Not so long ago, phones could play Snake and not a lot else, but today there are loads of top of the range PC games that you can play on mobile. We wanted to take a moment to appreciate how far our portable telephones have come by compiling this list – and hopefully, we’ll introduce you to a new favourite along the way.
So, what are the best PC games on mobile? Well, there are so many of them, that it’s not easy to narrow it down. Nevertheless, we’ve done our best to select just eight games, all of which, we think are well worth your time if you haven’t played them before.
As we’re hoping to introduce people to games, there are some obvious choices that we have decided not to include; namely, Minecraft and Roblox. Though both games have captured the hearts of millions of gamers around the world and may be among the best mobile games, everybody already knows about them and if you want to try them, the chances are you’ll already have done so. We wanted to give other games a moment in the spotlight.
Here are the best PC games on mobile:
Supremacy 1914
This is one to try if you’re a big fan of history and grand strategy games. Essentially, it puts you together with an enormous selection of other players and between you, you all then basically act out the First World War. There are loads of countries to play as (all of which play differently) and you are not bound by the course of history. A match can last weeks and it’s a great thing to check in and come back to regularly.
If you’re an armchair historian who’s often thought that they could have do a better job than certain historical figures – this is your chance to put your theories to the test. Are you going to bolster your military forces? Or do you think it’s more important to keep the economy thriving? Maybe you even think that the path to victory lies in research and science? Either way, no two games will ever be the same, and the huge level of depth and nuance makes this one of the best mobile war games.
Forge of Empires
If you liked the sound of Elvenar, but prefer your mobile strategy games to be more grounded in reality, then you might want to give Forge of Empires a go instead. From the same developer, this game sees you choosing a patch of wilderness where you start to build the most basic settlement – over time, you’ll get to see this change tremendously.
Forge of Empires allows you to progress in real-world history. In the beginning, you’re in the Stone Age, but eventually, you move into the Bronze Age. This moves forward until you reach the modern-day, and even brings you forward into the future. It’s something that history buffs will enjoy, and seeing yourself move through all those thousands of years gives the game a very epic scope.
Play Forge of Empires for free.
AFK Journey
The long-awaited sequel to AFK Arena takes you on an adventure in the world of Esperia. If you’ve never played AFK Arena, that’s not a problem – this game can be enjoyed as a wholly standalone experience, but fans of the original will recognize a few familiar faces (check out our AFK Journey tier list for a detailed look at the game’s characters).
What’s nice about this game is that whether you really like to sink your teeth into the best mobile RPGs or prefer the much more laid-back approach of the best idle games, AFK Journey accommodates both styles in a way its predecessor never did. Yes, you can spend your time exploring the world, collecting treasures and running side quests, or you can check in irregularly while you leave your team auto-battling. However you prefer to play, our AFK Journey codes list will help you get a good start in the game.
Genshin Impact
While we’re still a long way from having Breath of the Wild playable on mobile devices (and may never live in that world), Genshin Impact is pretty much the next best thing. In fact, with added co-op play and a wealth of new content that has been added since its original release, it’s done quite a lot to distinguish itself from the game that originally inspired it.
Set in the world of Teyvat, Genshin has loads of characters to unlock (read our Genshin Impact tier list to see who’s best) via gacha mechanics. Every character offers something unique and with a sprawling world filled with hundreds of hours of quests (all of which can be explored with your friends), this game is well poised to become your new favorite. Use our Genshin Impact codes guide to get a leg-up in your early days in the game.
Magic: The Gathering Arena
Magic: The Gathering Arena takes one of the most popular trading card games in the world and turns it into a game that can be enjoyed on both PC and mobile devices. Not only will this game teach you how to play the iconic game, but it will give you the opportunity to earn and collect digital trading cards.
Whether you’re a fan of collecting things, fantasy games, or even just the aspect of competing against other players, Magic: The Gathering Arena has a lot to offer and is a game that would make a welcome addition to many gamers collections.
Play Magic: The Gathering Arena for free.
RuneScape
Today, MMORPGs are a dime a dozen. You’ve got World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV, and countless others, but RuneScape was one of the earliest games of its kind and it remains a solid MMORPG experience to this day.
Available on both mobile and PC, RuneScape gives you the chance to dive headfirst into the world of Gielinor. With no set story path, you carve your own way, exploring the world, finding quests to complete, and monsters to battle. The truly open feeling that RuneScape provides goes a long way toward making you feel that you have genuinely stepped into a fantasy world, and is no doubt part of the reason that it has survived for so long.
Albion Online
Next up, we have another fantasy MMORPG, but one that’s so good we couldn’t resist including it as well. Still, even if you’ve played RuneScape (or others) before, Albion Online won’t make you feel like you’re re-treading old ground, in part, because it does things very differently from other MMOs.
For one thing, there are no real classes, allowing you to switch between different combat and gameplay styles whenever you want, which opens the doors to a great deal of variety. Then there’s also the fact that all the weapons you find in the world have been crafted by other players. They’re durable, so they can break, but there aren’t weapons without them first being crafted by other players, giving the game its own little ecosystem in which you play an important part. It’s a brilliant game that’s only grown since its launch in 2017.
Stardew Valley
When it comes to cutesy farming simulators, nothing yet seems to come close to the popularity of Stardew Valley, a game that could be called the epitome of coziness. Whether you just want to harvest your crops and lead a simple life, cultivate a blossoming romance with the man or woman of your dreams, or even if you want to head into the caves to fight monsters, you’ll have plenty to do in Stardew Valley.
This is one of those indie games that managed to beat the odds and perform as well as any AAA release, and it’s always nice to see independent developers getting their moment in the spotlight. If you’ve not played it yet, this is something that you will definitely want to try.
Rocket League Sideswipe
While other games on this list are literally the same thing on mobile as they are on PC (and you can switch between devices and continue the same file), Rocket League Sideswipe is a slightly different beast. While it may not be exactly the same as its PC counterpart, Sideswipe translates the action onto a 2.5D field which can often be just as much fun as its fully 3D counterpart.
This brings to mind the days when a game would come out on the Nintendo 64, and then there’d be a modified version released on the Game Boy Color that allowed you to enjoy something in the same spirit on a less powerful platform. If you prefer playing on your phone and have always wanted to give Rocket League a try, we definitely recommend playing Sideswipe.
Hyper Light Drifter
Another indie game for the list. Hyper Light Drifter’s gameplay is inspired by The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, but don’t think of this as a game that lazily tries to cash in on nostalgia, because it has a wholly unique identity of its own.
You play as a mysterious character known only as The Drifter, a person who suffers from a strange illness, and who travels the world in search of a cure. It’s set in a mysterious world (made even more mysterious by the lack of dialogue) and accompanied by a downright ethereal soundtrack, and though it’s difficult, it’s so easy to retry a challenge again and again, that it never gets frustrating. It came to PC in 2016, but was finally released on iOS devices in 2019.
If you were looking for some solid PC gaming experiences to sink your teeth in on your mobile phone, we hope that you’ll enjoy at least one of these recommendations. You might also be interested in our guides on the best Android games and the best iPhone games if you’re keen to expand your gaming horizons.
