Given that most high-end tablets and phones are now more powerful than the majority of retro gaming systems, getting these titles to run smoothly isn’t an issue, but some of the more sophisticated games from yesteryear aren’t always a great fit for touchscreen controls.

That said, we shouldn’t dwell on the inevitable misfires as there have been plenty of success stories to shout about, and with them in mind, here are our top 10 console ports on iOS and Android devices.

10. Sonic The Hedgehog 2

Publisher: Sega

Available On: iOS, Android

When Sega announced that it was working on a top-secret project dubbed ‘Sega Forever’, the early reports suggested a Netflix-style streaming service full of retro games was on its way to mobile devices. It was an anti-climax when it turned out to be an initiative to optimise a bunch of games the studio had released on the app stores once before.

Nevertheless, at least Sega Forever brought us a decent version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, one of the finest platformers of the 16-bit era. New features include save game support, bonus materials and refined controls. The virtual thumbstick doesn’t offer quite as much precision as a Mega Drive D-pad, but this is otherwise the Sonic 2 you know and love.

9. Chrono Trigger

Publisher: Square Enix

Available On: Android, iOS

Square Enix is the undisputed king of the JRPG and that was certainly the case in the 16-bit era when it was churning out classics like Chrono Trigger. The SNES smash differentiated itself from the early Final Fantasys with a time-bending story and high science fiction elements.

Although the definitive way to experience Chrono Trigger is with an old-school Nintendo controller in hand, the essence of the game found its way to iOS and Android devices intact. The twist-filled story is its lifeblood and the key ingredient that makes it timeless.

8. World of Goo

Publisher: 2D Boy

Available On: iOS, Android

In World of Goo, players will find themselves stretching sentient balls of gunk into towers and bridges so other balls of gunk can gain safe passage to the end of the level. It sounds utterly bizarre on paper, but it’s actually one of the best and most charming puzzle titles on the app stores. World of Goo hit home consoles first, though the mobile edition is definitive, as the touchscreen controls create the illusion that you’re reaching into the world and manipulating it with your hands.

7. LEGO Batman: DC Super Heroes

Publisher: Warner Bros

Available On: iOS, Android

It’s a well-known fact that things become infinitely more fun when rendered in LEGO, and that’s certainly the case when it comes to Batman video games. Several entries in the popular LEGO Batman series have found their way to mobile, and DC Super Heroes is arguably the pick of them, since it comes with so many bonus characters.

Whether you’re reducing Darkseid’s minions to a pile of multi-coloured bricks with Superman, or toying around at top speed as the Flash, LEGO Batman: DC Super Heroes provides stacks of fun for all the family.

6. Final Fantasy VI

Publisher: Square Enix

Available On: iOS, Android

Square Enix has done a fine job bringing its early Final Fantasy titles to iOS and Android devices, and in truth, chapters one through to six were all strong contenders for spots on the list.

Final Fantasy VI, though, is the pick of the pre-PlayStation instalments and it’s still epic in every sense. There are two entire worlds to explore, 14 playable characters to get to grips with, and a storyline that will take you from one edge of the emotional spectrum to the other.

When bringing the SNES original to mobile, Square added welcome spit and polish to the sprites and tailored the controls for touchscreens. FFVII may be superior but it didn’t lend itself as well to touch controls.

5. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

Publisher: 505 Games

Available On: iOS, Android

One of the most beautifully nuanced games ever to debut on the Xbox 360 made its way to mobile devices when 505 Games ported Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons across. This is a story of loyalty, loss, love and friendship, and these themes are the heart of the experience.

What’s more, the innovative dual control stick interface works just fine when said control sticks are of the virtual variety.

4. Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath

Publisher: Oddworld Inhabitants

Available On: iOS, Android

The Oddworld series put a delightfully dark spin on the platforming genre during the PlayStation era, and it had evolved in all kinds of way by the time Stranger’s Wrath touched down on Xbox in 2005.

This unique mash-up of 3D and 2D gameplay spliced with Western elements, science fiction and fantasy has found its way to mobile in recent years, and while a MFi controller is a luxury, it’s not a necessity thanks to the care that was taken during the porting process.

