The gaming industry is growing by the day. Part of that growth has been driven by the game companies that continue to create top-tier entertainment year after year. Some might argue that most of the industry’s growth is driven by a staggering increase in availability.
Take Google Play Pass for example. For a nominal price of $4.99 a month, you could unlock an impressively large video game library that’s entirely playable on your smartphone or tablet. In fact, Google Play Pass has so many games to choose from that trying to pick one can be quite dizzying.
Today, we’re going to sift through Google’s growing list of high-end mobile-calibrated games to bring you up to speed on which of them are worth playing.
Piotr Swat/ShutterstockDead Cells
Dead Cells gave life to the Roguevania genre when it launched in 2018. In it, you play the Prisoner. They are a being destined to fight, die, and fight again until you escape from the diseased island setting.
The combat, upgrades, weapons, and minute-to-minute gameplay make for a fast-paced experience that’ll have you coming back again and again. Dead Cells isn’t for everyone. However, fans of similar games like Dark Souls, The Binding of Isaac, and Hades should definitely give this one a try.
Getting Over It
Ever wonder what it might be like to climb a mountain with only a sledgehammer while sitting in a man-sized cauldron? You know what, don’t answer that question. Instead, download Getting Over It and settle in for a surreal challenge.
This viral game is impossibly difficult, which is part of its charm. Better — or maybe worse — yet, it is unforgiving as each fall resets all of the player’s progress. As such, Getting Over It isn’t for the faint of heart.
Despite its unforgiving difficulty, Getting Over It is certainly a one-of-a-kind experience you won’t soon forget.
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley sits near the top of many best indie games lists. Equal parts farming sim and RPG, the retro-inspired gameplay lets you cut away the stresses of modern life and embrace the simple pleasures of living off the land. Gameplay is a mix of Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing, with a style and sense of humor that’s entirely its own thing.
Although Stardew Valley is already widely available across most gaming platforms, the ability to play it on the go makes a strong case for a Play Pass subscription.
Prune
At face value, Prune seems mundane. I mean, how entertaining could a game about pruning trees truly be? The answer is remarkably entertaining.
This minimalistic masterpiece tasks you with pruning and shaping your tree to maximize the amount of sunlight it’s exposed to, whilst also avoiding the dangers that surround it.
Prune is a passive puzzle game that’s easy to pick up when the mood strikes. Words can’t exactly describe Prune’s calming and satisfying gameplay. This is a game that must be experienced first hand.
Thimbleweed Park
Fans of The Secret of Monkey Island will find a familiar yet fresh experience waiting for them in the titular Thimbleweed Park. The strange and mysterious setting sets the tone for an unforgettable adventure.
Memorable characters, satisfying puzzles, and a barrel of laughs round out this point-and-click, neo-noir adventure. The less you know, the more enthralling your time playing Thimbleweed Park will be.
Crashlands
It’s been a few years since Crashlands crash landed, but the game is so good that it’s still worth talking about. In it, you play as a galactic trucker that’s stranded on an alien planet. What begins as a modest delivery job transforms into a bid to save the world from an evil alien named Hewgodooko.
Crashlands is a sweeping action RPG with mobile-friendly movement and combat. Plus, it features countless unique areas to explore and get lost in. If you want more tactile controls, the game offers controller support.
Wayward Souls
Use one of six payable characters and explore procedurally generated levels for an infinite amount of replayable fun in Wayward Souls. This top-down, action-adventure RPG delivers countless hours of dungeons to explore and enemies to slay.
Wayward Souls combines elements of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and the Dark Souls series to deliver an elevated and challenging mobile gaming experience. Its escalating challenge is all part of the fun though, and why you’ll no doubt keep returning to play more.
Sonic the Hedgehog Classic
Retro junkies will love revisiting this one on the go. Sonic the Hedgehog revolutionized gaming when it originally released in 1991. Now optimized for mobile devices, Sonic the Hedgehog is subverting expectations all over again.
