The 2024 mobile games that are most addicting

It's a fact that mobile gaming offers a greater selection of addictive games than any other platform. It's simple to just pick up your phone, fire one up, and enjoy the dopamine high that ensues—whether you're waiting on the bus or even using the loo at work. The most captivating games are often free to play, as we are all aware. Since no one would ever be motivated to pay to get beyond those paywalls if they weren't addictive, that is ultimately how companies generate revenue.

On the other hand, winning a free-to-play game without having to pay any money might be a very fulfilling experience. Now let's look at our selection of the best mobile most addicting games. You may browse our listings of the top word games, farm games, strategy games, and other games if you'd like additional suggestions.

The games that are most addicting on mobile devices include:

Rise: Legends of Shadow

You've definitely heard of this one before; Raid: Shadow Legends is among the first titles that come to mind for many players when they hear the term "free to play," in part because it offers a very enjoyable yet extremely addicting gaming experience.For those who are unaware, the basic idea is that you assemble a group of champions to help you navigate dungeons comprised of turn-based role-playing games. It's one of those games where you simply have to relax and let the action unfold. However, it can be rather satisfying to see your squad advance in level via dungeon exploration, grinding, and the unlocking of more strong champions.Get the free version of Raid: Shadow Legends here.

Mushroom Legend

Legend of Mushroom is the ideal role-playing game if you want to pass the time while enjoying some entertaining mushrooms. In this delightful idle game with a mushroom theme, you play as a small mushroom that wants to grow up to be a human, but first you have to defeat a tonne of monsters.The gaming cycle is simple yet satisfying. To advance, your tiny mushroom warrior must battle against ever tougher opponents by arming them with the greatest weapons and companions available. You have to use a magic lamp to grant wishes in order to advance in the game, face off against other players in an arena, explore dungeons, take part in various events, mine for materials, and more. Don't worry, however; everything is really relaxed and easy to handle. You can even leave your squad to work while you go about your regular business thanks to the autobattle system.Check out ourLegend of Mushroom tier list to get started, and use ourLegend of Mushroom codes to earn some freebies.Get free access to Legend of Mushroom.

City of Mafia

The game Mafia City is one that most people have played or heard about. You assume the position of a mafia boss, which entails building structures all throughout the city and dispatching motorcyclists and other devoted gang members to go out and protect your areas from adversaries.It's a pleasant and very original blend of strategy and crime. You'll be happy to know that there are chances for you to collaborate with other players in addition to competing with them if you like playing socially interactive games. It may be an excellent chance for you to support one another as you navigate the criminal underworld if you and your buddies all began playing at the same time.Try out Mafia City for free at .
AMech ArenaIn search of a shooter to get engrossed with online? Mech Arena is the only place to look. As you may have imagined, this is a game in which you take control of a mech suit and engage in combat with other players in a variety of venues. The devs were probably influenced by Overwatch because of the striking resemblance between the two games' appearances and feelings.Although it seems straightforward on paper, there is really a lot more to it than you would realise. There are a tonne of distinct mechs to discover, and each one comes with a tonne of customisation choices and even various pilots who provide special perks. As you play more, you'll unlock more, and finally you'll have refined your mech to perform just as you had envisioned.Get started with Mech Arena for free at .

The Empire's Forge

You build the simplest of towns in the Stone Age at the beginning of Forge of Empires, and you get to expand it across the course of human history. It's quite the trek, as we're sure you can imagine.As you go through history, technological developments take place, giving you the ability to construct new kinds of structures in your villages and cities. History fans will likely find it interesting to follow the path of actual history, which even reaches the present before heading into the hypothetical future historical period. Forge of Empires is notable above all for its sheer size.Start a free game called Forge of Empires.
The Ascent of CivilizationsHere's another classic strategy game. Rise of Cultures stands out from other books in its category because it has a much more human-centric perspective. It's crucial to ensure the happiness of your people in Rise of Cultures, even while you're still gazing down on them from above.You must include structures in your city' construction that will provide cultural fulfilment for the populace. These also need to be dispersed widely so that residents and workers in all areas of your city may reach them. Additionally, you must be aware of their energy levels as overworking them will lead them to exhaust themselves. It presents an original viewpoint on empire-building video games.Get started with Rise of Cultures for free at .
Idle Miner Tycoon

