Best Games

Top 20 best indie mobile games

|
Top 20 best indie mobile games

Some people prefer to play games created by smaller independent studios because they usually have a creative and new approach. These are the best indie mobile games.

Left Arrow
0/20
Right Arrow
Updated on January 8th, 2024 - re-checked the list, original article by Will Quick, updated by Ivan Spasojevic and Jupiter Hadley

Making a game is one of the most time-consuming and expensive ordeals a person can undertake, which is even more challenging for independent creators. Thankfully, mobile is perfect for those working with limited resources to try out their ideas. There are a number of tools available to put a game together and a majority of them come with a mobile component to quickly turn the game into an app. Whether it's a starting point or an experiment, these indie mobile games can be some of the most fun gaming experiences.

Indie games are quite unpredictable as they can come out of nowhere and can be about anything. Of course, there will be those that follow trends and popular formulas, but they also put a creative spin on them. These games range from ultra-casual AFK games to intensive online titles that can be played competitively or even professionally. The variety means there's potentially a title out there for everyone - even for people who don't play games. What better way to get into it than to pick out a quality mobile game and support its creator? The following can be just as rewarding as AAA titles. 

Click Here To View The List »

1
Dadish 3

Available on: iOS + Android
Genre: Platform
Find out more about Dadish 3
Dadish 3

Dadish 3, the newest game in the series, is a colorful, vibrant platformer where you can become a radish who is just looking around for his children. This time, your children have gone missing when going on a strange field trip, and are doomed to become radish soup - unless you help them! You will need to reunite with your ex, find your strange children, and avoid dying yourself. It's a fun, challenging game with some adorable and funny story too!

yt
Subscribe to Pocket Gamer on

2
Subpar Pool

Available on: iOS + Android + Steam
Genre: Sports
Find out more about Subpar Pool
Subpar Pool

Subpar Pool is anything but subpar! This procedurally generated pool game has a lot of puzzle aspects, from strangely shaped pool tables, to obstacles on the table. There is a lot of strategy to be found in such a simple concept game! The graphics themselves are inviting and captivating - creating a fun world to explore. It's up to you to get the pool ball in the proper hole.

yt
Subscribe to Pocket Gamer on

3
Soul Knight

Available on: iOS + Android
Genre: Action
Find out more about Soul Knight
Soul Knight

The rogue genre can thrive anywhere, even in the palm of your hand. While there is no shortage of rogue indie games for your phone, Soul Knight should be at the top of the list. Created by Chilly Room, the game sees you exploring a lot of different rooms as you delve through different dungeons and environments. It'll just be you and whatever warrior you feel is strong enough to brave the dangers ahead. With colourful pixel art, tons of weapons, and lots of magic, it will keep you busy and challenged.

Soul Knight

4
Monument Valley

Developer: Ustwo games
Publisher: Ustwo games
Available on: iOS + Android
Genre: Adventure, Platform, Puzzle
Find out more about Monument Valley
Monument Valley

Among all the gaming genres, puzzlers are one of the more popular and accessible on mobile. When presented with puzzles, you're free to take your time and try out as many solutions as you'd like. It's even better if you can create a rich and beautiful environment for them to take place in, like what Us Two has done with Monument Valley. This surreal and fantastical adventure puts you in the role of a silent princess named Ida traversing geometrically twisted structures. You must navigate her safely from one point to another.

Monument Valley

5
ScourgeBringer

Developer: Plug In Digital
Publisher: Plug In Digital
Available on: iOS + Android + Smartphone
Genre: Action, RPG
Find out more about ScourgeBringer
ScourgeBringer

The word "scourge" is never associated with anything good, with games frequently asking you to fight against it or live through it. PID Games went for the former with the flashy title Scourge Bringer. You play as a young and aggressive fighter named Kyrha who must fight her way through dangerous ruins to seek redemption. The experience pulls no punches by presenting a quick and visceral platform, where your movements need to be precise and you can't just swing around wildly. You'll not only have to deal with numerous enemies and hazards but also the giant bosses waiting to be slain.

Scourge Bringer

6
OPUS: Rocket of Whispers

Available on: iOS + Android
Find out more about OPUS: Rocket of Whispers
OPUS: Rocket of Whispers

Some of the best stories can be told without words yet appeal to all other senses in a powerful and emotional way. This is the deal with OPUS: Rocket of Whispers by the folks at Sigono Inc. In a very harrowing story, you follow the journey of two humans who have managed to live through a plague that has wiped out most of the world's population. You'll follow their steps as they explore what remains in order to find what they need to build a rocket to leave the planet. It's a long shot, but it's the only one they've got.

