Kan Dail
Mobile gaming is on the rise, with some predicting it’ll leave console and PC gaming in the dust in the near future. Whatever the future holds, one thing is certain: hyper-casual titles dominate mobile gaming and are one of the best ways to spend your free time.
Ease of gameplay is the main factor separating hyper-casual from standard video games. Many trace this gaming phenomenon to 2013 hit, Flappy Bird. All players had to do was tap repeatedly on their smartphone or tablet to progress.
The game’s simplicity made it hard to put down, and it generated millions of downloads. Many titles have built on its success, but finding the best games in a crowded field isn’t always easy. With that in mind, we’ve compiled this list of some of the best hyper-casual games available.
1. Casino Games
Within the casino game genre, online slots are often the hyper-casual game of choice. Online casinos like Betway offer fun titles like Amazon Kingdom, Diamond Sands, and Lion Strike. They have various themes, including Ancient Egypt and the Wild Wild West. They’re also easy to play and don’t require a significant time investment, making them ideal for short bursts of play.
2. PostKnight
If you’re a fan of the RPG genre but don’t want to get bogged down in a game that requires a lot of time, PostKnight may just be the game you need. It revolves around defeating enemies and trying to stay alive using your three abilities.
The game doesn’t require the constant grinding to level up that many RPGs do, which makes it perfect for those times when you want to play a carefree title. You can spend coins to increase your abilities and buy items, and it also has mini-side quests to keep you entertained.
3. Helix Jump
If you’re planning an upcoming trip and wondering what you’ll do to stay entertained during your downtime, consider adding this game to your list of travel essentials to take with you. The game has millions of downloads for a good reason: it’s easy to play and hard to put down.
The goal of the 3D game is to guide a bouncing ball down a rotating axis. You’ll have to avoid several obstacles as you play, including landing in forbidden zones. While the game seems simple on the surface, it’s surprisingly challenging.
4. Wordscapes
There’s no shortage of word games available in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, making choosing a good one a bit of a challenge. As with all good things, you’ll want to play this entertaining title in moderation, according to studies on technology’s impact on the brain.
With that said, if you consider yourself a wordsmith, you may find it hard to put down this interesting yet complex word game. You’ll start with a set of letters, and your goal is to spell words to complete the crossword board. All you have to do is swipe letters until you form a word. While the game offers hints, it’s more fun if you complete it without using them.
5. Grass Cut
As the new year is upon us, you might be compiling your list of new year’s resolutions. Improving your technical skills using an online service like Google Digital Garage or committing to going to the gym are always good options. Whatever you decide, one thing is almost certain – at some point, you’ll find yourself with extra time on your hands.
Grass Cut is one of the best games to play when you want to disconnect and have a good time. The game’s goal is simple: mow all that grass. However, it’s more challenging than it sounds. You have to navigate the mower through spinning blades and avoid ending up in the water.
Despite that, it’s easy to play, only requiring you to tap in order to maneuver through the obstacles. This simple game is very satisfying, and that’s what’ll keep you coming back for more.
6. Fun Race 3D
Racing games are among the most popular hyper-casual games available, with Fun Race 3D being one of the best. Your goal in this game is to dodge obstacles as you run along the path. You have to keep an eye out for competitors, too, because they’re everywhere trying to stop your progress.
TikTok helped popularize the game, leading to over a million downloads worldwide. The game’s navigation system is simple, consisting of tapping and holding to control your character’s moves. While the graphics aren’t top-notch, that’s not the most important factor when it comes to these types of games. It’s an exciting title that’s full of features and free to play.
7. Crowd City
Imagine a city overrun with people that keeps getting more and more crowded. That’s the concept behind Crowd City, a game that sees you controlling a group running all over a city, convincing others to join your crowd.
As more people join, the crowd grows, and you have to control the direction it moves. Although it may not sound very challenging, it’s surprisingly complex and entertaining.
8. Hyper Casual Database Puzzle
Fans of puzzles will want to try this fun game. As the name suggests, you’ll be working within a database. You’ll need to match the database functions – delete, update, select, and insert – with the corresponding colored section on the side of the screen.
It has solid animation, and there’s a progress bar at the bottom of the screen to help you keep track of time. It’s easy to get the hang of and, despite its title, no technical skills are needed to play.
9. Stacky Bird
Creating long chains of eggs and getting past obstacles is your goal in the game Stacky Bird, which has a great story to go along with entertaining gameplay. As you progress in the game, you’ll face off against thorns and monsters waiting to trip you up. You’ll also receive coins along the way to unlock new characters.
The game has solid graphics, a variety of themes, and a smooth interface, so it’s unsurprising that it’s earned fans all around the world.
10. FreeCell
FreeCell is a popular variant of Solitaire. Unlike classic solitaire, you have four open cells where you can move cards to at any time. The goal of these open cells is to help sequence your cards to eventually place in the foundation. The game requires patience and trial and error, and will challenge you to think strategically.