Playing the game Idle Miner Tycoon will offer you an insight into how capitalism really works. You have to put in a lot of effort to develop your mine in order to finally recruit experts and kick back while the in-game money comes in.Your mine in Idle Miner Tycoon continues to run even while you're offline, much like in many other best idle games. However, we're quite sure that must contravene at least one labour regulation.Get free access to Idle Miner Tycoon.

Dash Sonic

Sonic Dash is one of the game franchises that fits the endless runner genre the best. Playing as Sonic or any of his many buddies, you must navigate a limitless number of courses while evading or hitting foes, avoiding spikes and bottomless pits, and sometimes facing off against bosses. It's easy to pick up, but as you try to unlock every character, you'll find yourself playing it daily.This game is available in three different versions. All of the primary Sonic cast—Knuckles, Shadow, Amy, Tails, Big, and so on—are present in the initial, normal old Sonic Dash, which debuted in 1989. Characters from Angry Birds, the Sonic movie, and the Sonic IDW comic were made accessible during special events. The Sonic Boom sub-series forms the basis for the second one, Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom, and a wide range of Sonic characters and locales from many sources are included in the third, Sonic Forces: Speed Battle.Use the Apple Arcade to play Sonic Dash+.

Imagines on a Die

You are tasked with ruling a country full of adorable peon-like animals in Dice Dreams. They need a strong leader like you to restore order after an assault on their home. The fact that every action you do is determined by the result of a dice roll is what makes this game unique from others.Of all, a lot of mobile games rely on random numbers to work; Dice Dreams is simply a little more transparent about it. A dice roll will sometimes net you money to build up or extend your kingdom, and other times it will offer you the opportunity to attack your friends' kingdoms (you can link the game to Facebook to identify friends who have it in real life). Even though the game's idea is rather simple, there's something about the way it's presented that will entice you to play it again and again.Get free access to Dice Dreams.
Hero Wars

You've probably seen the trailers where the hero is in some kind of perilous situation—gold, monsters, lava, water, or whatever else is blocked by sliding doors, for example. The hero then perishes when the player opens them in the incorrect sequence, leaving you thinking, "You idiot! You download the game to demonstrate that you could have done it correctly.Nevertheless, you get an entirely new game (though the riddles may sometimes appear as bonus levels) when you download Hero Wars. Thankfully, the actual game remains enjoyable, requiring you to put up a group of heroes and then send them slaying innumerable enemies in various stages. Hero Wars is going to be a very addicting game if you're the kind of person who collects stuff. You keep saying, "Just five more minutes," hoping to grind out enough points to advance to the next level or get one more hero.Get the Hero Wars game for free at .Most addictive games: Idle Bank Manager. Image shows the bank.

Money Empire: Idle Bank Tycoon

Idle Bank Tycoon: Money Empire is a fantastic idle game that will keep you entertained even while you're not using your phone. In this fun business simulation, you create your own bank empire by updating your locations, attracting new customers, and hiring employees to ensure that you always have money pouring in. That steady stream of income will make you want to keep repeating, "Just five more minutes!" whether you're a millionaire or a billionaire."Free play of Idle Bank Tycoon.Addictive games: Magic: The Gathering Arena. Screenshot shows a game in progress, with cards laid out on the table.The Gathering Arena, or

Magic

Unbelievably, Magic: The Gathering has become one of the most played trading card games ever created. It's also an extremely good smartphone game that can be played for free. This would be a wonderful place to start if you've ever wanted to play MTG since it offers tutorials that make it simple for you to get familiar with the nuances of the game.Once you master it, the MTG universe is all yours. In addition to playing against CPU players for practice, you may play online with other players and acquire booster packs to expand your collection and construct the best possible deck. Magic: The Gathering Arena perfectly embodies the joy of MTG, a well built game.Addictive games: Age of Frostfall. Image shows a selection of locales from the game.

