Top 5 Breakout games on mobile

Breakout may have first come into existence in the arcade halls of the late '70s, but the simple gameplay has managed to endure the test of time.

Whether you pick a home console from the '80s or a modern HD machine humming under a 3D TV, there’s always going to be a version of the title hidden away somewhere in its library of games.

The quick-hit, simple format especially suits mobile play, and the wide range of Breakout games available is a testament to that fact. However, it also makes picking what to put on your Java mobile phone that bit harder, especially when half the titles sound almost identical to one another.

Never fear – we’ve taken time out to break down the barriers to entry and find the best versions of this classic arcade title.

Super Breakout carries the granddaddy of the genre’s name in the title, which is either a sign of its pedigree or a cheap way of getting attention. Thankfully, it’s the former.

Super Breakout isn’t a port of the sequel to the original game, but it's the only title in the list to come with the official blessing of Atari itself to use the oft-imitated license.

Glu hasn’t tampered too much with what made the original such a success, leaving in the (now considered integral) power-ups, but adding a few new twists when it comes to the blocks/bricks themselves.

While it doesn’t have the same level of complexity or originality of some of the other titles listed here, in terms of polish and playability Super Breakout carries the weighty license with aplomb.

Wallbreaker 2 Deluxe doesn’t keep half as much to the established formula as the screenshots may suggest, instead offering up an enjoyable game that builds upon its inspiration’s foundations in a well-thought out way.

Take, for instance, those annoying moments where you have to hit one final block to clear a level, but the damn paddle keeps hitting the ball everywhere but where you want it to go. W2D gives you lighting to zap it instantly – thereby removing any frustration.

There’s also a tactical element to the game – each of the two characters has its own set of lives and power – as well as a moreish level structure that encourages replay.

The genie that floats around placing new blocks down wasn’t the finest of ideas, but in many other regards Wallbreaker 2 Deluxe is a great Breakout game for those that would normally be turned off by the game.

Want something a little more traditional? Ultimate Brick Breaker is likely to scratch that itch quite nicely.

There are no crazy, level-winning powers, or bosses that float around avoiding your ball - just pure brick-breaking paddle deflecting.

While it may not have the originality of some of the others listed, the gameplay is arguably the purest of the bunch, with the game speed kept at a reasonably slow pace to allow for better decision-making about the angle of deflection.

Old hands will probably balk, but if you’ve never sampled the delights of Breakout (and don’t fancy tracking down an old Atari cabinet) Ultimate Brick Breaker is a worthy choice.

Ultimate Brick Breaker may be decidedly old skool in its gameplay and graphics, but Block Breaker Deluxe 2 goes in completely the other direction – adding glorious swathes of bright, multicoloured pyrotechnics that make every hit a joy.

It’s not just the excellent graphical sheen that make BBD2 one of the best versions of Breakout on the mobile, though. Some clever level design that makes good use of the wide range of block types (including ones that end up swinging across the screen) mean that there’s always something new to see from level to level.

Even if you do manage to blitz through these challenges, BBD2 also comes with a random level generator, meaning that there's little chance you'll fully break from its grip.

If the traditional gameplay-with-a-modern-twist of the modern Breakout games is starting to wear you down, why not try something completely different-yet-unnervingly-familiar instead?

Absolute Twin Blades takes the original concept of hitting balls with a paddle and adds a sprinkling of snooker to the formula, with angles made even more important due to the curved paddles.

There’s also the small issue of having to manoeuvre two of the ball-hitting devices around in a circle at the same time, desperately trying to keep the ball within the circle their movement creates.

While the controls can be a little confusing at times, Absolute Twin Blades is a refreshingly different twist (ho ho) on the classic formula.