OPUS: Rocket of Whispers

7
Cats & Soup

Available on: iOS + Android
Genre: Simulation
Find out more about Cats & Soup
Cats & Soup

Comfort food can make you feel nice and cosy even when you aren't hungry. There are entire businesses around trying to serve people the warmest dishes, so why not play an indie game about it? The HIDEA team has added another adorable element to this with their game Cats & Soup. As the title implies, you control a bunch of cats who are driven by the desire to make soup. It's an idle game where you can assign each cat to a station and then put it all into the soup once it's all ready to come together.

Cats & Soup

8
The Way Home

Available on: iOS + Android + Smartphone
Genre: Adventure, RPG
Find out more about The Way Home
The Way Home

It's unknown when the whole idea of being trapped on an island started producing stories about survival, but it perseveres even in gaming. Usually, the character will be dropped onto a deserted island with nothing but their wits and will have to survive. This time around, the folks at Concode Corp. have dropped Kevin and his cat Cheese onto a vibrant pixel island in The Way Home. The goal is simple: explore, craft, survive, and maybe look for a way off the island. If you encounter other survivors along the way, the more the merrier.

The Way Home

9
Dead Cells

Developer: Motion Twin
Publisher: Motion Twin
Available on: iOS + Android + Steam + Switch
Genre: Action, Adventure
Find out more about Dead Cells
Dead Cells

We've written about Dead Cells a ton on this website, and for great reason. Dead Cells is a metroviania game that has tons of replay value, upgrades, monsters, and a slightly different world to take on each time you play. It's award winning and held at a high standard when it comes to roguelikes!

yt
Subscribe to Pocket Gamer on

10
Good Pizza, Great Pizza

Available on: iOS + Android
Genre: Simulation
Find out more about Good Pizza, Great Pizza
Good Pizza, Great Pizza

Good Pizza, Great Pizza is a cozy, pizza-making game that has a story around all of the characters who are coming in! Sometimes, customers aren't very clear on what they want - forcing you to guess based on what they are saying. You can earn money, upgrade your ingredients and tools, and create some fantastic pizza.

yt
Subscribe to Pocket Gamer on

11
Sky: Children of the Light

Available on: iOS + Android + Switch
Genre: Adventure
Find out more about Sky: Children of the Light
Sky: Children of the Light

If there's one thing that 'thatgamecompany Inc.' does well, it's creating stunningly beautiful visual journeys. This is obvious from their breakout hit Journey and they've brought some of that flair to their mobile title, Sky: Children of Light. Using a similar visual style, this is a 3D exploration game with an online community. As the children of light, you're tasked with exploring a quiet, yet vibrant, world full of nature. As you learn more about it, you'll uncover new memories, revealing even more about the story. It was hard to believe this is an indie mobile game at first, as it truly looks like a title fresh out of an AAA studio. It is featured on our list of the most beautiful mobile games, which tells a lot right from the start.

Sky: Children of Light

12
Badland 2

Publisher: Frogmind Games
Available on: iOS
Genre: Casual
Find out more about Badland 2
Badland 2

The silhouette aesthetic is likely never going to go out of style since it creates an air of mystery and fear. Players will see this and may be driven by a desire to see a positive outcome in a bleak situation. This might be possible in BADLAND 2 by Hype Hype Inc. As a fuzzy head with wings, you'll need to tap to flap your way through hazardous tunnels and physics puzzles. Since all you have is your weight and motion, make sure you use the different devices to alter those traits to break through to the next level.

BADLAND 2

13
Mars: Mars

Developer: Pomelo Games
Available on: iOS + Android + Smartphone
Genre: Platform
Find out more about Mars: Mars
Mars: Mars

We’re yet to set foot on Mars, but that hasn’t stopped us from writing plenty of stories about what would happen if we did. It's often seen as a harsh and hostile environment, which is why it's nice to visit from a fun perspective. Pomelo Games has presented this with Mars: Mars. As a cute little astronaut with a jetpack and a number of appearances, you fly around Mars as much as you can. Your jetpack isn't the most reliable with very little fuel, so the challenge is to see as much as you can before your flight is over.

