When video games were first released, gamers were forced to stay in one place to play them. Whether using a cabinet machine or playing at home on the TV, you had to cut out some time in the day to play. Then, handheld game consoles like The Lynx and the Game Boy provided the option to play on the go, though with the knowledge that the battery would eventually die, and game cartridges had to be carried along for the ride.
Nowadays, we have the power of mini consoles in the palms of our hands! While there are tons of fun original games on mobile, it's pretty nice to be able to play a beloved console game on the go.
Updated June 2, 2023, by Sultan-Uz-Zaman: Smartphones have come a long way from when they first started out with simple games like Fruit Ninja and Temple Run dominating the market space. Luckily, now they're technologically capable of running full-fledged ports of video games that you might find on Steam or on different consoles. Despite how hard it is to optimize the controls for a touch screen, some video games actually play better with them.
Since mobile gaming's been receiving a ton of traction lately, video game developers have worked hard to deliver the same experience to that growing audience. The times have changed now. People demand some portability to play games on-the-go.
15 LIMBO
It might surprise some, but the dark puzzle platformer Limbo was first released on the Xbox Live Arcade back in 2012. You control an unnamed boy who travels a black-and-white shadowy world to find his sister. It's up to you to find the right solution to get past different environmental challenges and traps.
Failure results in a pretty gruesome end for the boy, though you're expected to die quite often in the game. With a simple but beautiful art style and haunting music, Limbo is a mobile port that's worth the asking price, though a free demo is available for anyone wanting a little taste.
14 Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator
Dream Daddy is a dating simulator unlike any other! Produced by YouTube content creators the Game Grumps, Dream Daddy lets you create your own "dadsona" as you try to woo the hearts of the other seven dads. The game was released on the PC and eventually made its way to the Switch and mobile devices.
With a paywall to unlock everything, Dream Daddy is pretty pricey for a mobile game, but it's a complete port of the original title. Every mini-game, ending, artwork, voice acting, and more are included. It's free to download, and you can play the opening and go on three dates with your dad of choice. If you don't want to buy the game outright, you can purchase dates individually at a lower price.
13 Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp
A fan of Animal Crossing? Well, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is the perfect port for you! While Pocket Camp is not available on consoles, the game can be considered a mobile version of the entire franchise. Instead of becoming the mayor of your own town, you're the Camp Manager of your own campsite. It starts off empty, but Isabelle has faith that you will be able to deck out your camp and make new friends.
Just like the other Animal Crossing games, the goal is to befriend as many animal campers as possible by doing them favors and decorating your camp with their favorite items. Every favor fulfilled rewards you with materials to craft more items and deepens your bond with the campers. Pocket Camp is free, though there are in-app purchases you might have to look out for.
12 Don't Starve: Pocket Edition
While Don't Starve Together isn't the newest game from Klei Entertainment, it got its beginning from the PC game, Don't Starve and lives up to the charm of the original. Don't Starve is a single-person game where you must brave the mysterious wilderness; alone.
Using the resources the environment provides, you must survive and fight against many dangerous creatures lurking in the open and the shadows. Don't Starve: Pocket Edition works the same way as on the PC and even works on phones that can't usually handle decent graphics.
11 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
You can do a lot of things in the GTA series that most people wouldn't normally want to do in real life. Racing through traffic, running from the law, stealing, and various other crimes are objectives you need to fulfill as you take on the role of different protagonists in each game.
Each game is set in a city rife with corruption, especially San Andreas. You control CJ, an ex-criminal who returns home to find his mother murdered and his friends and family in trouble. It came out on the PS2 in 2004 and has finally made its way to your smartphone.
Everything has been remastered to work on your devices, including smoothed-out character models, adequate lighting, and textures. The controls have been set up to work with a touch screen as well, with the option to customize them and only have buttons show up when they're needed.
10 Minecraft: Pocket Edition
For anyone who loves video games where you get to shape the world, Minecraft is one of the best sandbox experiences you can find on the market. These simple-looking pixel blocks offer near-endless possibilities of what you can build. It came out in 2011, and so did Minecraft: Pocket Edition, the mobile version of the game.
The port resembles the PC version and includes the same updates. Custom mods - aka Add-Ons - can be created by players or downloaded from the marketplace. This version also has two multiplayer modes, the first of which allows four friends to play together in the same world with an Xbox Live account. There is also a mode called Realms, where up to 10 friends across different platforms can play on a server for a monthly fee.
