Among Us launched quietly in 2018, but two years later it blew up thanks to streamers, lockdown boredom, and some unexpected political cameos. Suddenly, accusing your friends of murder in space became the internet’s favorite pastime.
(Image Credit: InnerSloth)
FIFA Mobile brought football to your fingertips, even if the controls never quite matched the console experience. Still, for millions without a console, it became the way to build squads, score goals, and stay in the game.
(Image Credit: Electronic Arts)
Monument Valley didn’t try to look real, this game went a surreal way, and it worked. With its dreamlike puzzles and Escher-style visuals, it felt more like playing a piece of art than just another mobile game.
(Image Credit: ustwo games)
Helix Jump is one of those games you try once, and suddenly you’ve been playing for an hour. Its one-finger controls and fast pace made it the perfect mindless time-killer everyone got hooked on.
(Image Credit: VOODOO)
Coin Master hooked players with slot machine spins, village building, and the thrill of raiding your friends. It’s sneaky-addictive, full of flashy rewards, and keeps people coming back with nonstop events and celeb-packed ads.
(Image Credit: Moon Active)
Homescapes pulled in casual players with its mix of match-3 puzzles and home makeover fun. It’s the kind of game you open just for a minute, then end up playing for an hour while decorating a digital living room.
(Image Credit: Playrix)
Roblox became a phenomenon by letting anyone play and even create games without spending a dime. With endless free content and a massive community, it’s more of a platform than a game, and that’s exactly why it exploded.
(Image Credit: Roblox Corporation)
Asphalt 8: Airborne made racing on mobile feel fast, flashy, and surprisingly smooth, especially for a free game. Even if later updates got messy, the wild stunts, great graphics, and arcade-style chaos kept people coming back.
(Image Credit: Gameloft)
Minecraft: Pocket Edition brought the full sandbox experience to your phone, no PC or console needed. Clunky controls or not, millions played it simply because it let them build, mine, and survive anywhere, anytime.
(Image Credit: Mojang Studios)
Despicable Me: Minion Rush took the endless runner formula and packed it with charm, chaos, and banana-loving mayhem. It wasn’t just fun to play since it let you be a Minion, which somehow made it even better.
(Image Credit: Gameloft)
My Talking Tom started as a silly app where a cat repeats what you say, but somehow, it turned into something people actually cared for. Like a digital pet with fart jokes, it hit that weird sweet spot between novelty and attachment.
(Image Credit: Outfit7)
PUBG Mobile redefined mobile gaming by bringing the full battle royale experience with 100 players, squads, vehicles, and all straight to your phone. It blew up fast thanks to free access, solid graphics, and the thrill of winning a chicken dinner with your friends.
(Image Credit: Level Infinite)
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) got huge because anyone could grab it for free and start playing right away. Casual modes are simple and fun, but climb into Ranked, and this game suddenly starts to feel like a full-on esports.
(Image Credit: MOONTON)
Hearthstone is part game and part chaos since RNG plays as big a role as strategy, and that’s exactly why fans love it. Whether you’re chasing wins or just playing for the wild plays, Hearthstone keeps pulling people back in.
(Image Credit: Blizzard Entertainment)
Before endless runners were everywhere, Jetpack Joyride nailed this formula. This game was fast, chaotic, and full of power-ups you wanted. It was one of the first free-to-play hits that made in-app purchases feel fun instead of annoying.
(Image Credit: Halfbrick Studios)
Pokémon Go turned going outside into a game, and suddenly, parks were full, strangers were talking, and three generations were playing together. With real-world exploration, community events, and unexpected health benefits, it became way more than just catching Pikachu.
(Image Credit: Niantic)
Clash of Clans blew up because everyone was playing it and spending money to stay ahead. Between addictive base-building, clan wars, and constant updates, it became one of the first mobile games to feel like a full-time hobby.
(Image Credit: Supercell)
Candy Crush Saga wasn’t about beating the game; it was always about almost beating it, over and over, until you gave in and tried again. Candy Crush mastered frustration, sunk cost, and just-one-more-try design like no mobile game before it.
(Image Credit: King)
It looked harmless, tap to fly through pipes, but somehow Flappy Bird turned into a rage-inducing obsession. Everyone was trying to beat their friend's score, and the fact that it was free, offline, and brutally hard made it impossible to ignore.
(Image Credit: .Gears)
Swipe to turn, jump, slide – it's extremely easy to learn, but the deeper you get, the more locked in you become. Temple Run 2 nailed that flow state where minutes disappear, and somehow, many gamers are still running.
(Image Credit: Imangi Studios)
It’s been over a decade, and Subway Surfers is somehow still going strong with new updates, new cities, and a player base that refuses to quit. Gen Z grew up on it, Gen Alpha’s still playing it, and the memes haven’t stopped since.
(Image Credit: SYBO Games)
Back when touchscreen gaming was just getting started, Fruit Ninja made swiping your finger feel like slicing real fruit. It was the first game that made people go, “Wait, this is what phones can do?”
(Image Credit: Halfbrick Studios)
If Angry Birds was everywhere, Cut the Rope was right behind it, just as addictive, but with slicker physics and a bit more brainwork. You’re feeding candy to a little green guy, and somehow that never gets old.
(Image Credit: ZeptoLab)
You plant goofy-looking plants to stop zombies from walking into your house. What's not to love? Plants vs. Zombies is easy to learn, packed with surprises, and somehow can get a non-gamer wife and 4-year-old completely hooked.
(Image Credit: Electronic Arts)
Angry Birds was simple, addictive, and oddly satisfying. No instructions were needed, just slingshot birds at smug pigs. Everyone had it on their phone, and getting three stars on every level felt like a personal mission.
(Image Credit: Rovio Entertainment)
From slingshotting birds to surviving battle royales, these are the games that had everyone glued to their phones.
Whether you played them on the bus, in bed, or during class (we won’t tell), here are 25 mobile games that shaped a decade and made the 2010s all the more fun.