3. This War of Mine

Publisher: 11 Bit Studios

Available On: iOS, Android

A survival-platformer which deals with the subject of armed conflict from the perspective of civilians, rather than soldiers, This War of Mine was emotive, brutal and gut-wrenching when it arrived on home consoles and PC in 2014. The iOS and Android edition which followed stealthily in its wake is all of those things and more, as the tap-based control scheme the developers introduced actually improved the game.

2. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

Publisher: Rockstar Games

Available On: iOS, Android

When Rockstar Games took its legendary crime sim Grand Theft Auto back to basics with Chinatown Wars on Nintendo DS and PSP, it did so without sacrificing the scope of the modern instalments. Whether you’re wrapped up in the controversial drug-dealing mini-game or carrying out a story mission for your shady Triad-boss uncle, this was the full-fat GTA experience in the palm of your hand, albeit with graphics more in line with the early 2D entries in the series.

Although Chinatown Wars was a smash hit on handheld consoles, the definitive way to experience it is on an iPad or Android tablet. With more display real estate on its side, the game comes to life like never before, and the top-down viewpoint it uses makes it a good fit for touch controls.

1. Bully: Anniversary Edition

Publisher: Rockstar Games

Available On: iOS, Android

Bully was what happened when Rockstar took its Grand Theft Auto template and applied it to a school setting. Firearms made way for slingshots, cops for prefects and the budding-criminal protagonist for a walking ASBO named Jimmy. It was a winning combination that, in some ways, is superior to some of the GTAs of its generation.

When Rockstar brought the Anniversary Edition of the game to iOS and Android, the studio did so with the utmost care. This is a masterclass in the mobile port. The developers didn’t simply slap a virtual stick and an assortment of digital buttons on top of the original game, they spent time optimising and balancing the game on touchscreen hardware.

As a result, Bully lost none of its brilliance and, what’s more, felt like it was made for mobile.

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Although the triple-A titles on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One dominated the showcase, mobile gaming was well represented at the event, with several of the leading publishers revealing major plans for iOS and Android devices. Here are the biggest announcements you need to know about.

An Elder Scrolls RPG is heading to mobile

Attendees flocked to Bethesda’s press conference hoping to hear more about its upcoming Fallout and Doom games. They left satisfied, but equally surprised because the studio also revealed an all-new Elder Scrolls game for mobile. The Elder Scrolls: Blades is no mere card battler. It’s an RPG with stunning console-quality graphics and gameplay designed from the ground up for tablets and smartphones.

Command & Conquer returns… on mobile

It’s been six long years since a new entry in the iconic Command & Conquer series was released, but Electronic Arts is about to change that. During the publisher’s E3 press conference, C&C: Rivals was announced for iOS and Android devices. It’s a 1v1 real-time multiplayer strategy title in which players pit their military units against one another on a tile-based map. Hardcore Command & Conquer fans have blasted the game on social media, but those who have actually played it during pre-alpha testing have been generally complementary.

Gears of War gets a Funko Pop-themed spinoff

Gears of War and Funko Pop figurines had a lot less in common prior to Microsoft’s E3 press conference. Gears POP! is a newly-announced mobile entry in the shooter series in which its main cast take on the form of the popular toys. While Microsoft is yet to confirm what kind of game this will be, something fun, accessible and free-to-play is a safe bet.

Microsoft wants to bring Xbox streaming to phones and tablets

Microsoft also hinted at exciting plans for mobile gaming during its presser. Xbox head Phil Spencer said the firm is working on a streaming service that will bring its games to “any device”. Smartphones were specifically mentioned but there’s no word on pricing, hardware requirements and whether all Xbox One games will be supported. Watch this space…

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The shooter series blasting its way onto tablets and smartphones isn’t unusual in itself. Most blockbuster gaming properties have found their way to iOS and Android in some shape or form, but nobody was expecting Gears of War to receive a Funko Pop makeover.

Announced during Microsoft’s press conference, Gears POP! is a mashup of the Xbox franchise and the popular toy line. Little was revealed in its 42-second launch trailer, but attendees did get a look at the Gears cast reimagined as a bunch of big-headed collectables.

It’s unclear whether Gears POP! will be a mobile shooter similar to its console counterparts, or push the series into new territory by taking on the form of a collectable card battler or a free-to-play strategy game.

