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.