This action roguelite will make you unhappy if you try to take it too seriously right now.

Automatoys is a cool thing that is worthy of praise. It isn't earth-shattering, but it also isn't trying to be. It's a game that firmly understands what is was made for and executes that beautifully. The best part is you can go check to see if you can agree for yourself and toss a few bucks the developer's way if you're hungry for more.

This track-laying puzzle game serves up a lot of brain-bending challenges, but struggles to make a lasting impression.

This action roguelite makes the leap to smaller screens mostly unscathed, but the core of the game itself leaves some things to be desired.

The sequel to Ironhide’s incredible real-time strategy game serves up a lot more of it, and not much else.

This skating game is so narrowly focused that the minor issues it has stick out more than they might otherwise.

This digital adaptation of Everdell feels more like a clunky tool for playing a board game you’re already familiar with than a welcoming experience.

This introspective puzzle game occasionally disrupts its own flow but is otherwise a pretty special experience.

Descenders is such a fresh take on action sports games that it manages to satisfy on iOS, even with troublesome touch controls.

The brilliant dice-based roguelike from 2019 has finally graced the App Store and it’s just as good as it was then, if not better.

This management game has some less-than-ideal blemishes but still manages to be a fun and satisfying experience.

This text adventure is easy to jump in and out of regardless of your familiarity with the series, partially because it lacks dramatic stakes.

The follow up to Hero Emblems adds some wrinkles to its solid puzzle combat but mostly just feels like more Hero Emblems.

Diablo Immortal is a fine social rpg with a pacing problem, and absolutely none of that has to do with its monetization.

This roguelite fps has enough variety to be a serviceable solo experience, but it's best enjoyed with others.

This shooter offers a lot of variety and feels good to play, but doesn’t have much of a personality.

This mobilized version of Respawn Entertainment's hit battle royale game feels manageable and easy to jump into without losing virtually any depth.

This best-in-class brawler makes its way to iOS in an uncompromised state, but still has the same warts of other games in the genre.

This free-to-play has some inspired aesthetics but otherwise feels like a full embrace of pay-to-win design.

By and large, Square Valley is a highly compelling puzzle game that captures the spirit of city-building in a pretty flexible and fun package. I just wish I could pop in and out of it a little more easily. Despite this (and a small handful of rulesets that could be a smidge clearer), Square Valley is well worth checking out.

This adventure game’s simple story and message are held up by gorgeous visuals, solid writing, and excellent soundtrack.

This stylish runner has some great ideas, but they don’t quite come together as seamlessly as they should.

This auto-battler is a goofy, casual, and fun time so long as you don’t take it too seriously.

Night Skate is one of the most refreshing runner-type games I've played in a long time thanks to its throwback design and aesthetic. The game just puts off a great vibe and rewards you for vibing with it. There's nothing complicated here, and that's exactly what makes it so special.

Dungeons of Dreadrock's is a completely unexpected surprise. When you start playing it, it looks and feels like it is just one of 1,000 other fantasy-themed puzzle games you've seen before, but it is so much more than that. Its world feels alive and its action feels so dynamic just by nature of the puzzle logic and design it puts forth. It is a commendable achievement that is worth celebrating. You owe it to yourself to give Dungeons of Dreadrock a try.

This adventure game about a lost cat serves up some subdued and idyllic puzzling.

This deck-based arena bullet hell shooter has a lot of fun ideas that stop being fun once you die, and you die a lot in Heck Deck.

This is all to say that if you want a way to play Alien: Isolation on a phone or tablet, it's hard to imagine a better end product than Feral Interactive's port of the title. I'm just not so sure this was a great kind of game to try and bring to the platform, as almost everything about it runs counter to how many folks (myself included) tend to engage in mobile play.

This streamlined version of Rocket League is both fun in its own right and completely free of cynical monetization schemes.

Moncage’s ambitious puzzle design would be way more frustrating if not for the game’s best-in-class hint system.

This text-driven adventure is charming and fun, though perhaps a little too light considering the asking price.

You shouldn’t play Bloodshore until it gets patched. Even if you do, it’s a somewhat middling experience that buries its most fascinating bits along its margins.

This it the definitive way to play Kathy Rain, even though it doesn’t feel all that different from the original.

Pokémon UNITE is a solid spin on the MOBA genre, but it feels like it should be more special.