Frostfall Age

In Age of Frostfall, forming alliances and winning battles are both important ways to garner respect from your opponents. So rally your allies to help you defeat the Unmelted who are just outside your door. This is the game for you if you want to rule your own little kingdom.In this original RTS tower defence game, you play as a hero who must raise a powerful dragon, develop your city, and appoint renowned warriors to make sure your army is the greatest on the battlefield.Addictive games: Solitaire Grand Harvest. Image shows a Solitaire game in process.Grand Harvest SolitaireFor hundreds of years, people have enjoyed playing the ancient game patience, which now has various smartphone variations. Among the greatest is Solitaire Grand Harvest, which mixes this classic style with farming, another mainstay of the mobile game industry.Card games and farming may not seem like a natural match, yet they complement one other rather well. Gaining the ability to cultivate crops and extend your farm via patience problem solving will further encourage you to keep overcoming the game's many obstacles. You'll keep returning for more and more because of the amazing sensation you get when you manage to clear many cards in a row.Addictive games: Lords Mobile. Image shows a knight soring through the sky, with a rabble of armoured soldiers beneath him.

Mobile Lords

Lords Mobile is a game you should play if you appreciate meticulously assembling teams of soldiers with various skills to conquer various obstacles. It features RPG-style conflicts, like to Raid: Shadow Legends, in which you dispatch a smaller squad of heroes to engage in combat, grind, and unlock new heroes. In addition, you'll play tower defense-style fights where you must put together the strongest squad possible to protect your base from enemy attacks before sending them out to demolish the other base.The fact that there are so many heroes in the game to unlock contributes to its addictive nature. These may take many different forms, such as goblins, sages, and knights in shining armour. You can enjoy amassing a formidable group of allies to ensure that your crack team is prepared to face any obstacle you may come across.Addictive games: Smash Party. Image shows the player in combat against a group of comical criminals.Smash Party

Smash Party is a great game for those who like the finest mobile shooters . You play as law enforcement officials attempting to restore order in a town overtaken by criminals (who dress up as clowns and pirates among many other bizarre clothes) in this isometric, arcade-style shooter.The size of each level is often somewhat larger than your screen, and you move your finger around to control your character. They will automatically fire at the opponents if you leave them still, so your task is to avoid the bullets and locate the safest place. The idea is straightforward, but aren't all the most addicting games simple? You can play with pals, which is just icing on the cake.Addictive games - Sunrise Village. A screenshot shows a group of people toiling in the field,

Village Sunrise

Despite the fact that owning and operating a farm is a very demanding job in real life, doing it in a mobile app is very calming. In Sunrise community, a well-known example of the traditional farm game formula, players assume the role of someone who has just established their own farm in the community of the same name.In order to fulfil orders, you harvest crops and produce. You then use the money you make to construct additional structures around your farm. Eventually, your farm becomes bigger and larger, enabling you to fulfil greater orders. Although the idea is simple, it quickly gets addicted since it's such a fulfilling experience to see your farm expand.Addictive games - Elvenar. A screenshot shows an isometric view of a fantasy city.Elvenar

A fantasy strategy game is coming next. You choose whether to play as an elf or a human in Elvenar, and then it's up to you to advance their society. When you eventually encounter other civilizations with competing interests as your kingdom grows, the gameplay changes to allow you to conduct strategic wars against your adversary.It's fantastic because, while being one of the top city-building games , it also immerses you in a fantastical world where strategic thinking is required. It has a great deal of depth, and it's really simple to get lost in it.Addictive games - Puzzles and Survival, a screenshot shows a summary of the character Tomoyo, summarising her ATK, DEF, SPD, and DMG stats.Puzzles & SurvivabilityHave you ever thought of combining the genres of tile-matching with zombie survival? How would such a game be designed? That's what puzzles and survival would look like. Along the way, you and your group of survivors battle zombies in the remains of a city, using matching tiles to your advantage to launch effective assaults.To be honest, if you've ever played Puzzles & Dragons (2012), you'll know what to anticipate from this game since it borrows heavily from that classic. But if you're more into the zombie aesthetic than the anime fantasy one, and you want to give that concept another go with a fresh look, we highly recommend giving Puzzles & Survival a go.Addictive games: Magic Jigsaw Puzzles. Image shows a Lion King puzzle in progress.Magic Jigsaw Puzzles

