Best of
The best mobile games
Good mobile games really do exist, you just have to find them among the cash-grab apps, which is exactly where most stores fail you. These are the titles worth your time: no energy bars pushing you to pay, just real games for your pocket.
This list in numbers
- 263 games in this category
- 92 average rating of the top 30
- 15 median playtime in hours
- 32 release years covered (1992 to 2024)
- 7 of 30 playable in co-op
- 22 of 30 are cheap or free
Why these three lead
Undertale takes the top spot with 96 out of 100, followed by Resident Evil 4 (Remake 2023) at 95 and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City at 94. All three clear the 92 point average of this list, and the gap to the rest of the field is small enough that your own taste matters more than the ranking.
How this list is put together
I start from every game in the database that fits this category, currently 263, and sort them by the aggregated critic rating. The 30 highest scoring titles make the list. No publisher can pay to appear here, and the affiliate links have no effect on the order. The full method is explained under how I pick.
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Resident Evil 4 (Remake 2023) Profile
Described in detail under The best horror games
PCPlayStationXboxMobile - 3
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Profile
In the Miami-inspired Vice City of the 80s, Tommy Vercetti climbs from small time gangster to drug lord. Neon lights, a synthwave soundtrack, and one of the series' most memorable settings still make this 2002 classic stand out.
PCPlayStationXboxMobile - 4
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Journey Profile
A silent desert wanderer travels toward a distant mountain, occasionally crossing paths with other travelers without a single word exchanged. The journey barely lasts three hours but leaves a lasting emotional impact.
PCPlayStationMobile - 6
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Profile
Described in detail under The best RPGs
PCSwitchXboxMobile - 7
Chrono Trigger Profile
Described in detail under The best JRPGs
- 8
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Profile
CJ returns to his gang-torn hometown and builds a criminal empire across three huge cities and open countryside. The 2004 classic remains a series touchstone thanks to its sheer breadth of activities and its story.
PCPlayStationXboxMobile - 9
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Resident Evil 2 (Remake 2019) Profile
Described in detail under The best horror games
PCPlayStationXboxSwitchMobile - 12
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Return to Monkey Island Profile
Described in detail under The best puzzle games
PCSwitchXboxMobilePlayStation - 17
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Divinity: Original Sin 2 Profile
Described in detail under The best strategy games
PCXboxPlayStationSwitchMobile - 19
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Profile
Described in detail under The best platformers
PCPlayStationXboxSwitchMobile - 20
Stardew Valley Profile
Described in detail under The best simulation games
PCPlayStationXboxSwitchMobile - 21
Streets of Rage 2 Profile
This Mega Drive brawler is regarded as one of the best beat em ups of its era and is playable today through Sega's Mega Drive classics collections on PC, consoles and Switch. Its legendary soundtrack and smooth two player co op brawling made it a genre role model.
PCPlayStationXboxSwitchMobile - 22
The Longest Journey Profile
Described in detail under The best puzzle games
- 23
Vampire Survivors Profile
Described in detail under The best roguelikes
PCPlayStationXboxSwitchMobile - 24
Bastion Profile
After a catastrophe, a shattered world literally builds itself beneath the hero's feet while a distinctive narrator comments on every action. Hand painted scenery and a haunting soundtrack carry the melancholic story.
PCPlayStationXboxSwitchMobile - 25
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Worth reading on this
Common questions
- How many games of this kind are in the database?
- There are currently 263. This page shows the 30 with the highest critic rating, so nothing below that cut is missing by accident, it simply scored lower.
- What is the single best pick right now?
- Undertale, with 96 out of 100. That said, the top of this list sits within a few points, so the second or third entry may fit your evening better.
- How much time do these games ask for?
- The median across this list is about 15 hours. 16 of the 30 entries are finished in fifteen hours or less if you are short on time.
- Can I play these with friends?
- 7 of the 30 entries support co-op. The rest are built as single player experiences.
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