Nauticrawl is an immensely rewarding narrative adventure about learning how to drive an otherworldly vehicle to freedom.

Infinite Fall’s celebrated narrative adventure finally finds its way to mobile, and it’s a nearly perfect experience that has aged tremendously well.

This narrative adventure starts as a meditation on the life of an artist before revealing some hidden layers to its story.

The iOS port of What Remains of Edith Finch is about as perfect as you can get, but the game feels a lot like the Finch estate itself: a structural marvel with hints of life inside.

This manic action game works well on mobile thanks to its swift pacing, slow-motion mechanics, and clever scoring system.

Night Book's tight storytelling and convincingly creepy tone held my attention for multiple playthroughs in a single sitting. It's rare for a game to do that, much less an FMV game. If you grab the game for free and like how it starts, I fully recommend you pay to unlock the full game to experience it for yourself.

The fast pace and locked-room setup of Overboard! are perfect for a mobile murder mystery where you can truly pull the strings behind the scenes. I just wish doing so was a little easier or felt less like a guessing game, especially once you've uncovered a new path. That said, the game is an incredible feat of writing, and perfectly enjoyable for a few playthroughs. Perhaps if I wait to revisit it again Overboard! will feel fresh enough to give it some more tries.

MOBAs aren't easy to get into, but League of Legends: Wild Rift makes it easier than it's ever been. Riot Games somehow managed to make its flagship game streamlined and accessible all while maintaining the depth and nuance that keeps League of Legends matches interesting even after hundreds of hours of playing. Even without the full cast or a breadth of modes, Wild Rift is clearly the new king of mobile MOBAs.

Say No! More is a lovely game that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside, even though it's all about telling people no. The message it shares is a valuable one to keep in mind now more than ever, and I'm so glad it's available on such a convenient platform so that everyone can enjoy it.

Doctor Who: The Lonely Assassins is not the strongest title by Kaigan Games, but it's certainly better than their most recent efforts. A guided experience led mostly by a pre-established fictional universe takes a lot of the mystery out of searching through this lost phone, but it manages to do enough character work to keep you invested in seeing it through.

Unruly Heroes has the polish, personality, and performance of a top-tier platformer despite the things working against it. Its core design also works particularly well on mobile, where the game is ten times less expensive than it is elsewhere. Simply put, this is a no-brainer. Get this game.

Inked would be a more enjoyable game if it had a better sense of what it wanted to be.

Bending light is super fun in Lyxo, but trying to bend the controls to your will is decidedly less so. This isn't such a huge deal so long as the current challenge you're facing doesn't have too many arbitrary gimmicks layered on top of it. This is to say that the early stages of Lyxo are compelling thanks to the freedom granted to you, but the further you get into the game, the more time you spend on fighting with it.

With its endless amount of upgrades and simple gameplay, War Tortoise 2 falls into a category of game I tend to label as “something to do.” It’s not super engaging, it’s mildly satisfying, and probably is the kind of game that fits the bill for someone who just wants something they can check in on while binging Netflix. That said, the game’s sluggish pace can make even distracted play feel painstaking.

The Complex is a formulaic FMV adventure that would be more enjoyable if not for some significant design flaws.

The Captain is Dead is a super-stylish digital board game with lifeless systems driving it.

Although enjoyable, Orwell's Animal Farm feels like its missing the creative spark that made Nerial's initial releases exciting.

Embracelet is a touching and enjoyable narrative adventure despite the fact that it has significant control issues.

Iris and the Giant is a standout experience in an ever-growing sea of deck-based roguelites.

Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead breathes new life into a tired genre, but it doesn’t do enough to help you enjoy its creative challenges.

Gliding along in Sine feels wonderful, but its awkward difficulty feels artificial and unsatisfying.

Overall, Gnomitaire is a nice little surprise and a fun little Solitaire game to boot. Don't come to it thinking you're getting a follow up to something as meaty as Card Crawl or Card Thief, though. Still, it's hard to complain about having a lite, fun Solitaire game on your phone that provides a fresh twist on the game at the sweet, sweet price of free.

The first chapter of Space Marshals 3 is more of the same great stealth/action that made the first two games worth playing.

Being able to play XCOM 2: War of the Chosen on iOS is a good time, even if the port is far from perfect.

