20 Mobile Games That Are Easy To Learn But Hard To Master

20. Alto’s Adventure

Alto’s Adventure has one-touch controls that make it super accessible for almost anyone. It's a sleek, modern, endless snowboarding game where you'll have to chain tricks as you traverse through multiple terrains and backgrounds. However, the real challenge comes with the longer you survive, as the speed increases and the dangers come rolling faster toward you. Pair that with the mechanics, such as gliding and flying, and you'll need to be on your toes to figure out what to do so you don't crash.

(Image Credit: Team Alto)

19. Candy Crush Saga

Candy Crush Saga is a simple game with match-3 mechanics. But, once you peel the casual aspect aside, you'll find a game with layers of combo and strategy depth. You'll also need a Chess-like approach in planning your moves, as you'll want to create the best combo possible to clear levels.

(Image Credit: King)

18. Marvel Snap

Marvel Snap was designed to offer fast card duels that are simple to start. As you dive deeper into the many cards and locations, there are certainly a lot of deck strategies that are worth taking a look at and refining. Matches are also rather short, so you'll need to devise strong tactics, but ones that can have an almost immediate impact on the board.

(Image Credit: Second Dinner)

17. 2048

2048 is a minimalist number-merging puzzle game where the objective is to combine the numbered tiles on the grid to get the number 2048 — and as high a number as you possibly can. It's a game that'll definitely take a few attempts to solve, but that's a good thing if you're a fan of games that require some skill to win.

(Image Credit: Gabriele Cirulli)

16. Baba Is You

The basic idea of Baba Is You is easy to grasp, but bending the game’s somewhat straightforward rules to solve increasingly complex puzzles makes this one a true brain-burner. Your goal is to help the titular character, Baba, by reaching the level's goal. The game has won numerous awards for its gameplay, so that's your slight head-up about its fun but challenging puzzles.

(Image Credit: Hempuli)

15. Tomb of the Mask

The swipe-to-move controls in Tomb of the Mask make it instantly playable, but the latter stages demand precise timing and pattern recognition to survive. It'll certainly take some dexterity (and luck) for you to navigate through the difficult mazes and overcome the many traps and obstacles.

(Image Credit: Happymagenta)

14. Automatoys

In Automatoys, the first few puzzles feel playful and relaxing, but as you reach higher levels, you'll need more experimentation to figure out the solution. You'll "tap, turn, tilt, and spin the contraptions" to help the ball roll to its destination in the obstacle course. Keep in mind that the first three levels are free to play, but you'll need to purchase the full game if you want to keep playing beyond that.

(Image Credit: Idle Friday)

13. Brawl Stars

On the surface, Brawl Stars is a straightforward top-down shooter packed with playable Brawlers, game modes, and nonstop action. However, as new mechanics are regularly introduced and the competition ramps up at higher ranks, the game reveals a surprisingly high skill ceiling for players aiming to reach the very top.

(Image Credit: Supercell)

12. Downwell

Downwell is a unique vertically-scrolling shooter title with roguelike elements. In it, you play as a young person who explores an underground well in search of hidden treasures. You'll also encounter mysterious creatures that you'll need to vanquish. Overall, the movement and shooting are easy to learn, but surviving requires precision and sharp reflexes. The most interesting part about this game is that no two runs are ever the same, as each level in Downwell is procedurally generated. This means you'll truly need to sharpen your skills if you want to stand a chance at overcoming this game.

(Image Credit: Devolver Digital)

11. Clash Royale

Clash Royale is a real-time strategy card battler where each card you play summons a unit on the battlefield. You'll need to outsmart your opponent if you want to destroy their troops and, ultimately, their Towers. It may sound simple at first, but the gameplay gets more complex as you dive into the mechanics, such as Card Evolutions and Heroes. You'll need to keep that in mind as you build your decks, which, depending on the deck synergy, can play a huge role in how each battle plays out. All in all, it will take some time and effort to really master Clash Royale.

(Image Credit: Supercell)

10. Geometry Dash

Geometry Dash is a rhythm-based platform game where you navigate an object from Point A to Point B while avoiding contact with various obstacles. The gameplay is strikingly simple, as the game is an automatic side-scroller, and there is only one button, which allows you to maneuver the object. The challenge comes from the brutal level design. Some of them are unforgiving and require a few hundred tries to complete. It's quite frankly a real test of rhythm and patience.

