Some people don't want to commit hours of their day to playing games on their phones. That is the reason casual games exist. Angry Birds and Candy Crush Saga are two of the most popular mobile games. They are designed to be played on the go and at your own pace.
There are in-app purchases and some ads in most casual games. They are worth it even if it costs you a dollar or two. Some of our favorites from the past, along with newer games that are great to keep on your phone for a little gaming break, are included in this collection. It should come as no surprise that you will find a few of these on our list.
A lot of us grew up playing chess, checkers, backgammon, and so on, but the games are pushed out by the company. My go-to chess game onAndroid is the one by Artificial Intelligence, and I have had it installed on my phone for many years. The games are so good that it is hard to pick just one.
The games are perfect for casual players. You can pick up a lot of card games. If you like the classics, you'll find it at AI Factory. Most of the games have a free version or you can pay a couple of dollars to get the ad-free version.
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Alto's Odyssey is a simple endless runner game that has you running through desert dunes, rock formations, and ancient ruins. The gorgeous sound design and soothing soundtrack will keep you coming back for more.
It was important that Odyssey offer enough new content to justify its existence. There is a lot to unpack and discover for hardcore fans and anyone coming into the franchise fresh.
The main game mode is back with plenty of goals to go after each run and characters and features tounlock, and the fan-favorite zen mode is also included here for those times where you just want to kick back and relax.
Among Us is a popular game. It is similar to Mafia or Werewolf in that it requires you to find the imposter among the crewmates. The Impostor, who was randomly selected at the beginning of the match, will be trying to kill all of the crewmates.
The Impostor will need to use a lot of tricks to kill everyone, including using the ventilation system to quickly get about corpses, spacing, and misleading the other players to throw the blame off themselves.
There are still plenty of players ready to murder and deduce even though it is not as popular as it used to be. It is a free download and there is crossplay between the mobile and PC versions.
When the first Angry Birds game was released seven years ago, the developers couldn't have imagined how popular the game would become. Angry Birds has spawned several spin-offs and sequels, including a movie.
Here is the skinny if you have never played it before. Every bird has a unique skill that is designed to ruin the pigs and restore order. You can purchase a one-time purchase of the mighty eagle to show the pigs who the real bosses are, or you can fling the birds at obstacles and power up their skills.
It is addictive for any age or skill level. Angry Birds 2 adds more birds, powerups, and fun.
If you enjoy in-depth strategy games like Civilization 5, but don't have a lot of time to play a full campaign, you should check out The Battle of Polytopia. It is a casual strategy game that borrows heavily from the Civilization franchise, but offers a new take on the genre.
You can upgrade your technology tree, explore new lands, and decimate your enemies in solo and multi-player modes that are great for quick pick-up-and-play or lengthy gaming sessions. It is a free-to-play title that is robust and colorful.
Candy crush is the most popular casual puzzler for phones. In the latest twist on the Candy Crush game, you have to match three of the same candy on the game board to create, spread, or clear away Jelly. The Jelly Queen is your nemesis and you can either battle her alone or against your friends.
You will wish you could buy and eat the new candies in the game. If you are connected to Facebook, you will be able to see how well you are doing and who your biggest competition is. There are over 100 levels of sweet, silly fun to be had, and the games are as short or as in-depth as you want them to be.
Cats are Cute is a simple game of collecting cats and building a town around them. The goal of the game is to find as many cats as you can, build homes and businesses for them, and upgrade everything into a booming cat city with a charming black and white design. You start out with a single cat and a house that produces a certain amount of fish per hour, which you use to purchase upgrades for your cat and their home.
It is an ideal casual game because it is painfully simple at surface level. While you wait for your town to generate more fish, you can play with your cats, pet them, and even chat with them.
Cats are Cute is free and can be monetized with in-app purchases. It is easy to progress without ever spending real-world money, and they are both non-intrusive. This is a great game to play for a few minutes a day.
Chessplode will change the way you play chess. If you don't know how to play chess, you might be an advantage over someone who is more skilled. If there is a king in the way, the whole row and column will go boom. The move will turn into a regular capture if that happens.
This game changes the whole chess paradigm to the point where it is almost completely different from the original game. The boards can be weird. There are different challenges in the game, as well as a level generator. It is a great game for chess beginners and veterans alike. It contains IAPs to add undos, with a cost of $1.99.
The Fishercat has a lot going for it that makes it unique in the broader category of fishing-related games. The Fishercat has you shooting fish with a harpoon gun at crazy fast speeds, unlike Fishing Life, which is very much grounded in reality. This is a fishing trip that you didn't know you needed.
The art style of the cats makes them even more fun to catch. This is one game that is just fun, and it is set against a beautiful aquatic backdrop.
There are over 150 types of fish that you can catch with a harpoon. There are many different types of harpoons you can use and optional items that can make catching easier.
In comparison to Fishing Life, the ads in this title are less intrusive. This is the game for people who want to play a silly fishing game.
Fishing Life puts you in the shoes of a man trying to get back to fishing with his dad. It is a very sincere premise for a game. The controls are easy to use, you just hold your cast until your gauge is full and then release to drop a line.
