The Best Mobile Games of 2016

In 2016, the App Store and Google Play storefront were flooded with a ton of mobile games across all genres.

If you were thirsty for some new games focused on real-like Pocket Monster hunting/collecting, card battling takes on big franchises or big-scale JRPG’s, you were bound to find them on mobile devices. 2016 brought us all a bevy of mobile titles that featured addictive gameplay and worthwhile mechanics that put it above the rest of the knockoff trash flooding iOS/Android devices. The list of games we’re set to mention delivered on their promises of delivering boundless fun that you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere else.

Here’s a list of the best iOS/Android mobile games we’re still gonna play well into the New Year.

Pokemon Go

Taken from Best Android Games Description: Pokemon has made its return to the front of everyone’s minds in a big way. No one expected this game to become the global hit it quickly transformed into. Pokemon Go lets everyone who’s willing to walk a few blocks become a Pokemon Master. You’ll perform a myriad of tasks while you’re moving around the real world amongst other Pokemon trainers. It’s up to you to capture all types of familiar fighting monsters, stock up on Poke Balls, hatch Pokemon Eggs and help your collection of Pokemon evolve simply by constantly walking. When it’s time to tear down a gym or defend one, the fun factor behind this game truly skyrockets. Pokemon Go was the talk of the month and will continue to be as the year goes on.

Super Mario Run

Nintendo seems to finally be taking advantage of the mobile gaming landscape. They definitely realize that their vault full of memorable characters can be perfectly implemented in mobile games. One of the 1st ones we got a taste of in 2016 was the one starring everyone’s favorite plumber. Super Mario Run is an infinite runner-like experience that incorporates the best parts of the side-scrolling Super Mario games. There’s a bunch of playable characters with differing stats to play as, challenging stages to hop ‘n bop through and big boss encounters with familiar foes. The multiplayer races and Toad kingdom building mechanics add so much more to Super Mario Run’s full plate of quality Nintendo gameplay.

Clash Royale

Taken from Best Android Games Description: Clash of Clans is fine by itself. But when you breathe new life into its tower defense formula with card-battler mechanics, it becomes even more of a treat. All the miniaturized troops you’ve come to know (and destroy) come in the form of usable cards. Your decks will help you defend your towers and allow you to take down any opposing ones. Competing in AI battles are awesome, but competing in the Arena for some PVP skirmishes are even more amazing. The game’s TV Royale feature gives you some great strategies to take into battle, so you’ll always have a killer trick up your sleeve. Clash Royale takes the Clash of Clans formula and improves it (which is something we didn’t even think was possible).

Dawn of Titans

Taken from Best Android Games Description: From a purely graphical standpoint, Dawn of Titans stands tall as one of the most visually striking mobile games of 2016. Thankfully, there’s a great game here to back up the strong graphical output. As the ruler of your own thriving kingdom, you’ll be in charge of building it into something even more grander. Much of the fun derived from Dawn of Titans comes from completing your other main tasks – forging powerful alliances, building an army and leveling up your pantheon of outstanding Titans. Speaking of Titans, they’re the main stars of this mobile kingdom building experience. Dawn of Titans looks like it’ll get even better from here.

Severed

Taken from Best PlayStation Vita Games of 2016 Description: Sasha’s a warrior with one arm. Doesn’t sound like much of a threat, does she? Well that’s where you’re wrong. The loss of her family and her unyielding mission to find them puts her on a warpath with her powerful living sword in hand. The touchscreen-based battle system lets you hack all manner of baddies and sever their body parts off completely. Severed’s interesting art design brings Sasha’s torn world to life beautifully. It features light RPG mechanics, a fun equipment system, an incredible soundtrack and battles/puzzles that will truly challenge you.

Plants vs. Zombies Heroes

Taken from Best Android Games Description: We’re pretty shocked it took this long for Plants vs. Zombies to take a dip into the collectible card game sub-genre. Clash of Clans has had great success with it and that’s exactly the same case with PopCap/EA’s most popular mobile franchise. Plants vs. Zombies Heroes is what you’d expect: you’ll need to construct a team of either trusty plants or zombies and align them with you chosen hero. For example, you can step into the heroic role of either the plants’ Green Shadow or the zombies’ Super Brainz. There’s a ton of character cards to collect and put to work on the lanes catered towards real-time skirmishes. The Plants vs. Zombies formula makes all the sense in the world with this new spinoff.

Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius

Bravely Default brought back the traditional workings of past Final Fantasy games to 3DS owners. For those looking for the same type of RPG mechanics on iOS/Android devices, Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius brings that in spades. The 16-bit character sprites should evoke memories of the good ol’ days of Final Fantasy, as well as the dungeon crawling, sidequest adopting and party building elements that the series implements so well. The battle system is easy to understand, so make sure you’re prepared for climactic battles with the AI and other players. The nostalgia feels will certainly kick in once you acquire popular heroes from past Final Fantasy games. Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius is the traditional RPG experience that mobile gamers and old school FF fans should fully embrace.

EvilBane: Rise of Ravens

Taken from Best Android Games Description: My, my, my…mobile games have come a long way if we’re strictly talking about graphics. EvilBane: Rise of Ravens just looks amazing at first, second and even third glance. This action RPG offers up a worthwhile adventure that does right by the hi-def visuals it’s been given. There’s tons of loot to collect, team raids to involve yourself in, numerous dungeons to plunder, PvP arenas to challenge yourself in and a near infinite amount of guilds to align yourself with. EvilBane is a console-worthy game that’s been perfectly adapted into a fine hack n’slasher for mobile devices.

Shadowverse

Taken from Best Android Games Description: There’s already a million and one great digital card battlers out there on the mobile market. Welp, let’s add another one to that list: Shadowverse. The rules are simple and easy to follow: collect, evolve, strategize, battle and make sure to win at all costs. With 400+ cards to acquire and put to work during battle, you have plenty of opportunities to create a deck all your own. The art style behind this card battler is pristine, so this game is pretty easy on the eyes. Enjoy the offline story mode campaigns and take everything you learned there into the online unranked/ranked battles. Shadowverse is one of the best mobile time waster. And yes, that’s a compliment.

Galaxy on Fire 3 – Manticore

Venturing into the burgeoning frontier of space via your armed ship is a tough task to endure. Galaxy on Fire 3 transports you up into the stars once again and entrusts you with accepting contracts. These dangerous jobs puts you across from intergalactic gangs who’re out for blood. Surviving means hiring trustworthy wingmen and making sure your flight/fighting skills are unmatched. The fast flight gun battles look stunning and are always convivial, which means you’ll never tire of blasting rival ships out of the sky. Spread your influence across the universe as you unlock new powerful ships, hire new wingmen and clear out the worst space gangs in existence.