Just as fun as it was back in Sega Genesis days, Sonic the Hedgehog Classic offers controller support and added fan-favorite alternative characters Tails and Knuckles. It’s never been easier to get your nostalgia fix on the go, thanks in large part to Google Play Pass and Sonic the Hedgehog Classic.
Cut the Rope
Cut the Rope is a mobile gaming classic. Released way back in 2012, the game remains relevant and fun to play — even to this day. In it, you aid a piece of candy into the mouth of protagonist Om Nom. This results in a series of challenging and satisfying logic puzzles
Cut the Rope is easy to pick up and play whenever the opportunity strikes. Plus, with over 425 challenges to overcome, you’ll likely be looking for opportunities to open this one up all day long.
Lumino City
Puzzle fans are spoiled for choice, that’s for sure. Lumino City is another award winning, puzzle-centric adventure available for all Play Pass subscribers.
Visually, Lumino City is unlike anything on the service. Everything you see was crafted entirely by hand using paper, card, motors, and miniature lights. The result is a timeless aesthetic that will forever remain a benchmark for what gamers might be able to expect from their mobile-friendly games.
Mini Metro
Fans of city-building strategy sims can scratch their itch on the go with Mini Metro. This game tasks the player with designing a subway map for a surging city.
Redraw subway lines using a limited pool of resources to keep your bustling city moving as efficiently and for as long as possible. The city grows randomly, which makes each run entirely unique. As a result, Mini Metro is incredibly difficult to put down.
If you love puzzles, the multi-award winning Mini Metro is certainly worth your time.
Limbo
The game that put developer Playdead on the map has made it to Google Play Pass for millions more to enjoy. Limbo uses shadow, music, and stellar sound design to tell a gripping tale that you’ll likely never forget.
Limbo is a story-drive, side-scrolling, platformer/puzzle game that’s perfect for anyone looking to immerse themselves in a unique and gripping narrative. Despite releasing well over a decade ago, don’t let the game’s age dissuade you. Limbo’s gameplay and art style have stood the test of time magnificently.
Monument Valley 2
Monument Valley 2 is a game that is best experienced cold. The less you know about this remarkable game, the more enjoyable it will inevitably be. What we can say is that the game tasks you to explore architectural structures with integrated puzzles to advance through a beautifully designed environment.
This one is meant for those who enjoy solving puzzles, but Monument Valley 2 is far from stressful. On the contrary, the game’s memorable soundtrack and striking visuals make for the perfect, laid back puzzle-solving experience.
The Gardens Between
Explore the themes of friendship, memory, and time, in this critically acclaimed puzzler, wherever you go.
In The Gardens Between, you take control of best friends Arina and Frendt as they navigate a mysterious realm where time flows in all directions. The game is quick to get the hang of and easy to fall in love with. It will no doubt leave you wanting more, long after your journey is complete.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is beloved by both Star Wars fans and RPG lovers. Released in 2003, the game was way ahead of its time in more ways than one. This revolutionary game would lay the groundwork for future Bioware classics like Mass Effect and Dragon Age.
Now built for mobile, KOTR uses touch controls to deliver a fantastic port of one of the all time greats.
Terraria
Calling all sandbox fans. Terraria lets you build, craft, fight, and explore a procedurally generated world to uncover the seemingly endless secrets scattered within. Terraria draws a lot of comparisons to the ultra-popular sandbox exploration game Minecraft, though the two diverge in a number of significant ways.
Having said that, fans of Minecraft will no doubt find a lot to love about this incredible addition to Google’s Play Pass library.
Conclusion
Just when you thought your backlog couldn’t get any bigger Google goes ahead and unleashes the Play Pass on the world. The thing is, Play Pass isn’t just made for hardcore gamers. This collection of finely-tuned mobile adaptations and exclusive mobile blockbusters provide the ultimate entry point for beginners.
You don’t need an expensive at-home gaming console to be able to enjoy world-class gaming experiences. If you have a mobile device, an internet connection, and Google’s Play Pass, then you have a library of games to explore.