Whether you use a phone, tablet, or a dedicated handheld, there are tons of great games to play on the platform. Some of them are able to work on your TV with a controller. If you don't mind paying a subscription fee, it's easy to play games over the cloud.

It can be hard to find a new game in the play store. The shop is difficult to navigate. We pulled out a few recommendations instead of leaving you to figure it out. Some of the games may be compatible with snap-on controller accessories like the Backbone One, as well as touch controls, which should be supported.

Some of the games require a payment to play, but many of them are free. All of them should provide plenty of replay value to keep you entertained during the holiday season.

Marvel Snap

Key art from Marvel Snap featuring a selection of Marvel heroes
Marvel Snap
Image: Second Dinner

The amount of buzz generated by the game was significant. Each card in the game features a character from the comic book company. There are online battles that take six minutes or less. You should check it out if it sounds similar to what you would like. It is free with in-app purchases.

Marvel Snap

There is a card game where each card has a unique character. In-app purchases are free.

Diablo Immortal

Screenshot of Diablo Immortal character opening a chest to reveal treasure
Diablo Immortal
Image: Blizzard Entertainment

Fans of and newcomers to the storied isometric dungeon-crawling series should check out this game. It is a faithful adaptation that looks gorgeous, plays well, and offers a lot of depth without costing you any money upfront. You can choose a character class that has set abilities, and they will grow as you defeat zombies and bosses. It's one of the best parts of playing a game, being able to join up with friends.

Touch controls are supported by Diablo Immortal.

Diablo Immortal

A faithful adaptation made for phones and tablets that looks beautiful, plays well, and has a lot of depth. In-app purchases are free.

Apex Legends Mobile

Screenshot of Apex Legends Mobile: A river flows through a rocky landscape; a caption reads “You are the jumpmaster.”
Apex Legends Mobile
Image: EA

Respawn and Electronic Arts released a free mobile version of their hit battle Royale first-person shooter in the late 20th century. It works with touch controls and has limited controller support. The mobile version of the game isn't a copy of the console and PC version. There are different character unlocks for first- or third-person perspectives. You won't be able to progress from the other version of the game. It is a great way to play the game on the go.

Pikmin Bloom

A screenshot of Pikmin Bloom: colorful little creatures with large heads amid a daisy-strewn lawn.
Pikmin Bloom
Image: Niantic

The games that I have recommended so far require a lot of input, but if you want a free game that is more laid back and rewards simply walking around, you should check out the game called Pikmin Bloom. Some of the charming characters and game mechanics from the company's home console Pikmin games are borrowed for the mobile game. By walking around and being tracked by a gps device, you can pick up Pikmin from the ground in the game. You can care for them in a similar way when you walk. There is no real goal other than to walk as much as possible in order to get new types of Pikmin.

Pikmin Bloom

By walking around and being tracked by a gps device, you can pick up Pikmin from the ground in the game. In-app purchases are free.

Minecraft

There is no way you can go wrong with the game. It's a first-person survival game where everything is made up of blocks. You can play the game on practically every modern console and platform, but you will also get the full experience on mobile, with support for multiple players. Unless you scroll down to the next recommendation, you will need to purchase the game again if you own it on desktop.

There is a game that can go as deep as you want. Some people enjoy fighting off zombies at night, digging tunnels underground, crafting replicas of cultural landmarks, or playing it as an educational resource for school, all of which are pastimes.

Genshin Impact

Even though Genshin Impact isn't new, it's a shoo-in for this list. If you haven't heard of it, it's an open-world action-adventure title that cribs the look and feel of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Even though it isn't original, it's a lot of fun. The developer, MiHoYo, is constantly adding more content to keep the game fresh, and it's a joy to watch in motion.

The game is free to play, but you have to have a powerful phone to run it. The only way to play it is by using the touchscreen, because controller support is notexistent.

Genshin Impact

A title that cribs the look and feel of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. In-app purchases are free.

Dead Cells

Other games have taken the place of Dark Souls on mobile. Dead Cells is a game that is meant to be played back. There are lots of weapons, abilities, and stages to get in the game, which is a side scrolling action game with procedurally generated enemies.

You have a chance to turn in your cells for rewards if you don't die by the end of each stage. You will be required to retrieve your cells at the point you dropped them if you died. It is fun to get them back.

Dead Cells

$944% off

The game has a lot of weapons, abilities, and stages that you can use to progress.

Xbox Cloud Gaming

This isn't a "game" recommendation but an entire game system that's available on the phone. If you subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you can use the site on your phone to make a portable version of the console. At the top of the screen is a sign that says "cloud gaming" and gives you access to all of the games from Microsoft.

The Game Pass service uses a lot of data but you will have the best experience over the internet. You can connect a controller like the Xbox wireless controller or the Backbone One if you want to use touch controls.

You can give the app a permanent spot on your home screen with the mobile browser. Click the dots to the right of the address bar to add it to the home screen.

Nvidia GeForce Now

If you own a PC with a lot of games on it, you might as well try out the new graphics card. You don't have to have your PC turned on to play many of the PC games you own from those services. There are a lot of supported games. You can connect a controller.

The catch with this service is that it doesn't give out a lot of games for a fee. You have to own them to play them. There are games that are free to play. There is a free tier that allows you to play the games that you own and the free-to-play titles at 720p for one-hour sessions, or you can upgrade to a $9.99 per month tier that gives you access to the free tier.

If you have an internet data cap, this service will be bad for your device's battery life and internet usage.

Nvidia GeForce Now

You can play a lot of the PC games you own from the various stores. The app is free, but there is a limited free tier available.