This rhythm game is a bit straightforward but stands out because of its eclectic playlist and focus on musical appreciation.

HoloVista is a narrative adventure that starts with a bang before fizzling out.

Terafyn is a terrifically well-balanced and satisfying card-based rpg until it’s not.

High Rise is a surprisingly novel puzzler that rises above the competition.

You are never full in control of things in Bad North, and that’s part of what makes it such a tense strategy game.

There’s so much going on in This is the Police 2, and it’s hard to understand or enjoy any of it.

Yokai Dungeon is a really creative take on the roguelite dungeon-crawler, but it’s controls can limit your enjoyment of it.

Void Tyrant is an incredibly creative and deep card-based roguelite.

Genshin Impact is easily the most impressive free-to-play game on mobile. It offers such a rich world that rivals those of ambitious console and PC games while pacing its content such that mini play sessions using touch controls feel satisfying and worthwhile. There's nothing about Genshin Impact's business model that is new or praiseworthy, but it thankfully doesn't get in the way of enjoying what is otherwise a legitimately amazing open-world adventure.

Far: Lone Sails is a well paced and designed narrative adventure. Even though it's sometimes hard to see what is going on, its meditative nature, puzzle design, and overall storytelling are top-notch. Its blend of mechanical interaction, traversal challenges, and quiet routine make it one of the more satisfying games in this genre that I've encountered.

1-800 SUPER should have probably avoided being a Reigns-like. This short narrative adventure doesn't need additional hooks or systems to make it compelling, it just needs more story to tell. Hopefully Pangolin Park is able to take a second crack at this fantastic idea, or perhaps the game will inspire someone else to do it justice.

Empty. is a light puzzle experience that gives a little but asks for practically nothing in return.

Barring a few small problems, the digital edition of Root is a faithful and fun interpretation of the board game. Its inventiveness and strategic depth are sure to win over any strategy die-hards who want to test their skills against online opponents.

It wasn't exactly easy to get through the mobile version of The Unfinished Swan, but ultimately I'm glad I did. It's a weird little game with a ton of heart and personality, both in terms of its narrative and overall design. The mobile version is not the ideal way to play, but it’s serviceable enough and I certainly recommend that folks find a way to play this game if they haven't yet.

With its attractive business model and sharp visuals, it's hard to resist giving Deck 'Em! a try. That's the most exciting thing about it, though. Once you open it and start playing, it's all downhill from there. This isn't to say it's an outright bad game. It's just an experience that needs a bit more to prop it up as a full experience.

My Exercise definitely feels more like a "game" than KIDS does in a lot of ways, but I almost wish it didn't. Having unlocks and hidden easter eggs set me up to expect a deeper world inside My Exercise, but there's not a whole lot to be found.

Meteorfall: Krumit's Tale is simply an exquisite package. It is a well considered and significant evolution of Meteorfall: Journey and then some. The preponderance of modes, loads of personality, and tons of convenience features add so much to what is already a fantastic game at its core. This is a must-buy.

I'm fascinated and impressed with how Ord. can convey so much information with so little, but this accomplishment is part of what hampers its appeal. Reading and re-reading one-word phrases while making choices--some of which seem totally random--can make Ord. feel like a guessing game that grows old as you stop encountering novel situations.

As much as I like Brawlhalla, I find it tremendously unsatisfying to play using a touch screen. This limits its appeal significantly, as it's only worth playing if you are ok with routinely whipping out a controller to do so. There are some other quirks to the game itself, for sure, but Brawlhalla is otherwise a surprisingly fun and focused platform fighter that is uncompromised in its mobile form.

In a lot of ways, PUSS! feels like a game made by an artificial intelligence that has been studying a raw feed of internet ephemera and cats. Sometimes it's rad, but at others it can feel pretty random and shallow. A bit more commitment to shaping and structuring PUSS! intentionally could really help it realize more of its potential, and make it more like the artistic showpiece and satisfying avoidance game it is trying to be.

Bird Alone isn't your typical game experience, and this makes it a bit of an acquired taste. It's also what makes it special, though. Chatting with a bird on and off over time is remarkably endearing thanks to some clever writing. Although you might not spend a whole lot of time "playing" it, Bird Alone is still well worth your time.

Now that it is fully playable, the mobile version of Danganronpa is a strangely satisfying narrative mystery.