In any case, it may be a while before we find out because Microsoft is yet to stamp the game with a firm release date, confirming only that it will be available on iPhone and Android devices sometime next year.

Meanwhile, Microsoft also revealed plans at E3 for a streaming service that will bring console gaming to all kinds of mobile devices, including tablets and phones. Xbox head Phil Spencer said that his department is aiming to “[perfect] your experience everywhere you want to play.”

All the important stuff like pricing, which Xbox games this might include and hardware requirements were kept under wraps, but this is an exciting development that’s worth keeping tabs on.

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It will be the second title in popular role-playing series to hit tablets and smartphones, though this one is no mere collectable card battler. Blades is a free-to-play RPG designed from the ground up for mobile. Skrim on iOS and Android? Not quite, but it looks like a happy compromise.

Stunning, console-quality visuals are the first thing which stood out, the kind of graphics that make you wonder whether your previous-generation iPad will be capable of running this absolute powerhouse.

In terms of gameplay, Bethesda hasn’t attempted to cram the full Skyrim experience onto mobile devices, though it does appear to have made the right concessions by reimagining the series with touchscreens in mind. There are a range of different combat styles to select and three modes of play on offer, each tailored for the hardware in question.

Abyss pits players against a neverending, procedurally-generated dungeon, while Arena is the game’s PvP mode. Those seeking something close to a fully-fledged RPG experience won’t be disappointed as Town provides that, with city-building mixed in. It comes with the usual quests and narrative, weaved around the core premise of the hero returning to their hometown, finding it demolished, and vowing to rebuild it.

Blades looks like a hugely ambitious game and it’s clear Bethesda has gone to lengths to ensure it’s fully optimised for mobile. There’s even a portrait mode to cater for players on smartphone. What’s more, the game will eventually be released for PC and consoles with cloud-sync support so players can pick up their progress on their home platform.

A release date The Elder Scrolls: Blades is yet to be announced, but it may not be too far away since you can pre-register for it on Google Play, the App Store and its official website right now.

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That all changed at E3 2018 when publisher Electronic Arts announced that the franchise is about to invade mobile territory with the launch of Command & Conquer: Rivals on iOS and Android. Developed by EA subsidiary Redwood Studios, the game is a 1v1 real-time multiplayer strategy title in which players position units on a small map, fight for control of various tiles and attempt to destroy each other’s bases.

There were a wide variety of military units on show at the expo and players appear to have direct control over them on the battlefield, giving Rivals a tactical edge over much of its mobile competition, but the reaction to the game on social media has been brutal.

The C&C diehards have sent EA a clear message: they don’t want the franchise to return as a free-to-play mobile title, they want a full-on PC comeback. Some have expressed concerns that the game will be bogged down by paywalls and in-app purchases, while others have accused EA of launching a cynical bid for a slice of the lucrative mobile pie.

When Rivals’ trailers hit YouTube, the naysayers scrambled to downvote them, but it isn’t all doom and gloom. The game is already in pre-alpha testing on Android devices in North America, and the early reaction from those who have actually played it is generally positive.

Command & Conquer: Rivals launches on Google Play and the App Store worldwide later this year, and it might be an idea to actually try it before writing it off, since it’s free to download. Check out the E3 trailer below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyNXQpAFQJc

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There has been an influx of interactive AR apps on the app stores since Apple and Google baked the technology into their mobile operating systems last year, but how do you pick out the good ones? With our guide to the best AR games on iOS and Android devices, of course.

10. Ingress

Publisher: Niantic

Available On: iOS, Android

Long before Niantic became best known for infesting the world with Pikachus, Blastoises and Jigglypuffs, the studio developed a science fiction-themed title based on the same technology. That game was Ingress, an iOS and Android offering which tasks players with harvesting energy from portals it throws up around real-world landmarks.

Players are divided between two warring factions, one that wants to use the portal energy to control humanity and another with plans to harness it to protect mankind. You’ll be drawn into a unique, augmented realty-powered take on the base-capturing multiplayer contest.

9. Zombies Everywhere!

Publisher: Useless Creations

Available On: iOS

It was only going to be a matter of time before somebody used augmented reality technology to infest the world with zombies. Useless Creations was among the first to do that with Zombies Everywhere! on iOS, a first-person shooter that is attracting hordes of players.

