8 Innovative Mobile Games That Push The Limits of your Smart Phone


Like it or not, mobile games are becoming more and more relevant in the gaming world. With the advancements in technology that are happening, the gap between mobile and console/PC games is quickly closing. Developers are getting more creative with their applications and the technologies they incorporate and their work is paying off. Here are 8 of the most innovative mobile games of all time:

Tricky Trip

Credit: Pixelframe LLC
Credit: Pixelframe LLC

Pixelfame, the developers of Tricky Trip take everything that makes the platform great and puts it into a great mobile game. Like many others, this game is an endless runner. However, the visuals and gameplay separate it from the pack. It is incredibly simple but fun and addicting. The intuitive one-touch controls make it easy to pick up and the game itself is hard to put down. You roll a ball down an infinite tube with gaps to be avoided. You don’t move the ball, but rather the tube itself. The more you rotate the tube, the faster the game gets. Tricky Trip is chock full of unlockables and is an undeniable winner on the mobile platform. Play it now (it’s free!).

Pokemon Go

Credit: Niantic
Credit: Niantic

Even though Pokemon Go has fallen from grace, it is still one of the most revolutionary mobile games to date. Niantic realized the potential of the mobile platform and created a incredible app. They incorporated augmented reality and geocaching into their game, two features that phones are great for. Pokemon Go combined those two advances with fun one-touch gameplay and the amazing world of Pokemon and created a great mobile gaming experience. Regardless of the drama with Pokemon Go updates (and a huge loss of playerbase), this game remains revolutionary and its popularity upon release is legendary.

Monument Valley

Credit: ustwo Games LTD
Credit: ustwo Games LTD

Apple’s 2014 Game of the Year, Monument Valley, is a fantastic puzzle game based on optical illusions. The easy-to-learn, hard-to-master game has intuitive controls and defies its age. Most mobile games fade into obscurity after a few years (Angry Birds, Doodle Jump, etc.), but Monument Valley is just as good if not better today than it was upon release. In today’s market of super complicated mobile games, Monument Valley’s simple but challenging design makes it a breath of fresh air. Mindbending and beautiful, Monument Valley remains a timeless puzzle game.

Riptide GP: Renegade

Credit: Vector Unit
Credit: Vector Unit

Riptide GP: Renegade pushes the mobile platform to its limits. Super-fast gameplay and stunning graphics make this game so impressive. You race hydrojets, a ridiculously awesome mix of jet skis, snowmobiles, and jet engines. The Hydrojet GP circuit has ejected you and you have to race your way back to the top. The tracks in Riptide GP: Renegade are beautiful; you race through the waterways of a futuristic city. The super fast, super fun gameplay and cool concept make this game a blast. Riptide GP: Renegade is one of the best racing games available on mobile.

Goat Simulator

Credit: Coffee Stain Studios
Credit: Coffee Stain Studios

If you’ve ever played Goat Simulator, you know exactly why this game is so revolutionary. Playing as a goat is a blast. Goat Simulator is exactly what it sounds like- the game lets you experience life as a goat. However, unlike other simulators, this one gives you points for causing absolute mayhem with your goat (and his weirdly sticky tongue). Comboing your destructive moves will create some hilarious chaos and bag you a bunch of points in the process. Even though there are other games out there that let you play as goats, Goat Simulator takes the cake. This game makes a strong case for itself by taking a PC game and shrinking it down to mobile format without losing any of the features or fun.

Thumb Drift

Credit: SMG Studios
Credit: SMG Studios

Sometimes, the strength of a game isn’t measured by how graphically amazing it is, or how complex the gameplay is. The strength of Thumb Drift is similar to that of Tricky Trip. Simple, one-touch gameplay and the fact that it’s easy to pick up for a few minutes at a time are what make this game so excellent. Thumb Drift is exactly what it sounds like. You touch the screen to make a car drift around corners. It has quite a few different levels to unlock and a variety of vehicles as well. Although there is a slight learning curve, the controls are simple and intuitive. SMG Studios have created a simple but great game that compliment the strengths of the mobile platform.

Rodeo Stampede

Credit: Featherweight Games Pty Limited
Credit: Featherweight Games Pty Limited

Another one-touch game, Rodeo Stampede is also incredibly simple but incredibly fun. You play as an explorer/zookeeper out on safari to befriend as many animals as possible. With each new species you befriend, your sky zoo (it’s a zoo on an airship that kind of looks like the SHIELD Helicarrier) expands and more visitors come to visit. Similar to Pokemon, your goal is to catch ’em all. The gameplay is super simple but the game is fun and challenging. You hold down your finger to hold on to the animal you’re riding, and let go to launch yourself off of it. While in the air, you have to lasso another beast or you’ll fall to the ground and your run will be over. There are a large variety of animals to collect and the zoo portion of the game keeps this endless runner fresh and addictive.

Heads Up

Credit: Warner Bros.
Credit: Warner Bros.

This game has been close to the top of the App Store for the past 3 years and for good reason- it’s really fun to play with friends. I’ve spent hours playing this on road trips and family vacations, and it’s been great every time. All the players take turns guessing words displayed on their phone (which is conveniently placed out of sight, on the player’s forehead) while the other players give them hints by talking, humming, acting, or even making animal noises. It looks kind of ridiculous when you see other people playing (especially when people are acting or making animal sounds) but it’s an absolute blast and is definitely worth checking out.