Ask Lemmy

Magic Survival has been my main game for months; its such a simple game but really scratches that itch.

• Into the Breach (Netflix subscription)
• Shogun Showdown (Crunchyroll subscription)
• Balatro
• Slice & Dice

People have done a good job of mentioning the free open-source games that I'd call notable already.

I don't play most mobile games, because most are commercial, and I'm not willing to get a Google account and associate it with my phone. I think that Google has enough information about me.

However, there are a number of commercial games that exist for both the PC and for Android, stuff like Bloons TD 6. Unless you have a PC, I'd probably take a glance there, since if a game is good-enough, unless it's deeply tied to a touch interface, I'd expect it to have a PC port.

goes to find a list of Steam games with mobile ports

https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44803552-Mobile-Ports/

Some games on there that I know and think are good

though I haven't played the mobile versions, and can't speak as to port quality:

• Stardew Valley. I'm not a huge fan of this type of game

lots of drudge tasks

but I think that it was well-made, and lots of people like it.

• Balatro. Already mentioned here.

• Hades. Action roguelite. Might want a controller for this; I don't know how well this would translate to a touch interface.

• Terraria. I don't know how well this would work without a mouse.

• Bloons TD 6. I already mentioned this.

• Subnautica. Dunno how well this translates to not having a mouse, and the game is 3D-heavy, so I dunno what tradeoffs someone is gonna make to get it running on a phone, but it's pretty neat.

• Vampire Survivors. I'd guess that this is probably playable with a touch interface, though probably best with a controller.

• Slay the Spire.

• Dead Cells. This might want a controller.

• Papers, Please

• Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. I would definitely want a controller for this.

• Spiritfarer. Didn't really click with me, but popular, and if you're looking for an adventure game...

• Little Inferno. Older puzzle game that I enjoyed, and I don't usually do puzzle games.

I'd also mention:

Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead (if you want Android; there isn't a current iOS version) is a good free and open-source game on the PC with an extremely steep learning curve. It is a very deep open-world roguelike. However, it is seriously tied to a keyboard interface. I have played the Android version, and while I think that the porter did do a better job than I expected making it playable on Android, it's clearly not optimized for a touch interface, and it is very CPU-hungry, so can run slower than the original does on PC.

-endless sky is pretty good -hyperrogue is interesting game, also quite good -dungeon crawl stonesoup is good

though i'm not sure if there are any good pure mobile games, as those are for pc too.

Solomon's Keep and Solomon's Boneyard.

Keep is a traditional dungeon crawler and Boneyard is an endless wave survival game.

I haven't seen it mentioned yet but I would add the mobile port of Wingspan.

Ace Attorney I believe had a very good mobile port.

One I’ve been addicted to, and have spent no money on, is Zenless Zone Zero. Gacha game with action-style combat using dodges, parries, and flashy effects. In some ways a cool demonstration of what phones can render now. Very much depends on what your gacha/FOMO resistance is.

MDickie games are pretty fun.

Luanti

Auto TD https://f-droid.org/packages/ch.logixisland.anuto

If you like incremental games, the Kittens Game by bloodrizer is awesome. Free website, or like a 3 dollars one time payment for the app.

Unnamed space idle

https://sudoku.coach/ is installable as a progressive web app and is probably the best sudoku app I’ve encountered. Extremely customizable and good for learning new solving techniques

I like the board game Risk on mobile, and Lichess.

Vampire Survivors is great!

I play territorial.io and geoguessr

Mecharashi has had me kinda hooked lately. It's a mech builder with turn based squad tactics combat. It's got gacha elements but I haven't felt the need to spend any money. Free rewards have been plenty to get the pilots and mechs I want. It's also a noticeably crash free game. I often swap between apps, changing podcasts and whatnot. This makes many games I play crash or return to the login screen, but not this one. Highly recommend.

Game Dev Story was a lot of fun.

Space flight simulator is pretty fun

Both KOTOR games have mobiles released that are pretty good

Most games on Apple Arcade is proper games.

CrossMe is great, simple mechanic and hundreds of puzzles to solve.

Amazing brick

https://gitlab.com/lecarore/breakout71

Night of the Full Moon Clickpocalypse Atomas Rusted Warfare Luck be a Landlord Magnet Balls 2

If you like basic racing games, mad skills mx 3 is pretty fun once you get the hang of it. Straight rhythm tracks, find the fastest line and set the fastest time to compete with everyone.

Breakout 71 is a fun game.

Through the ages has expansions and zero other mtx. Super balanced gameplay with pass and play if you need it.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/through-the-ages/id966245474

I play a game called townsfolk that's pretty fun but it's free for the basic stuff but a one time purchase unlocks a bunch of content.

Orna, it's a gps game like pokemon go but it's a standard kill monsters get loot mmoRPG.

It does have MTX, but I've never bought any and I'm still enjoying myself. It doesn't significantly limit you for not spending like some games.

Ticket to Ride has a mobile version of the board game. It’s simple but very fun and can be replayed a lot. It’s especially nice when you play against bots because you can play so quickly (as opposed to real life).