Top 10 smartphone games to play now: Beatstar, Monument Valley 2, Tetris

Top 10 mobile games to try right now
© Fabio Formaggio | Dreamstime.com

Smartphones changed the gaming industry. While handheld consoles have been around for decades, mobile gaming grew thanks to the popularity of smartphones.

If you’re on social media, you’ve probably seen posts consisting of colored boxes and nothing else. What is that? It’s Wordle, the daily word game taking over the world. While Wordle is one of the best free games out there, it seems to have some ulterior motives. Tap or click here for our report.

With new mobile games seemingly being released every day, choosing a good game or two can be a struggle. We’ve gathered 10 of the best phone games of the year for you to try out.

1.Beatstar

Beatstar

You don’t need a controller or platform to enjoy rhythm games. You can play along to your favorite music with Beatstar. Tap and swipe the instruments, vocals or beats to earn new songs.

Find your favorite tunes from hundreds of artists. Beatstar is free to play on iOS and Android and offers in-app purchases.

2. Monument Valley 2

Monument Valley 2

Monument Valley was the Apple Game of the Year in 2014, and the sequel builds on that with a new adventure and challenges. You don’t even need to have played the first game to enjoy part two.

Explore the environment through Ro and her daughter and manipulate architecture to achieve your goals. The app costs $4.99 on iOS and Android.

RELATED: Bored? Download one of these eight great iPad games

3. The Room 3

The Room 3

The BAFTA award-winning Room series becomes a trilogy with this latest entry. It follows the events of The Room 2 with a new story, soundtrack, locations, puzzles and an enhanced hint system.

Alternate endings add to the replay experience. Get The Room 3 now for $3.99 on iOS and Android.

4. Noovie Trivia

Noovie Trivia

Love movies? Love trivia? Then you might want to take a look at Noovie Trivia. This game tests how well you know movies, whether they’re theatrical releases or streaming exclusives. You can play with others or go it alone in Quest Mode. There’s also a Daily Quiz featuring new and more challenging questions.

Noovie Trivia is free to play for iOS and Android.

5. Everdale

Everdale

Everdale is an upcoming mobile game from the people behind Clash of Clans, Hay Day, Boom Beach and more. This is a building game that encourages cooperation among players. Your Village is part of a larger Valley, where you and nine other players work together to build and expand.

Everdale is in a state of a soft launch for “several regions.” Go to supercell.com/en/news/welcome-everdale for updates. Get details on the Everdale app for iOS and Android.

6. Tetris

Tetris

One of the bestselling games of all time first found popularity in portable gaming, so it’s no surprise that you can still play it anywhere via your smartphone. Tetris offers many game modes, whether you have a few minutes or a few hours to play.

Check out Traditional mode for endless rounds or Quick mode for faster games. Play alone or against 99 other players in Tetris Royale. You can also play offline, so don’t worry if you can’t find a network connection on the subway. Tetris is free to play on iOS and Android and offers in-app purchases.

7. Alto’s Odyssey

Alto’s Odyssey

Alto’s Odyssey follows in the footsteps of the critically acclaimed Alto’s Adventure but is a standalone adventure. This endless runner sees you sandboarding across dunes, canyons and temples. On your way, perform tricks and chain combos as you work to complete 180 goals and unlock six unique characters.

Want to chill out? Try Zen Mode, which has its own relaxing soundtrack and does away with scores, coins and powerups. Alto’s Odyssey goes for $4.99 on iOS and Android.

8. GeoGuessr

Geoguessr

You don’t need to leave the couch to explore far-off lands. GeoGuessr is a geography game that drops you somewhere in the world. You have a panoramic street view to find clues and guess where you are on the world map.

Study signs, language, flags, nature, internet top domains and other clues to find your location. It could be virtually anywhere. You can play alone or compete against other players online. GeoGuessr is free to play on iOS and Android and offers in-app purchases.

9. Old Man’s Journey

Old Man’s Journey

Old Man’s Journey is a puzzle adventure where you interact with the world around you. Shape the hybrid 2D/3D landscape to create a path forward for the old man.

Reach the end of a chapter and you’ll uncover stories about the old man’s life through his memories. There is no tutorial or text. Just tap where you want to go. Start your journey for $4.99 on iOS or Android.

10. Candy Crush Saga

Candy Crush Saga

Candy Crush Saga has been around since 2012 and is one of the best free phone games of all time. This is where the Candy Crush franchise started (following the original browser game).

The premise is simple and reminiscent of puzzle games like Tetris. Switch and match the candy to get to the next level. There are thousands of levels and puzzles, with more added every two weeks.

Game modes include Target Score, Clear the Jelly, Collect the Ingredients and Order Mode. Candy Crush Saga is free to play on iOS and Android and offers in-app purchases.

You may also like: Remember Solitaire? Tap or click here for more ways to play it for free.

Tags: Android, Apple, smartphones, Tetris, Wordle