Since the 18th century, jigsaw puzzles have given people a gratifying hobby. Magic Jigsaw Puzzles updates this time-honored recipe for the contemporary day. You may play this free-to-play game and solve a new puzzle with adorable animals, well-known sites, and even well-known Disney, Marvel, and Nickelodeon characters every single day.You could easily spend a lot of hours playing this game since it's both addicting and soothing. You don't have to worry about misplacing the parts or finding a space to assemble it, unlike actual puzzles. You may also design puzzles using your own images and artwork if you want to create a unique and enjoyable experience. Despite being basic, the game has a huge amount of player appeal.Addictive games - Crossword Jam. A screenshot shows a mini crossword game in progress, with the player about to guess the word 'row'.

Jam on Crosswords

Compared to Daily Themed Crossword Puzzles, this crossword game is very different, which is why it's the second one on our list. Crossword Jam provides you with bite-sized crosswords that you can do in just one or two minutes since not everyone has the time to go through an entire crossword problem.In this one, a puzzle's words will always consist of simply three or four distinct letters. The letters will appear at the bottom of the screen in a little circle. All you have to do is combine them in various ways to form the words needed to solve the problem. Fortunately, utilising those letters to form words outside of the puzzle still earns you points. You may also find its leaderboards interesting if you have a competitive streak.Addictive games - June's Journey. A screenshot shows a stately home ready to be investigated.

June's Expedition

Do you like a good murder mystery in the vein of Agatha Christie? Try June's Journey out. You take on the role of June Parker in it, a lady looking into her sister's and brother-in-law's murders. You're given several scenarios to search for certain objects, and a timer is set up to reward you for locating things fast. She needs to discover particular artefacts in order to obtain an understanding of what occurred.You take care of June's magnificent house, making improvements and purchases to make it as lovely as can, while you're not hunting for clues. It's a complex experience that merits inclusion in your collection of mobile games.Addictive games - Wordle. A player has guessed the words "Banjo" and "Diddy" but neither word is correct.WordleGiven how popular this puzzle game has become online, chances are you've already heard of Wordle. When I first started using Twitter earlier this year, most of the tweets I saw were users sharing their Wordle results. Even though the idea is so simple, it has a large and devoted following of people who are eager to solve the daily challenges. Numerous games similar to Wordle have already been produced, as other developers attempt to capitalise on this novel gaming genre.For those who are unaware, Wordle gives you six guesses every day to choose a five-letter word. Since it indicates if a letter you get is in the real word and where in the word it appears, every fresh guess ought to be a little bit simpler. People want to brag about their accomplishments since it's highly satisfying to get it correct in only two or three guesses. (However, colorblind players may find it rather difficult.)Addictive games - Tracky Train. A screenshot shows a train stopping at a train station in a desert area. Text on the screen reads "drop off passengers!"Tracky Train

In the lesser-known independent game Tracky Train, you have to construct the tracks for a train that is chugging rapidly behind you. The object is to see how long you can go until the train runs out of steam and crashes. You go through a variety of locations, and if you pass by a gathering of people, the train will stop to pick them up, providing you with a little advantage. The train will fill up and be unable to pick up more people if you don't make careful to direct it into stops where it can drop them off as well.It's a simple idea, to be sure, but the addicting nature of playing again to beat your own records and unlock more advanced trains makes it difficult to stop. It's also a good idea to interact with every passenger the game offers, since they all make references to different celebrities. Fun fact: Yooka, the well-known independent character from Yooka-Laylee, had his debut in Tracky Train.Addictive games - Pokémon GO. A screenshot shows Shaymin in the real world.Pokemon Go

