5 games to play on your new Galaxy Note 9, Huawei Mate 20 Pro, or Pixel 3
Or OnePlus 6. Or Razer Phone 2
Did someone get a new flagship Android phone for Christmas? Someone's a very lucky person indeed.
Now that you've got your potent pocket computer, what are you going to do with it? We'd recommend playing some games. But then, we would.
We've crammed a bunch of phones into the headline and strapline of this feature, but we could have added a whole heap more. The Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro, for example, or the Sony Xperia XZ3. The Samsung Galaxy S9, or the Google Pixel XL. And so on, and so forth.
The point is that it doesn't really matter. If someone has spent north of £500 on a smartphone for you, it's almost certainly going to be brilliant at playing games.
Check these beautiful things for starters. These aren't necessarily the best games available for Android devices, but they are the best showcases for sparkly-fresh hardware.
1
Asphalt 9: Legends
Asphalt 9: Legends is a real visual treat of an arcade racer, with the kind of colourful, detailed 3D graphics and fancy post-processing effects that used to be the preserve of home consoles.
Starting Asphalt 9 up on one of the flagship phones mentioned above will enable you to experience the game at full tilt, with the graphical slide cranked up to max.
It's also an awful lot of fun to play, with plenty of improbable automotive acrobatics and the kind of tight bumper-to-bumper racing we're almost obliged to call 'high octane'.
2
Fortnite Battle Royale
Everyone knows about Fortnite by now. If you don't, ask your little sibling/nibling/offspring for a quick primer.
It's the game all the kids are playing, and the best news is that it's available on mobile. And what a job Epic has done with this smartphone version.
Fortnite is a technically stunning 3D battle royale game full of shooting and looting and base building. You can't actually get it on the Google Play Store, but it's free to download form the Epic website.
3
Mekamon Robot V2
Showing off your new mobile needn't be all about the graphics. These devices have advanced sensors, displays and processor that can run stunning augmented reality applications - especially in conjunction with Google's ARCore tools.
Mekamon is one of the most impressive of these apps. It takes a remote controlled robot (using your phone as the controller) and builds a compelling multiplayer AR shooter around it.
It's not cheap to get the full Mekamon experience (around £200 to £250), but there are few games that can impress as much as this.
4
F1 Mobile Racing
It's at the opposite end of the racer spectrum to Asphalt 9 in many ways, but F1 Mobile Racing is a true technical showcase nonetheless.
The game captures the speed, precision, and technical detail of the pinnacle of motorsport remarkably well. Just check out those sharp car models and realistic driving physics.
F1 Mobile Racing is also a surprisingly accessible online multiplayer experience, so it's stacks of fun to play.
5
Shadowgun Legends
You can always turn to Madfinger Games to provide a means for stretching and showcasing the latest Android hardware. Its latest effort, Shadowgun Legends, is no different.
This is an ambitious first person sci-fi shooter that rolls together a meaty single player campaign with fun multiplayer scrapping.
Think of it as mobile's very own Destiny, with the impressive 3D graphics and slick FPS action to match.