The game has you gunning down reanimated corpses against real-world backdrops. You’ll see zombies appear on every street corner, in shopping malls like a scene from Dawn of the Dead, and why not take a stroll through your local cemetery to watch them aptly staggering around among the tombstones?

8. Jurassic World Alive

Publisher: Ludia

Available On: iOS, Android

Dinomania came roaring back when the original Jurassic World stomped into cinemas a few years ago, so it comes as no surprise that a tie-in mobile game was launched ahead of its forthcoming sequel. Developer Ludia gave the franchise the Pokemon GO treatment with Jurassic World Alive, although there are a number of difference between the two titles.

While you’ll spend most of your time snaring and rearing dinosaurs before sending them into battles, there’s also a dart-shooting mini-game for acquiring DNA and the option to create hybrid beasts, which isn’t nearly as risky as it proved in the movie. AR plays a smaller role than in Pokemon GO, but it crops up in the ‘Share your Collection’ feature.

7. AR Sports Basketball

Publisher: Triangle Factory

Available On: iOS

The world is one gigantic basketball court with AR Sports Basketball on your side. Simply use your iPhone camera and touchscreen to set up a virtual hoop wherever you choose and you’ll be slam-dunking via display swipes in no time.

You can shoot hoops anytime, anywhere. Why not position the net on your desk during your lunch break at work? Or how about on the bus seat opposite during the commute home? With AR Sports Basketball, you can do all of that and more.

6. The Machines

Publisher: Directive Games

Available On: iOS

Augmented reality adds huge potential to digital board games on mobile by allowing developers to bring the action from your tablet to your tabletop. The Machines is more than a proof of concept in this regard.

The game plays out like a live-action board game, with elements of tower defence classics DOTA and League of Legends. Players must guide their two-man army across an AR battlefield, capturing bases along the way. The chance to climb the global leaderboards and take on your friends brings the longevity.

5. Ghost Snap AR Horror Survival

Publisher: WhiskeyGuerra

Available On: Android

Where would mobile gaming be without augmented reality? Well, ghost hunting simulations like Ghost Snap AR Horror Survival would be far less immersive, just for starters.

Using your device’s camera and Android’s built-in AR support, the game transports you into what is basically an interactive episode of Most Haunted, except there’s a realistic chance you’ll find some actual spooks.

4. CSR Racing 2

Available On: iOS, Android

CSR Racing 2 is a Need for Speed-style racer that takes the utmost pride in its vehicles. The level of detail the developers have invested in the in-game cars is incredible, and they’ve used augmented reality to show off their handiwork in all of its glory.

Players can inspect lifesized models of their motor in AR mode, walking around the vehicle for a 360-degree view or even popping a door open to glance at the interiors. It’s slightly gimmicky, sure, but impressive nonetheless, and the fact CSR Racing 2 is one of the best racers on the app stores is a bonus.

3. Stack AR

Publisher: Ketchapp

Available On: iOS

There’s stacks of fun to be had in this block-arranging puzzler from Ketchapp. Simply find a flat surface and Stack AR’s build-em-up fun against real-world backdrops can commence.

The game is designed to be accessible, fun and laidback, while the AR adds a little something extra. Why not take the game down to the beach and stack blocks on the sand, or a field out in the sticks to heighten the sense of relaxation?

2. Silent Streets

Publisher: Plug In Digital

Available On: iOS

If you’re seeking true augmented reality innovation, look no further than Silent Streets. The game thrusts players into a Sherlock Holmes-style sleuthing adventure with stylised noir visuals and a strong narrative.

Don your finest deerstalker hat and pipe because you’re about to step into the shoes of a great detective on the trail of a murderer. The AR comes into play when you uncover clues at real-world locations, so players can examine them up close.

Silent Streets even blends this technology with fitness elements as it logs the steps you take as you carry out your investigation. Catch a murderer and keep fit while you’re at it!

1. Pokemon GO

Publisher: Niantic

Available On: iOS, Android

It’s easy to see why Pokemon GO became an overnight global phenomenon upon release in the summer of 2016. The much-loved pocketable monsters were already a force to be reckoned with, so giving fans the tools to catch ’em all out there in the real world was always going to be a guaranteed recipe for success.