The game that made walking outside more appealing than fitness applications could ever hope to. The closest we'll likely come to living the life of a Pokémon Trainer is with Pokémon Go. It's an incredible experience to explore new regions around your home in the hopes of discovering new Pokémon or logging additional steps to hatch your egg.Of course, if you'd rather play Pokémon competitively, you might aim to dominate a gym and get the financial benefits that come with it. When the game first came out, it was an incredible experience, and Niantic has just continued to add more. It's true that they're always releasing new stuff, and the experience will only get better since new Pokémon and features are always becoming accessible.Addictive games - Among Us. A screenshot shows a selection of astronauts aboard their ship.

In Between Us

The game that made social deduction well known. Among Us has been so popular in the years since its original release that the astronauts from the game are almost as famous as Mario, Pikachu, Sonic, or Steve from Minecraft.In the game Among Us, if you haven't played it before, you and a group of astronauts must determine who among you is a murderer. If you are the murderer, your task is to continue killing your fellows without being caught, as votes are taken periodically to determine the murderer, and if they choose you, you will be kicked out of space. Playing with strangers is entertaining, but it's far more fun when you have a bunch of buddies around.Addictive games - Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. Image shows a camp filled with buildings and animal villagers.Subway Crossing: Pocket CampAnother Nintendo franchise to make the transition to mobile gaming is Animal Crossing. In contrast to other Animal Crossing games, where the player cultivates their own town or island, this one focuses on building the best possible camp. You do this by making various camp furnishings and accessories and cultivating ties with the locals to entice them to remain.You collect shells, mine ore, catch fish, harvest fruit, capture bugs, and do errands for the creatures who pop up all over the area every day. The animals will need you to do various tasks for them; in exchange, you will get important resources from them and strengthen your bond with them. Although it's not as extensive as something like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, it's still a fantastic experience all by itself that will interest both newbies and longtime lovers of the series.Addictive games - Plants vs Zombies. A screenshot shows Peashooters shooting at zombies in the garden.

Zombies vs Plants

Oh no! There is a zombie apocalypse, and the undead are approaching you. Thankfully, you're a skilled gardener with a veritable army of plants watching out for you. Plants are positioned in various areas of your garden so they are prepared to protect you when zombies approach you on the grid-based terrain.Planting sunflowers will help you grow more plants. You may also plant peashooters, which spit peas at zombies and cause them to slowly crumble, wall-nuts, which serve as zombie walls and a plethora of other unusual plants that will help protect you from a horde of weird and unusual zombies. In contrast to many strategy games, which may be intimidating at first, Plants vs. Zombies is really easy to play, but it still has an amazing amount of depth.Addictive games - Fornite. An image shows a group of characters from the game.

Final Fantasy

Next up is Fortnite, which is yet another legendary game! Fortnite, which is available for download and play on mobile devices, is one of the most popular games among the current generation of gamers, sharing the stage with titles like Among Us, Roblox, and Minecraft.It's understandable why this game has been so well-liked. The concept of a hundred fighters engaging in combat in a constantly contracting arena where they can construct defensive structures is intriguing in and of itself, but when you consider that this is one of the largest crossover events ever produced and that you could see characters like Batman, Darth Vader, or Demogorgon from Stranger Things, you can easily understand why it developed such a devoted fan base.Addictive games - Tetris. A screenshot shows a Tetris game in progress.