(Image Credit: RobTop Games)

9. Slay the Spire

Slay the Spire is a single-player deck-building game that has "fused" roguelike elements into its gameplay for a really unique experience. You'll assemble decks that allow you to defeat the monsters you'll meet along the way as you ascend the many floors on the spire, and, ultimately, slay it. Like Downwell, each floor is procedurally generated, which means no two runs are ever the same. Slay the Spire also has hundreds of cards to choose from. Altogether, you'll find that this game is complicated, and having a masterful understanding of the game's mechanics is critically important.

(Image Credit: Mega Crit)

8. Into the Breach

Set in the future, Into the Breach is a turn-based strategy game where you'll serve as the world's last savior against alien enemies. Your role requires you to assemble a squad of your strongest pilots and mechs to protect your territory. To ensure you have the perfect defense, you've got to plan the perfect counter to your enemy's attack. That means analyzing it and deploying the right units and machinery. This is more intricate than it seems. If you're looking for something more difficult, you should try the Advanced Edition, as it introduces more advanced weapons, mechs, missions, and enemies.

(Image Credit: Subset Games)

7. Crossy Road

Crossy Road is an action game whose gameplay somewhat answers the saying "Why did the chicken cross the road?" It's described as an "8-bit endless arcade hopper" where you, as a chicken, navigate threatening terrains, such as railroads and freeways, and try to survive for as long as possible. But lasting longer requires pattern recognition and, of course, insanely quick reactions.

(Image Credit: Hipster Whale)

6. Jetpack Joyride

Jetpack Joyride is arguably a classic title in the mobile gaming scene. The endless runner action game sees you controlling a jetpack-powered person known as Barry Steakfries as you traverse through hostile environments and evade weapons like lasers and missiles. Your goal is to survive for as long as possible. The key to success is mastering your gadget combos, and that, needless to say, takes some time.

(Image Credit: Halfbrick Studios)

5. Plants vs. Zombies

Plants vs. Zombies is a tower defense game where you'll command an army of plants, which you must deploy to defend your garden against swarms of zombies. There are lots of plants to choose from and, equally, lots of zombie types to prepare against. That said, you'll need to carefully select your plant roster and analyze the zombies you'll face if you want to clear the progressively harder levels. There's a fair amount of resource management that needs to go into your strategy as well. Trust us when we say that some levels require some trial and error, but that's where the fun comes into play.

(Image Credit: PopCap Games)

4. Badland

In Badland, you control a creature known as Clony (and their army of clones called Clones) as you navigate through various stages that are filled with different types of traps and obstacles. Don't get lost in the atmospheric graphics and audio, as you'll need to keep your wits about you to make it through each unwelcoming level. Badland is somewhat similar to the puzzle-platform game Limbo, so if you're a fan of those types of games, then this title might be something that'll pique your interest.

(Image Credit: Frogmind)

3. Reigns

Reigns is a tricky strategy game where you play as a medieval King who must make decisions for the good (or bad) of their kingdom. You'll need to carefully read each decision and weigh the impact its outcome will have on one of the four key aspects that dictate your future: the army, the church, the king's wealth, and the people. Tread too dangerously low on any one of these aspects, and you'll run the risk of having yourself thrown out of power. It's all about maintaining balance and ensuring that you please everyone as best as you can.

(Image Credit: Nerial)

2. Mini Metro

Mini Metro is a puzzle-based strategy game where your objective is to construct the most efficient metro system in a rapidly developing city. Drawing subway lines feels intuitive, yet optimizing those routes and preventing network collapse becomes increasingly challenging over time.

(Image Credit: Dinosaur Polo Club)

1. Genshin Impact

At its core, Genshin Impact is easy to pick up, with straightforward combat, exploration, and character switching. But, as you dive deeper into the lore and its many mechanics, mastering elemental reactions, team synergies, rotations, and endgame challenges reveals just how high the skill ceiling really is. It's truly a game where, no matter how much time you sink into learning all the key details, there's always something else that you'll need to read about or master.

(Image Credit: HoYoverse)