Spring is finally here, and there's no better way to
celebrate than by getting out of the house and having fun in nature.
Eventually, however, you'll need to use the bathroom, which is where this
list of fun mobile games should come in handy.
Android owners often have to wait for big
mobile releases, but there are still plenty
of great
games out there just waiting
to be played. I always try to offer players a mix of highly
polished titles and amateur
offerings in these Android
round-ups, and today's list is no exception.
Pixel
Twist
I've never quite seen a game like Pixel Twist before. The
simple puzzle game puts players on the periphery of an explosion of cubes; it's
up to you to rotate the camera around the jumbled mess until the target picture
comes into view. Pixel Twist isn't the deepest or most challenging game on the
list, but it is a fun and relaxing novelty that's perfect for short play
sessions.
Furiosity
This minimalist indie game doesn't look like much, but it kept
me hooked for all 144 levels. Furiosity is like the old Lights Out puzzle game,
where tapping on tiles either lights up or darkens adjacent tiles. The twist?
Each level has its own logic for which tiles are affected. Most levels can be
solved eventually with trial and error, but figuring out what the hell is going
on in each new level doesn't get old.
Flow
Electric
Another variation on a classic puzzle game, Flow Electric
plays a bit like Pipe
Dream, only instead of laying out tiles, you simply rotate them to restore
power to various homes. There is no timer in Flow Electric, and the puzzles
aren't too challenging, which makes it a fun and relaxing way to pass the time
during commercial breaks and car rides – provided you're not the one driving,
of course.
Compulsive
Matching games are a dime a dozen on Android – actually they're
even cheaper. However, Compulsive provides a simple and entertaining
alternative to more challenging entries in the genre. Players can select and drag
colored squares from anywhere on the playing field while lining up matches,
ensuring that the 60-second rounds are free from lulls in the action. You can
unlock a couple of additional modes as well, and compete with friends via
online leaderboards.
Little
Things Forever
I don't usually enjoy hidden object games, but something
about Little Things Forever managed to catch – and keep – my attention. Instead
of placing objects in some innocuous environment like most hidden object games,
Little Things Forever presents players with an object composed entirely of other random crap. The pleasant art style makes hunting down items as fun as it can
be, and there's no hokey story breaking up the action.
7
Little Words
I can't very well put together a list of Android games
without including at least one word game. Each puzzle in the game tasks players
with guessing seven words based on their corresponding clues. Players piece together
the answers by selecting tiles that contain different combinations of letters,
making it a little easier than a straight-up trivia game. I also like Trivia
Labs' clone, Game of
Words, which features a much higher degree of difficulty – but you should
support the original game by checking out 7 Little Words first.
Quiet,
Please!
If you're a fan of old-school adventure games, you should think about setting aside an hour or two to play through Quiet, Please! The game stars a little
girl searching for some peace and quiet, and she must outsmart her family, a
lawn-mowing neighbor, and a pack of playful kittens to get it. The simplified
controls and inventory system make interacting with the environment a cinch,
and the humorous puzzles elicited a couple of chuckles from me.
Knights
of Pen & Paper +1
I played a lot of Dark
Souls II last month, but my nightly progress was frequently sidetracked by Knights
of Pen & Paper. The tongue-in-cheek RPG provides a simple but rewarding
take on the genre, allowing you to level up a party of gamers-turned-heroes, buy
and forge new items, and save the kingdom from an evil threat. The frequent
fetch quests eventually wore on me, but I still had a lot of fun with the game.
Star
Command
I'm a huge
sci-fi nerd, so commanding my own starship and recruiting a custom crew in
Star Command was an easy sell. The retro-looking strategy game lets you explore
the universe while battling a variety of different enemy species. The
vulnerability of your crewmates keeps the simple ship-to-ship battles tense,
and the variety of upgrades you can invest in offers a rewarding sense of
progression. Star Trek fans will definitely appreciate the lighthearted tone –
but that won't lessen the sting of permanently losing your favorite engineer
when you blow it in the captain's chair.
Terra
Forma
At first I thought Terra Forma was just another Minecraft
rip-off, but it's actually a unique puzzle game. Players tap on various plots to
transform them into different land types and ultimately remove them from the
level. Each land type behaves differently, however, requiring strategic
transformation and removal. Terra Forma even features an editor for creating
and sharing levels, ensuring you won't run out of content anytime soon.
Know of any other
Android games worth playing? Share them in the comments below!