9 Knights Of The Old Republic
The most beloved Star Wars RPG out there seems to be the Knights of the Old Republic series. The game takes place over 4000 years before the Galactic Empire established itself. Playing as a Jedi, you can customize your character's look and ultimately decide whether to align with the light or dark side of the force.
The mobile port offers many of the same things as the PC version. You can travel to iconic Star Wars locations and planets, master different powers, and build your own lightsaber. They've adapted the controls to work with mobile devices, though it's possible to switch to the old control scheme. The game also features achievements.
8 The Wolf Among Us
With the help of LCG Entertainment, the publisher Athlon Games has released three of Telltale's games on mobile, including The Wolf Among Us. You control Bigby Wolf in this dark and gritty interactive game.
Based on the graphic novel series Fable, Bigby is the Big Bad Wolf who's in charge of looking after the residents of Fabletown. The town's full of characters from popular folklore, fables, and fairytales. As the sheriff, he has to investigate the murder of a woman and uncover even deeper and darker secrets. The first chapter is free.
7 Sonic The Hedgehog Classic
In Christian Whitehead's revival of Sonic the Hedgehog, you play as a speedy blue hedgehog that races through vibrant courses, collecting rings as he foils Dr. Eggman's plans to take over the world. Sonic is one of Sega's classic franchises, and the original game is now available on mobile devices to be enjoyed while on the go.
Everything got touched up to work on smartphones. There's a new Time Attack mode, and you can also play as Tails or Knuckles, using their unique abilities to make it through the stages. It plays just like the original game, with the only downside being the number of ads you'll have to endure through.
6 Banner Saga
Looking for a tactical RPG with a Norse mythology theme? Look no further than the Versus Evil game, The Banner Saga. It got released for both the PC and mobile devices in 2014. You guide a cast of characters through a Norse mythology-inspired world. This world, stuck in perpetual twilight, faces the threat of a terrifying ancient race known as the Dredge, which has returned to destroy human society.
Every decision made affects the way the story unfolds in the future, including which characters you interact with and which are chosen for battle. If a character dies, they're gone for good.
5 Game Dev Tycoon
Kairosoft’s groundbreaking deep-dive into the world of a video game development company features an in-depth view of how tough it is to coin and launch your own series. It’s as in-depth and detailed as the original, and the controls adjust surprisingly well to a touchscreen display.
Motivate your workers, build and customize your own workspace, and take charge of a company you’re responsible for upgrading to a fully-fledged software house from a humble in-house set-up. The game features hours of engaging activities and presents them in an addictive way.
4 ARK: Survival Evolved
Building and crafting sound fun, but what if you had to contest with other players competing for your resources? ARK: Survival Evolved puts you in the shoes of a wandering “naked” looking to thrive off the land and fend off dangerous animals, including dinosaurs.
The controls might take a while to get used to, but the game has several features that carry over from the original PC game. You can build your own base and interact with the other players on the map.
3 Terraria
Minecraft worlds might be fun to explore, but Terraria features landscapes and biomes that exude their own charm with a 2D side-scrolling pixilated aesthetic. You can equip armor sets and engage in boss fights as you explore each zone.
Despite being a mobile port, this version is surprisingly faithful to the PC version and offers the same options to explore and craft as the original. The controls are fairly intuitive and well-adjusted for your touchscreen display.
2 Death Road To Canada
Band together with other survivors, find a car, and make your way through a hellscape chock-full of dangerous zombies ready to claw your face off. This version of Death Road To Canada is an RNG-heavy survival horror experience that adapts the original PC game fairly well.
Explore different houses, interact with the other members of your team, and manage your resources as you find a way to get yourself to Canada on your vehicle of choice. The controls are easy to get used to, and the game’s surprisingly well-optimized for most screens.
1 The Ace Attorney Series
Getting the chance to play Phoenix Wright’s adventures on a smartphone sounds like a dream come true, especially since the games are perfect for touch-screen displays. Luckily enough, the entire series is up for download, albeit behind a paywall, but it’s definitely worth the investment.
Join Wright and Co. as you solve murder cases while interrogating your witnesses and conducting investigations. The games feature thrilling music and witty dialogue, the characters are likable, and the entire experience feels immersive.