Selling your catches to upgrade your gear is the real meat of the game. To reach the bigger fish in the waves, you will need to improve your fishing equipment. You can catch a lot of fish and whales.
A relaxing soundtrack, the sounds of lapping waves, day cycling into night, and a calming color palette all add to the laid-back feeling of real-life fishing. The ads are intrusive and very frequent, which is the only downside to this title. You can make a one-time purchase to remove ads from the game. The game is geared towards the fishing fans.
Your Sensei is waiting for you in Fruitasia, where he will give you fruit fight missions. You don't need to know anything else to start with Fruit Ninja. You will be slicing and dicing like an old pro once you master that.
You can join new Dojos as your game improves. You can learn how to handle bananas, multi-slice pomegranates, and the rare 10 fruit Great Wave. It all sounds funny, but it is also a great game for fun and distraction.
Mini Metro is designed to design a metro system for a growing city by creating lines and stations. With limited resources, the goal is to keep going as long as possible. Each game has a new approach and it is fun. How you want your system to function is something you have to think about. Is it better to create a new line that is more efficient or to improve the one you already created?
I like this game for casual strategy. This is a strategy game that is fun to play while riding the metro. It is only a buck.
Both Postknight and Postknight 2 are casual adventure games. You play as an up-and-coming Postknight trying to rise through the ranks and achieve elite status. The fantasy realm setting likes to dish out many dangers, so a Postknight is a necessity.
Upon successful completion, you receive gold, experience, and items. You can use these to upgrade your weapons, armor, and Potions, giving you more of an edge in battle. Battles take place in a 2D style, with simple tap controls to manage your health, shields, and attacks. It can become a truly desperate situation if you don't manage your cooldowns. There is some strategy baked into these casual games.
There are a few new features in Postknight 2 that make it attractive to new and returning players. The combat system has been updated with new optional abilities that can be used as the player sees fit. The dual-wield daggers and the two-handed ax are new weapon types. Both games are free and can be purchased with in-app purchases. These titles are perfect for casual gaming.
Don't judge me, but it is a cat-themed game. It is not my fault that people who like casual games and cat lovers are in a circle.
Secret Cat Forest is a relaxing game. When you come back, new cats will be waiting for you, so fill your kitty habitats with fish, and forget your phone for a while. Building new furniture is a lot of fun and the collector in you will love filling up your cat book with new friends.
Secret Cat Forest is free and the ads and IAPs are not intrusive, which is one of the best things about it. You can choose to watch an ad from some in-game rewards, which is a nice option for speeding up progression.
I have had many phones over the years and what game has made it through to each and every new device? Shoot Bubble is a good one. The bubble shooter of the world gets a bad rap, and I can understand why. Shoot Bubble Deluxe has what others wish they had: simplicity, even though it seems like hundreds of nearly identical-looking games.
There are no grating sound effects or alarms that will hurt your ears here. You, your bubbles, and your bubble cannon. If you aim carefully, you can down the entire section with just one bubble. It is a simple concept that does not require further explanation.
Shoot Bubble is divided into two different modes, Puzzle and Arcade. You have to clear levels in Puzzle to move on, while Arcade is a constant stream of bubbles that you have to keep up with.
The older version of the game can be used to preserve features like the ability to turn certain sounds on and off, which were eliminated in the newer version. I play the updated version and have no complaints about it. I will probably be playing this game for another 15 years.
Break virtual glass in Smash Hit. When you destroy the glass obstacles in your path in the game levels, there are no consequences.
The music and audio effects change as you progress through the game, over 50 of which are available in the free download. Premium perks include the ability to save and access checkpoint, new game modes, and access cloud saves across all of your devices, if you purchase an optional in-app purchase. Smash Hit is a virtual reality game that you should check out if you have a virtual reality headset. It's a less casual experience, but it's a cool one.
Super Mario Run is a game that everyone loves. Super Mario Run is a great casual game that is sure to be a hit with Mario fans of all ages.
Most of the Mario mechanics you know and love from the classic side-scroller games of the past are here: you're running your way through eight different worlds made up of three levels and a boss battle as you try and rescue Princess Peach from the scaly claws of King Bowser.
Rather than giving you complete control over Mario, he runs to the left and you control his jumps. The goal of most casual games is to be played with one hand while riding the subway.
The game is free to download and play, but you have to pay for the full game.
Do you want to be a wordsmith? You can play Words With Friends at your own pace, whether it is one word an hour or one word per day. When you have a few free moments, check your gameboard and play tiles to earn points and climb the real-time leaderboard.
The in-app chat feature allows you to converse with your friends as you play, so you can send them an innocent taunt or gentle reminder that you are waiting for them to take a turn, or you can congratulate them on a complex play. You will be able to access your game from a variety of devices, so you can keep playing.
Casual gaming is the most popular genre on mobile. Puzzle games are the next closest contender. With phones on hand at any time of day or night, and with most people having a few minutes to kill each day, casual games have remained the top spot for so long.
For my money, I would recommend Postknight 2, Cats are Cute, and Alto's Odyssey for casual gaming. As more casual games flood into the Play Store, it is sure to keep growing and changing for years to come.
Secret Cat Forest was added to our list.