It's The World's End - 10 mobile games to play during the apocalypse

Picture the scene: cracks are forming in the ground, lava is spewing up from every crevice, and giant tidal waves of ash are engulfing the land.

You're doomed whichever way you look at it, so you might as well sit back and download some appropriate mobile games to wait out the world's end.

But which ones should you grab? It's not like you have an abundance of time to choose, right? Never fear, Pocket Gamer has considered all the possibilities, and now presents you with the best games to play just before the world goes under.

We've got platformers, shooters, adventure games, arcade games, and more. Something for everyone facing the apocalypse, essentially.

Ziggurat
By Action Button Entertainment - buy on iPhone and iPad

Everyone else is dead. You are the lone survivor of the human race, and perched atop a mountain peak above the clouds. The robotic horde is advancing on you.

Death is inevitable in Ziggurat. But you can try to survive for as long as possible, as strange alien beasts who have already wiped out the rest of the human race attempt to finish off the job.

Don't worry, though - you've got a laser rifle, and you're rather handy with it, so you'll be able to last at least a short while before the end comes.

The Walking Dead
By Telltale - download free on iPhone and iPad

The Walking Dead was my personal favourite game of 2012. Not that years matter any more because, you know, the end of the world and all that.

What makes this zombie adventure game so fantastic is the sheer range of decisions you're provided with, and how each choice you make can completely affect how the story plays out.

Zombies don't have to mean the end of the world, of course. They make great pets, and life as a zombie isn't so bad either.

Apocalypse Max
By Wandake - buy on iPhone and iPad

Apocalypse Max is essentially a cheeky Metal Slug homage, but we're totally cool with that.

There's an apocalypse going on, and Max is on a mission to put the world to rights. This obviously includes beefy guns, and lots of killing, as you'd expect.

Sure, Apocalypse Max doesn't really do anything we haven't already seen before, but really now, is innovation the first thing on your mind when the world is about to swallow you whole?

Bastion
By Supergiant Games - buy on iPhone and iPad

Bastion picks up after the events of "the Calamity", described as a catastrophic event that has fractured the world and split it into multiple floating pieces.

You play the Kid, who is on a quest to fix the world. You meet plenty of other survivors along the way. But fixing the world isn't exactly a walk in the park.

You probably wouldn't want to go for a walk in the park during the apocalypse in any case - there's nowhere to hide from impending doom in wide open spaces.

Plague Inc.
By Ndemic Creations - buy on iPhone and iPad or buy on Android

Attempting to survive the end of civilization as we know it is one thing, but what about being on the other side of the coin?

Plague Inc. puts you in the role of a virus that is sweeping the world, silently infecting people before you switch on the disease and start killing off civilians.

The question is: can you kill everyone off before the human race can create a vaccine?

Tokyo Jungle Mobile
By Crispy's - buy on PS Vita or a PS Certified Android device

This PlayStation Mobile title envisions a world in which humans have all died out, and our cities have become overrun with trees and various wild animals.

You play one such animal, as it looks to simply survive for as many generations as possible. You need to dodge and attack animals that are stronger than you, while also feeding on those that are weaker to keep your strength up.

You start off controlling various dogs and other household pets, but eventually you'll be tackling lions, jaguars, and even dinosaurs.

The Silent Age
By House on Fire - download free on iPhone and iPad or Android

Joe is a free-roaming spirit of the '70s. Life is pretty simple for this building attendant, and his prospects are so-so.

That is until he finds a time-travelling device, jumps forward 40 years, and discovers himself in a post-apocalyptic setting.

The Silent Age sees you jumping back and forth between these two times, attempting to find out exactly what happened, and saving mankind from extinction.

Machinarium
By Amanita Design - buy on iPad or buy on Android

Imagine, if you will, a world in which humans do not exist for whatever reason, and robots rule.

Metallic cities light up the skyline, and various steel-plated droids potter around, getting on with their everyday lives.

Josef the robot is a little worse for wear, and starts the game on a scrapheap. With your help, he'll save the city and get the girl.

The World Ends With You: Solo Remix
By Jupiter Corporation - buy on iPhone and iPad

Neku wakes up in a strange, alternative universe, in which he can see everyone around him, but he can't interact with them.

Is he dead? Are they dead? What the heck is going on with the world? This is the story of The World Ends With You, and it's a fantastic story at that.

This is a game unlike any other, with fast-paced attacks and badge-based action. If you want your last game on earth to be memorable, this will do it.

Apoc Wars
By Gloops - download free on iPhone and iPad

Let's finish off with a free-to-play game, because let's be honest, if the end of the world is nigh, Apple's online payment system probably isn't going to be functional.

Apoc Wars is a social strategy game with a Borderlands-style setting, which focuses on building up an army and attacking your friends's bases.

If you're into your city-building games, and an apocalyptic scenario tickles your pickle, then it's well worth grabbing this DeNA-published game. Just make sure you do it quickly - there might be no one else to play against soon.