it’s a convenient gaming opportunity.

Over the years, smartphone gamers have been treated to an abundance of memorable releases, some of which will go down in the history books for recording more success than other titles. 

One of the most appealing aspects of smartphone gaming is that there is generally a title for everyone. For more casual gamers, puzzle products appeal as they can be dipped in and out of.

Other mobile gamers might opt to take a deep dive into the heart of vibrant Asian traditions in the 5 Lions Megaways game, while sports lovers have a plethora of releases to get through, from Football Manager 2024 Mobile and its soccer management aspect to Table Tennis Touch. There are also politics-themed releases, games for foodies, animal-themed products, and more. 

Of course, not every smartphone game necessarily hits the mark, but there is no denying how much it has improved. Gone are the days when Snake and Tetris were the main options on a portable handheld device, instead being replaced by a huge selection of enhanced products that have elevated mobile gaming’s appeal.

Some of the genre’s best-ever releases are hard to forget, with smartphone users everywhere still even playing certain products today. Let’s take a look at some of them below. 

Candy Crush is iconic 

At the time of writing, Candy Crush is the sixth top-grossing mobile game ever and it’s easy to see why. With around 273 million people dabbling in the game on a monthly basis, it’s clearly doing something right.

Numerous updates have enabled the free-to-play tile-matching video game to remain enticing in the modern environment, with people evidently enjoying its more casual aspect that perfectly suits mobile gaming audiences.

In 2023 alone, the game generated a staggering $956 million, highlighting even further that Candy Crush’s evident appeal doesn’t appear to be waning. 

Tetris is an unforgettable classic 

The aforementioned Tetris deserves our attention here and it isn’t because it’s one of the oldest video games ever. In fact, for many people, it’s the original mobile game.

Clearing lines and earning points, all while attempting to avoid stacks of blocks from piling up, is a simple but truly engaging premise that millions of gamers still can’t resist today. A classic title that is synonymous with the mobile gaming genre, Tetris will probably never die. 

Pokémon Go is an undoubted masterpiece 

A game that first came to the fore in 2016 and is still explored on a daily basis today, Pokémon Go is an augmented reality masterpiece that enables gamers to immerse themselves in an outdoor environment as they collect Pokémon, evolve them, take down gyms, trade with fellow trainers, and more.

The fact that this all takes place in a real-world environment is remarkable. During its peak, Niantic’s release was everywhere, but today, the game averages around 82,945,023 players who clearly can’t resist its groundbreaking offering. One thing’s for sure, in terms of augmented reality games, Pokémon Go is a pioneer. 

Subway Surfers is a global hit 

A game where players are tasked with wreaking havoc on the subway and avoiding an angry ticket inspector and his dog while doing so, Subway Surfers is popular around the world. In 2023 alone, the game recorded 278 million downloads, while it’s also widely regarded as the most downloaded game of all time.

An engaging endless runner product that is co-developed by Kiloo and SYBO Games, Subway Surfers is a great title.