There was a time when the most exciting thing you could do on your phone was play video games. Although smartphones are getting bigger, faster, and more accessible at all price points, we rarely spend the same hours as before trying to achieve a new high score. Maybe we’ve all grown up. Or it could be a tsunami of effortless, annoying ad-filled cash grab games. The Play Store is home to some great new games, but this read is about the forgotten classics that are always being updated with new content.
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5 Jetpack Joyride
Go back in time
Hearing beats and melodies from the past on a pair of noise-cancelling wireless headphones was my favorite part of loading up these classics on my phone. Jetpack Joyride features some of the most iconic music. The basic mechanics of the game remain essentially unchanged. You will touch the screen to control the elevation of the jetpack while avoiding all kinds of obstacles.
You can collect coins and exchange them for gadgets that help you go further. There is the same assortment of special vehicles, each offering unique controls. Jetpack Joyride always receives new updates in the form of special events that bring slightly changed game modes compared to the original.
I installed this game on my phone earlier this year and have been playing it during breaks. The game is ad-supported, but ads do not interrupt gameplay. Although you can spend money to get boosts, power-ups, and in-game currency, these are optional and do not prevent you from enjoying the game.
4 Subway Surfers
Jump trains and stay out of trouble
With over a billion installs on Android devices, few titles rival the popularity of Subway Surfers. Events like this and Temple Run have fueled dozens of endless runners. Subway Surfers incorporates horizontal and vertical axes, and you’ll spend most of your time jumping on trains, collecting power-ups, and avoiding obstacles.
Like Jetpack Joyride, you can purchase gadgets and boosts while completing missions that give you a bonus. The game gets a new coat of paint with a different theme from time to time. New characters and surfboards arrive when you stay a little addicted to the game.
3 Vector
When realism meets style
I remember experiencing Vector for the first time on my iPad in 2012. It doesn’t have the usual graphic style. Instead, it opts for a silhouette art style and smooth animations. While the game mechanics consist of the usual swipes, Vector emphasizes the importance of timing.
Your goal is to reach the end of each level, avoiding obstacles in your way. You will do this by performing parkour tricks, which you can learn and unlock more. An average level in Vector will have you going around obstacles, sliding under structures, and jumping over rooftops.
The game holds up remarkably well and features new levels and objectives that keep it fresh. You can play as the hunter you always escape from. The game contains ads, but they don’t spoil the experience.
2 Temple Run 2
I shouldn’t have touched the relic
Temple Run 2 also belongs to the billion club, an endless runner that needs no introduction. Since its release in 2013, the game has been updated with new environments, characters and pets. Perhaps the fear of losing your fluffy companion will help you achieve new scores.
Unlike Subway Surfers, which has a separate three-way system relying on horizontal swipes, Temple Run 2 uses your phone’s accelerometer and gyroscope to control tilt. This makes the game more engaging but also more challenging. You still have to swipe left or right to make turns.
Temple Run 2 receives updates through events which usually feature different themes and characters. There are also new obstacles like ziplines and locations like forests. Temple Run feels like a high-stakes version of Subway Surfers, but these games share the common appeal of fast-paced, addictive action.
1 Angry Birds series
Birds on a mission
I never enjoyed the Angry Birds games as much as the other classics. However, denying it a spot on this list would be unfair to one of the most influential franchises in mobile gaming history. After all, two movies are based on the game. A quick search on the Play Store will let you choose between games from the same series.
If you’re looking for the closest thing to the original, Angry Birds 2 delivers. It brings the same gameplay elements with better graphics. The game features daily challenges to keep things fresh and ways to level up birds for better chances of clearing new levels. Angry Birds 2 features an arena mode in which you compete against other players.
I loaded it onto my phone. While I wouldn’t spend hours trying to progress in Angry Birds, I do enjoy something that isn’t an endless runner. Playing a level in different ways makes it engaging.
I wish we could turn back time
The good old days had plenty of great games, and classics like Jetpack Joyride and Temple Run 2, fueled by new updates, will continue to be fun. Still, the best Android games that make good use of your phone’s powerful internals also provide a good experience.