The strength of the existing brand, coupled with Niantic’s smart use of augmented reality and geolocation technology is the driving force behind Pokemon GO’s 800 million downloads, and like a levelled-up Pikachu, it continues to evolve.

Since Apple and Google improved AR support for their operating systems, Niantic has taken the opportunity to introduce new features, such as the option to creep up close to Pokemon and watch them react dynamically to your proximity.

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Superheroes have always been hot stuff in gaming and the app stores are crammed with titles featuring Marvel and DC’s finest. Our top picks below will help you sort the Batman Forevers from the Dark Knights.

Batman – The Telltale Series

Publisher: Telltale Games

Available On: iOS, Android

If you’ve played any of Telltale’s earlier adventures, you’ll know what to expect from their take on Batman, to an extent at least. Batman – The Telltale Series is a similarly narrative-driven experience to The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones, except there’s a little less conversation, a little more action, and investigative puzzles to test your detective skills.

The first episode of Batman – The Telltale Series is free to download and sample, but be warned, once it’s got its hooks into you, there’s a real danger you’ll feel compelled to play right through to the second season, The Enemy Within, which concluded in March this year.

Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series

Publisher: Telltale Games

Available On: iOS, Android

If you’re an adventure game enthusiast who prefers Marvel to DC, there’s a good chance you’ll get more out of Telltale’s adaptation of Guardians of the Galaxy than Batman. This is the same combo of humour, science fiction, adventure and jaunty musical numbers that made the original Guardians movie a surprise hit when it was released in cinemas in 2014.

In truth, Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series isn’t quite on the same level as its DC-themed counterpart. The action sequences pack less of a punch and the investigative puzzles aren’t nearly as inventive, but Guardians has its moments throughout the season. The game is at its best when providing a purely narrative-based experience which emulates the two James Gunn movies down to a tee.

MARVEL Strike Force

Publisher: FoxNext

Available On: iOS, Android

MARVEL Strike Force is a squad-based RPG well balanced enough to earn a gauntleted thumbs up from Thanos himself. The game takes its cues from EA’s Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes and is sure to snare fans instantly, thanks to its gentle learning curve and stacks of killer content.

You’ll build a squad comprised of Marvel legends – from villains like Loki and Bullseye, to the heroic Iron Man and Spider-Man – and take part in PVP battles, Alliance Raids and other challenges, all of which have been designed with mobile in mind. Marvellous indeed.

LEGO Batman: DC Super Heroes

Publisher: Warner Bros

Available On: iOS, Android

It’s a well-known fact that things become infinitely more fun when rendered in LEGO, and that’s certainly the case when it comes to Batman video games. Several entries in the popular LEGO Batman series have found their way to mobile, and DC Super Heroes is arguably the pick of them, since it comes with so many bonus characters.

Whether you’re reducing Darkseid’s minions to a pile of multi-coloured bricks with Superman, or toying around at top speed as the Flash, LEGO Batman: DC Super Heroes provides stacks of fun for all the family.

LEGO Marvel Superheroes

Publisher: Warner Bros

Available On: iOS, Android

Successfully turning the Marvel Universe into a massive digital LEGO set and cramming it onto mobile devices is another impressive feat by developer Traveller’s Tales, and it’s only fair we flag that up, since there’s also a LEGO Batman instalment on this list for the DC diehards.

LEGO Marvel Superheroes is another fun-packed family-friendly affair from TT and Warner Bros and it lets players take the phrase ‘Hulk smash’ to cathartic new heights while immersing themselves in an Avengers-centric story with stacks of substance.

Injustice 2

Publisher: Warner Bros

Available On: iOS, Android

Injustice 2 achieved everything it set out to do when it arrived on iOS and Android devices, namely scale down a popular superhero brawler for home consoles into a polished, mobile-friendly package. The sophisticated combos which serve as its bigger sibling’s bread and butter make way for simple taps and screen swipes, though the depth isn’t sacrificed.

Warner Bros didn’t quite pull off a flawless victory here. While the graphics are impressive, combat is at times formulaic and the microtransactions will no doubt put some players off, but any game where you can clobber Harley Quinn with Wonder Woman and punch Green Lantern in the face as Batman is worth playing at least once.