Even if you think Gwent is more than an over-engineered mini-game, the mobile version of Thronebreaker leaves some things to be desired.

Action-heavy, reflex-dependent games that feel good on mobile are hard to come by, which is all the more reason to celebrate One Finger Death Punch II. Silver Dollar Games makes it look easy. Although this mobile version isn't quite up to par with the others, One Finger Death Punch II is still a satisfyingly brutal experience well worth checking out.

Despite enjoying quite a bit of the game, I felt a sense of dissatisfaction and frustration in the endings I reached. Maybe you'll get a better ending than I did, but maybe you won't. That's the double-edged sword that Night in the Unpleasant House hangs its hat on, and unsurprisingly the end result is an experience that feels both impressively ambitious and frustrating.

I'm glad The Innsmouth Case doesn't just use Lovecraft to blindly celebrate his occult aesthetic, but at the same time the game feels like it stops just short of any biting criticism or satire. That, plus the repetitive nature of the game, can bog down the experience, but there are enough shining moments of comedy here that I enjoyed the experience in Innsmouth, at least the first few times.

Crying Suns puts more than a simple twist on a tried-and-true formula. It combines multi-faceted systems with a unique narrative structure in ways that breathe new life and mystery into something that initially appears derivative. Despite a few UI quirks, Crying Suns is a refreshing sci-fi roguelite experience, and the mobile port features the modern conveniences (like save syncing) you'd want for on-the-go play.

Death Come True is easily the best conventional FMV game I've played. It shows enough restraint and attention to detail that every scene (even the ones you sit through more than once) enhances the story. While its overall revelations aren't entirely original, it's refreshing to play a game like this that isn't constantly derailing or undermining its own narrative.

Slay the Spire is such a good game that even a poor port can't put me off of it. I'm not sure I've played a card game that allows for so much improvisation while still feeling challenging and rewarding. Hopefully, it will become a better experience over time with some key updates, but--even in its current form--I plan to happily put many, many more hours into it.

After spending dozens of hours with it, it’s safe to say that KartRider Rush+ is the best kart racer on mobile.

If Found... is one of those games that you really have to experience for yourself. Although your interactions with it aren't particularly complicated, there's a power in the simple act of swiping that makes every moment feel significant. Make sure you find time to play If Found... This game is special.

Juicy Realm is an incredibly varied and satisfying run-based shooter that controls well using touch and controllers. There's never a dull moment when playing, and you always have new things to look forward to when starting a new game. Don't pass this game up. It's one of the finest mobile shooters I've played in a long time.

Levelhead doesn't reach the same highs as Super Mario Maker, but that's ok. It reaches different highs. This mobile version is probably not the ideal package (unless you regularly have a controller in tow), but that doesn't change the fact that Levelhead is an amazing creation and curation platform with its own, unique mechanics and a great feel to match.

It's not exactly fun when a game forces you to depend on loading and re-loading frequent save files to make progress, but this is core to Rebel Cops's design, and at least they make it relatively easy to do. For some reason, this was enough to allow the game to really hook me, though I can't say I was all too glad to find myself sinking as much time into Rebel Cops as I did.

Door Kickers: Action Squad feels like a game that should feel tighter and offer controller support, but that's only because the game isn't great at letting you know what it is. If you spend more time with it, it reveals that it's a slower-paced game than it initally seems, and learning to shift your mindset to this more tactical mode is key to enjoying it. This mobile version probably isn't the ideal way to play Action Squad, but there's still plenty enjoyment to be had here nonetheless.

Reventure is a clever game that plays with the conventions of traditional video games in fun and surprising ways.

Sagrada’s competitive dice-drafting gameplay is excellent in digital form, though it’s multiplayer mode could still use some work.

Despite some minor technical and navigation issues, Orwell is a thrilling narrative adventure about the dangers of surveillance.

If you’re going to play a free-to-play multiplayer game, it might as well be a fair one. Shadowgun War Games is one of the few mobile titiles that match this criteria. It also happens to be reasonably fun and easy to control. War Games may lack a bit of content and originality, but that is ok by comparison. Those are things that seem likely to improve and evolve over time. Until then, the core that’s here is solid.

This adventure has a lot of ups and downs, but is ultimately worth experiencing for its charming character work.