14
Cultist Simulator

Publisher: Weather Factory
Available on: iOS + Android
Genre: Card/board game, Strategy
Find out more about Cultist Simulator
Cultist Simulator

Just like a cult would never call itself a cult, a cultist would never call itself a cultist. Even so, it's fascinating to wonder what goes on behind the closed doors of a cultist's chambers. Playdigious has offered an idea with the very complex and engaging Cultist Simulator. By using a variety of cards, actions, and combinations, you'll be able to uncover strange truths, summon beings from other dimensions, or take control of anyone willing to follow you. Since there's no tutorial, half the fun is just figuring things out for yourself.

For those of you that are into this genre, we have the finest simulation games on Android, and also a list of best simulations for iOS.

15
Sparklite

Publisher: Playdigious
Available on: iOS + Android
Genre: Action, Adventure
Find out more about Sparklite
Sparklite

In a roguelite game, the more you can make from runs, the more control you can have over the outcomes. In Sparklite, another indie mobile game by Playdigious, you're a crafter exploring a world that is constantly changing. From the forests to the ruins, dangerous creatures are constantly moving in and old machines are shifting around. Thankfully, you have plenty of gear to fight back and make progress while at the same time gathering as much material as possible. Every time you fall is just another chance to make something new and to improve.

16
Burrito Bison

Developer: Ravenous Games
Publisher: Juicy Beast Studio
Available on: iOS
Genre: Action, Casual
Find out more about Burrito Bison
Burrito Bison

Burritos are both filling and amazing considering just how much stuff you can stuff into one tortilla. It's also a fun-sounding word, which is probably why Kongregate decided to call their game Burrito Bison. This colourful 2D launching game presents a very festive and silly world dominated by sweet things. As the eponymous Burrito Bison or one of his companions, you must punch through your wrestling opponent and keep bouncing across gummy bears and whatever other creatures you find to travel as far as you can and break all the pinatas.

17
Honeycomb: Word Puzzle

Available on: iOS + Android
Genre: Word game
Find out more about Honeycomb: Word Puzzle
Honeycomb: Word Puzzle

If you are looking for a new puzzle word game, Honeycomb: Word Puzzle is a great bundle of challenges! You will need to fill a honeycomb shaped puzzle, with a hexagonal grid, to snake together words! It's a satisfying game that is complete with a cute bee, to congratulate you when you do well!

18
Phantom of Opera

Available on: iOS + Android + Smartphone
Genre: Party/mini-games, Puzzle
Find out more about Phantom of Opera
Phantom of Opera

One of the most revered classical novels ever, The Phantom of the Opera has appeared in multiple types of media. However, I don't think anyone expected MazM to turn it into a mobile game. In Phantom of Opera, you explore a visual novel of sorts with animated avatars wandering around the fabled opera house. You'll meet all the recognizable characters and follow their personal stories as well as others. You can follow the plot of the original text and play mini-games to further enhance the drama and horror.

19
Cat Bird

Publisher: Raiyumi
Available on: iOS + Android
Genre: Adventure
Find out more about Cat Bird
Cat Bird

Cats and birds have been depicted as natural enemies for decades, so it's not common to see the two of them mixed together. However, Raiyumi has done just that with the main character of Cat Bird. As a small white cat with underdeveloped bird wings, you need to flap across various 2D platforming stages. Some will be as simple as forests while others will be huge caves that take you down below the surface. Also, the creature seems to be able to travel through space since you'll be visiting a number of different planets too.

With Cat Bird, we have come to the end of the list of best indie mobile games at the moment! We have a similar article about Switch indie games if you own that wonderful console as well!

20
Exoracer

Developer: Nyan Studio Games
Available on: iOS + Android
Genre: Action, Multiplayer, Platform
Find out more about Exoracer
Exoracer

Exoracer is a multiplayer action platformer where you look to race through levels, getting to the end as quickly as possible. There are tons of different levels, and a full level editor mode that allows you to build your own worlds and then share them with others! It's quite the fast and frantic game, especially if you have friends.

Left Arrow
0/20
Right Arrow
Jupiter Hadley
Jupiter Hadley
Jupiter is a prolific indie game journalist with a focus on smaller indie gems. She covers thousands of game jams and indie games on her YouTube channel, letting every game have a moment in the spotlight. She runs indiegamejams.com, a calendar of all of the game jams going on in the world, and judges many jams and events. You can find her on Twitter as @Jupiter_Hadley