Spider-Man Unlimited

Publisher: Gameloft

Available On: iOS, Android

Not all superhero games need to take their cues from the Batman Arkham series or Marvel vs. Capcom to be a success. Here’s one you can play one-handed on your phone, whenever you have a few minutes to kill.

When Gameloft landed the rights to Spider-Man, the studio merged the property with Temple Run-style gameplay to create a story-driven auto-runner where you can do whatever a spider can via a series of screen swipes. If you’ve played Temple Run, you’ll know exactly what to expect, but this is a robust runner in its own right and the storyline will hit all of the right notes with the Marvel diehards.

Judge Dredd vs. Zombies

Publisher: Rebellion

Available On: iOS, Android

A third-person shooter where you act as judge, jury and executioner to hordes of reanimated corpses,  Judge Dredd vs. Zombies is a drokking riot. This one arrived on the app stores back in 2011, but it hasn’t aged badly at all. Cleaning up the undead-infested Mega-City One is always a blast and Dredd’s one-liners are merely a bonus.

Judge Dredd vs. Zombies might have been a mobile classic if its in-app purchase system wasn’t so intrusive. It’s an incredibly tough game to beat unless you’re willing to part with real-world cash, though some players will no doubt welcome the challenge.

Marvel Puzzle Quest

Publisher: Demiurge Studios

Available On: iOS, Android

Superheroes are so versatile that their games span a wide range of genres, in this case, the match-three puzzler. Marvel Puzzle Quest is essentially Bejeweled with ramped-up RPG elements, Marvel Comics characters and a hokey storyline about a meteor strike introducing a darkly mysterious chemical substance to our planet.

Gameplay-wise, it rarely deviates from the Bejeweled template, but that’s okay since the Popcap classic is the benchmark for the genre. Meanwhile, the hand-drawn depictions of classic comic book characters are impressive enough to earn the game bonus points from the Marvelites.

Marvel Contest Of Champions

Publisher: Kabam

Available On: iOS, Android

Kabam’s Marvel Contest Of Champions is another superhero brawler that makes all of the right cutbacks to optimise it for mobile. It’s a more upbeat and faster-paced experience than Injustice 2, and the character roster reads like a who’s who of the Marvel Universe.

The game is instantly playable and boasts console-quality visuals, which isn’t to say it’s capable of competing with the high-end brawlers found on the PS4 and Xbox One. Nevertheless, you won’t find many better versus fighters on the app stores, especially if superheroes are your thing.

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This is good news for players in the tester countries as they can get their mitts on these games before everyone else, while the rest of the world can take a vicarious sneak peek at what’s in store.

Here are the games currently in soft launch that you need to know about.

15. Battlelands Royale

Publisher: Futureplay

Available On: iOS, Android (Finland, Poland, Ukraine)

Battle royale fever has the mobile games industry in its grip right now but there’s always room for more of these titles, providing they bring something new to an increasingly saturated genre. Battlelands Royale is doing that with its high accessibility, colourful top-down visuals and short, sweet multiplayer contests that are ideal for consuming on the move.

14. DC: Unchained

Publisher: FourThirtyThree Inc

Available On: iOS, Android (South Korea, Japan, Philippines, Hong Kong, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Macau, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam)

DC: Unchained is basically Marvel Future Fight for people who prefer Batman and Superman to Spider-Man and Iron Man. It’s a team-based superhero brawler in which players pit heroes and villains against one another at famous locations from across the DC Universe. Gotham City and Metropolis are among them, obviously.

13. Darkness Rises

Publisher: Nexon

Available On: iOS, Android (New Zealand, Australia, Canada)

Nexon’s Darkness Rises is an action-RPG that wouldn’t look out of place on recent home consoles, with its cutting-edge 3D graphics and fleshed-out narrative. You’ll hack and slash your way through hordes of demons, raid dungeons and do battle with screen-filling bosses.

12. Justice Royale

Publisher: Zapling Studios

Available On: iOS (Philippines)

Despite what its name suggests, Justice Royale isn’t another addition to the crowded battle royale space. It’s actually a slick and stylish side-scrolling brawler for iOS, with RPG elements thrown in for added depth.

