OddMar
If you're looking for a slice of side-scrolling platform fun with a healthy dose of gorgeous graphics, look no further than OddMar. This beautiful game was developed by the same people behind Leo's Fortune (another game we've spent a lot of time on) and it's a winner.
Run, jump, and grab your way through two dozen levels. Finish the final challenge to redeem yourself. This is where the details make the difference.
The graphics are some of the best we've seen in a mobile platformer, making it feel like you're playing in a comic book. The on-screen controls, so often a downside of games like this, are surprisingly accurate and easy to use. If you don't want to use them, there's support for physical controllers too.
There are many secret items and hidden areas to seek out, as well as star ratings for each level, ensuring great replay value. Even the high quality cutscenes are something you really want to watch instead of frantically hitting the skip button.
If that's what you want, OddMar lets you play the first five levels for free. If you got addicted, it will cost you $4.99 to play the rest of the chapters with no in-app purchases.
DOOM
I'd be surprised if you haven't heard of DOOM, the cult video game originally released in 1993. Yes, that was more than 25 years ago. This Android app version is essentially the original game, complete with the "Thy Flesh Consumed" expansion remastered for Android mobile devices.
This game is for people who like demon-hunting. It's almost exactly like the original DOOM, even running in 4:3 aspect ratio (with 16:9 and DeHackEd add-ons as recent updates).
The controls on the phone are bad. You can use an Android-enabled controller like the one for the Xbox One instead, and you'll likely get better results with it.
DOOM costs $4.99, which unlocks the full game and all related content. There are no in-app purchases. The campaign is relatively short, but for those wanting to relive classic gaming memories, the experience is well worth the price of admission.
Five Nights at Freddy’s
Can you survive five nights at Freddy's?
This game is scary because you play an underpaid security guard who has to watch Freddy Fazbear's pizza. You do this from an office, where you scan security camera footage to see if anything is happening at Freddy's.
It sounds easy, but there's a problem: you only have a small budget for electricity because the company is trying to save money. If you use too much electricity, the lights and security doors will shut down. And, maybe, Freddy Fazbear and his two friends are not right.
If you like scary games, Five Nights at Freddy's is worth a try. It costs $2.99, which is a good value for budget-conscious gamers. In-app purchases are not necessary to enjoy the game.
Minecraft
Minecraft is a modern cult classic. It's used by millions of players to explore worlds and build their own creations. This includes humble abodes to entire cities in all their pixelated glory.
On Android, Minecraft players can do everything the PC version has to offer. You can even join friends on mobile or Windows 10.
Multiplayer features are free with a Xbox Live account (up to 4 players on public servers) or you can join Realms for a monthly fee, which allows up to 10 players on your own private server.
Minecraft costs $7.49 on the Google Play Store. It includes everything you need to play the game. You can buy extra maps, skins, and textures from the Marketplace, but these are optional and not necessary for most players.
Exploding Kittens
Exploding Kittens is a card game that was funded on Kickstarter. It's funny, strange, and different from other party games. It raised nearly $9 million from enthusiastic backers.
In the words of the game's creators: "This is a card game for people who like kitties, explosions, laser beams and sometimes goats. What more could you need?
The gameplay is the same in the Android version as in the original. You can play with 2–5 players, either strangers or friends, and communicate with each other using a voice chat system.
Exploding Kittens is $1.99 on the Google Play Store. It's a pretty basic version, but it'll do for starters. There are also in-app purchases, and if you like the game it's probably worth buying a few expansions.
Whispers of a Machine
Whispers of a Machine is a point-and-click adventure set in a dystopian post-AI future. Players take on the role of Vera, a cybernetically-enhanced special agent. Vera is tasked with solving a series of gruesome murders.
The game is action-oriented and simple. The player can choose how to play while gathering information, which can have multiple solutions. It's like a graphic novel with choices that affect the story.
Whispers of a Machine costs $4.99 on the Google Play Store. This unlocks everything in the game. There are no in-app purchases.
Monument Valley 2
Monument Valley 2 is a puzzle game and meditation. The player controls a mother and daughter through a valley. You can move pieces to create connected paths. This lets you navigate through each level in Monument Valley 2.
If you're fascinated by MC Escher's amazing art, you'll feel right at home in Monument Valley. The stunning graphics and relaxing, adaptable soundtrack are just the icing on the cake.
The Monument Valley series is popular with critics and gamers. The series won awards for both versions. We chose the second edition because it has more levels and content.
Monument Valley 2 costs $4.99 (original cost $3.99). You don't need to have played the original to enjoy the second edition.
Bridge Constructor Portal
You might like Bridge Constructor Portal if you liked the portal games. It's a physics-based puzzle game where you build bridges to move vehicles from A to B. It seems easy, but there are lots of portal elements, propulsion gel, plane panels, and more. It's surprisingly hard (and fun!).
The game contains many elements that will be familiar to Portal fans, such as: B. the scenery from Aperture Science, the original voice of GLaDOS and the amazing physics that is the backbone of all Portal games.
Bridge Constructor Portal costs $4.99 to unlock the base game. You can also pay $1.99 to unlock the Portal Proficiency DLC, which includes 30 additional levels and new game mechanics.
The Room: Old Sins
The Room: Old Sins is the latest in a series of puzzle games. In The Room series, players try to escape from increasingly complex rooms. The series has won many awards and is widely considered to be one of the best puzzle series for Android.
The Room: Old Sins is a creepy, immersive game that anyone can play. The controls and gameplay are easy, but each room gets harder. The soundtrack and sound effects make it feel real. The full version costs $4.99 on the App Store; there are no in-app purchases.
Riptide GP: Renegade
Riptide GP: Renegade is a racing game with a difference: it's about hydrojet racing in a futuristic city. You race against the clock and against other players online or in 8-player races. There's even a split-screen multiplayer mode for tablets.
Riptide GP: Renegade costs $2.99 on the App Store and unlocks everything you need to enjoy the game. There are no in-app purchases and no ads, which is quite rare for the racing game genre.