Top 5 most beautiful games on Android

Haven’t we covered this already?

Ah, no. You’re thinking of the Top 5 Android games for showing off your handset. This is completely different.

We’re not talking about technical excellence here. Rather, we’re looking at the most aesthetically striking games on the Android platform. Games with a look (and often sound) all of their own.

Not all of the games on our list are particularly accomplished, either in a technical or a gameplay sense (although none of them are duds), but they’ve all got a distinctive style of their own. Because of that, each deserves a bit of extra recognition.

Panzer Panic is a pretty simple turn-based strategy game, where you set your group of three tanks against an increasing number of opponents. While the gameplay is pretty uninspired (though very good fun), the visual style is quite stunning.

The game replaces churned up battlefields with graph paper, accurately rendered tanks with biro-scrawled versions and explosive shells with ink-splats.

It’s like the epic doodles of a 12 year old school boy have come to life before your very eyes, in all their messy, chaotic glory.

Though it’s probably the weakest game on this list, Dead Runner holds its own when it comes to presentation. In fact, Distinctive Developments’s game is quite the stunner.

The aim is to run through a spooky woods at night, avoiding the trees that pop out at you. It’s never fully explained why, but that’s in keeping with game’s focused simplicity.

From the black and white palate to the deathly light pouring in on the horizon, and the atmospheric synth tones playing in the background, Dead Runner is a far better audio-visual “experience” than it is a game.

You’re a hungry bear who must stock up on berries and fish before hibernating for the winter. Oh, and did we mention you drive a beat up old hatch-back?

The visuals are as left-field as the premise, with a gloriously child-like art style reminiscent of your bored MS paint scrawlings during a particularly dull meeting or class.

Coasting through this bizarre landscape is a huge part of the game’s appeal, and it manages to offset the frustration inherent in the arcane driving system to a surprising degree.

Hexage isn’t short of striking-looking games. Indeed, I could populate this entire list with all five of its Android games to date, such is the distinctive style each is imbued with.

Totemo gets the nod, though, because it’s the most complete match of pretty graphics and gorgeous otherworldly sounds.

This twist of the match-three formula presents lovely glowing spirits and pin-sharp naturalistic backgrounds. It’s complemented by a stunningly atmospheric synth soundtrack that would send you into a sleepy slumber were it not for the fine gameplay on offer.

If we’re talking about zen-like beauty, though, one game manages to trump Hexage’s considerable efforts. Ancient Workshop’s Ancient Frog is the most beautiful, striking game on Android.

You guide the titular frog like some kind of slimy marionette, placing its limbs one at a time as you inch your way towards a tasty fly-shaped prize.

Photo-realism in games often denotes a cold, dry technical excellence. Not so here, with Ancient Frog’s stunningly accurate protagonist possessing an extraordinary level of warmth and charm.

Subtle shadowing, pin-sharp 3D menus and the soothing background hum of jungle life all add to this beguiling experience.