Tetris

Even though it's considerably older, Tetris is just as well-known as Fortnite. This simple block-stacking game has captivated millions of players since its first release in 1984. You have to carefully position the various forms that come at the top of the screen such that they form straight lines before disappearing. It is accessible to everybody and may be enjoyed by all.Numerous iterations of Tetris have been published throughout the years, including a free mobile version, of course. You should absolutely download Tetris right now if you want to add one of the most played and addicting mobile puzzle games ever to your library.If you're an avid Tetris player, you should check out our guide to the top Tetris games for Switch and mobile devices.Addictive games - Pokémon Shuffle Mobile. Image shows the logo and official artwork of the game on a phone screen.

Mobile Pokémon Shuffle

Do you have any prior Candy Crush games? (Alright, one game here almost missed the cut.) Pokémon Shuffle Mobile is simply the response to the query, "What if Candy Crush was a Pokémon game?"To match them up and fight wild Pokémon, you must slide around their faces. At the end, you have the opportunity to capture them, adding them to your rotation.Naturally, when you attempt to capture Pokémon, they usually flee, and you'll probably end up going through certain stages again. In addition, there are perhaps more Pokémon in this game than in any prior iteration in the franchise (assuming you don't trade with other players). That's very remarkable for such a basic puzzle game.Addictive games - Crossy Road. Image shows a penguin trying to navigate a difficult road.Crossy Road

Crossy Road is a challenging, entertaining, and free game that will keep you hooked. Since its November 2014 debut, the smartphone game Crossy Road has been downloaded over 150 million times. You must accumulate coins in order to unlock characters in it. To get coins, you must be able to stave off attacks from trains, cars, and eagles for extended periods of time.Your figure moves ahead by tapping the screen of your phone, and you can drag it to change directions. You must choose your spots wisely and move quickly since an eagle is pursuing you and will devour you if you remain still for too long. This is one of those games that you can play anytime, anyplace, and it doesn't need data or wifi to play.(Nathan Turner contributed the material on Crossy Road)Addictive games - Clash of Clans, Image shows a large settlement in a field.Clash of Clans

In the free-to-play game Clash of Clans, you construct the largest town and grow an enormous army to become a formidable foe. 2012 saw the creation of the game by Finnish studio Supercell. You begin it with a town hall and the most basic defences, after which you may gather two of the three in-game currencies. Mines yield gold, which is subsequently used to finance the construction of other mines. It has to be kept in a gold store, which you may expand to hold additional gold. The second currency elixir, which you get from an elixir collector and deposit in an elixir store, works in the same way.As you improve your town hall in the game, you may access a tonne of new features including more mines, shops, and defences. There are requirements you must fulfil in order to improve your town hall, such having a level 7 barracks and a certain number of walls installed. In Clash of Clans, the barracks let you assemble an army for varying amounts of elixir, based on the kind of soldiers you get. In the game, there are several troop kinds that may perform a wide range of tasks. These types are unlocked via different upgrades.You'll discover that you want to return to it often in order to constantly improve your community. The game is always receiving new material, which keeps it interesting.(Riley Ashdown-Doel supplied the Clash of Clans material.)Addictive games, Subway Surfers - image shows a character running along on wires above train tracks.

Transit Riders

In the never-ending game Underground Surfers, you must avoid trains and other obstacles while gathering power-ups and gold. Since its mid-2012 introduction, this endless runner has been downloaded over 3 billion times, making it one of the most played high-score mobile games ever. Updates from the creators, Kiloo and SYBO, often transport you to new areas with brand-new obstacles, boards to purchase, personalities to discover, and cops pursuing you.The faster the game goes, the more points you may get. It's fun to play for extended lengths of time, but you won't have as much time to respond to leap, roll, or dodge. Facebook-connected online leaderboards allow you to compare your best scores with pals. The various boards have varying effects; for example, you may pick "super jump" to jump higher onto the trains, or "smooth drift" to remain in the air for longer. You'll quickly get addicted to the game and find yourself playing every day due to the diversity of game modes, competitive gameplay, and frequent updates.(George Thompson contributed the material for Subway Surfers.)We really hope you enjoyed perusing our selection of engrossing games. Desire more? For even more games to savour, check out our articles on thebest mobile games, thebest iPhone games, and thebest Android games.

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