11. NBA 2K Mobile

Publisher: 2K

Available On: iOS (New Zealand)

Not to be confused with the other officially-licensed basketball games on tablets and smartphones, NBA 2K Mobile takes a slightly different approach by placing the emphasis on squad building. The aim is to assemble the ultimate NBA roster, train up your players and take part in a range of different competitions for daily rewards. Slam dunk!

10. Wild Guardians

Publisher: PlayStack Ltd

Available On: iOS (Philippines)

A tower defence game full of anthropomorphic animals with attitude, Wild Guardians has personality and killer content to spare. There’s a meaty single-player campaign to work your way through and endless fun to be had in multiplayer afterwards.

9. Power Rangers: All Stars

Publisher: Nexon

Available On: iOS, Android (Philippines, Australia, New Zealand)

What Nexon has done with the Power Rangers license here will delight fans of the TV shows. Power Rangers: All Stars is an RPG in which players can recruit characters from the length and breadth of the franchise into their squad of five. You can form alliances with other teams or wage war on them inside the arenas.

8. Rumble Stars Soccer

Publisher: Frogmind

Available On: iOS (Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Netherlands, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines)

Don’t expect to see Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi take to the park in Frogmind’s new football game Rumble Stars Soccer, but you will find a colourful cast of anthropomorphic beasts among your squad ranks. This is no FIFA competitor – it’s a casual PvP offering based around fast-paced, combo-oriented gameplay.

7. Digimon Soul Chasers Season 2

Publisher: Bandai Namco

Available On: iOS, Android (South Korea)

Digimon Soul Chasers’ sequel features more of the same, and that’s no bad thing as far as the fans are concerned. Season 2 is another hybrid mashup of PvP and RPG that tasks players with raising Digimon and pitting them against others in battle. There are 120 creatures to collect this time. Gotta catch ’em all. Oh, wait… that’s a different franchise.

6. Knights Chronicle

Publisher: Netmarble

Available On: Android (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam)

Knights Chronicle is a hotly-anticipated RPG from Netmarble. Expect a console-grade experience with polished 3D visuals rendered in anime style, lavish cut scenes and full voice acting. Gameplay-wise, it’s a free-to-play title with prominent strategy elements set against a fantasy backdrop where there are more than 100 unique heroes to interact with.

5. Maze: Shadow of Light

Publisher: AwesomePIG

Available On: Android (Malaysia, Philippines)

An action-RPG with slick cartoony graphics, Maze: Shadow of Light whisks players away to the fantasy world of Tera and tasks them with vanquishing the evil Diabolus. The solo campaign is vast, spanning 50 levels, and there are also PvP and co-op modes for added longevity.

4. Puzzle Clash Heroes

Publisher: Ooblada

Available On: iOS, Android (Canada, Philippines)

Puzzle Clash Heroes is a genre-bending offering from French studio Ooblada, which has merged puzzle, arena duelling and light RPG components together in one free-to-play package. Players must grow and develop a team of heroes through match-up puzzling and turn-based combat.

3. The Island: Survival Challenge

Publisher: Endemol Shine

Available On: iOS, Android (New Zealand)

Bear Grylls on mobile? What’s not to love? It may be a digital recreation of the survivalist expert’s likeness we’re talking about, but he’s handing out challenges on a remote desert island nonetheless. The Island: Survival Challenge pits players against touchscreen versions of the trials seen on the TV show, tasks that can only be completed by following Bear’s expert advice.

2. Royal House Slots

Publisher: King

Available On: iOS, Android (Netherlands, Malaysia)

Candy Crush studio King has tried its hand at a mobile slots simulation, and the results are as colourful as you’d expect. You try your luck at the game’s digital slot machines without the risk of losing any money, since King hands over 100,000 virtual coins when you join the party. Why not take it for a spin?

1. The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot

Publisher: Ubisoft

Available On: iOS (Canada)

The long-awaited mobile port of a PC game that shut its servers down in 2016, The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot brings an authentic Diablo-style hack-n-slash experience to tablets and smartphones. There’s dungeon crawling, epic boss battles and mountains of loot on offer. Mighty Quest is currently in soft launch on iOS over in Canada and will also be released for Android devices when Ubisoft feels it’s good and ready.

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