Best Games to Download
A PlayStation or Xbox console might be the height of gaming luxury for some, but these days you can play your favorite titles on a handheld device that fits in your pocket. And the mobile gaming ecosystem is packed with dizzying selections — many of which you can get for free, thanks to advertising or the ever-popular “freemium” model.
The best download games are often easy on the eyes, fun, and fast to pick up and play. There’s a wide range of styles and genres to choose from, including platformers, endless runners, arcade games, shooters, puzzlers, strategy games, adventurers, racers, and sports titles. Some of these games are ad-supported, others cost nothing at all, and the rest have some form of in-app purchase to keep you playing.
This year’s smash hit is a game that’s a little different from other popular games: Rocket League is soccer with rocket-powered cars. This unexpected hit benefited from a few factors: it launched at a slow time in the gaming calendar, it was available as part of a PlayStation Plus subscription, and it’s just plain fun.
What Are the Best Games to Download?
There’s no shortage of games with a huge online multiplayer component, but the best ones aren’t always the most popular. The best of these have enough depth to keep people coming back month after month, and they’re designed to withstand the test of time. They must offer a balanced mix of gameplay and perks, as well as a community that’s welcoming and engaging.
Dota 2 is one of the most popular free-to-play PC games in history, and for good reason: it’s a massively multiplayer online battler that features top players earning real cash. But it’s not just for obsessives: the core gameplay is accessible to newcomers, and there are plenty of ways to customize your character for a unique experience.
For something a bit more low-key, there’s World of Tanks, which pits your tank against those of 24 other players on a gridded battlefield. This massively multiplayer WW2 combat sim is a lot less intense than, say, Call of Duty, but it’s just as satisfying.
The final category contains a few relics from the past, and a couple that tug at the heart strings. Dragalia Lost is a beautifully-crafted JRPG from Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, and it’s been updated with a host of new content to keep the story fresh.
We opted not to include apps that are strictly e-commerce or shopping-based, as well as those that require you to disclose personal information such as contact details and credit card numbers. We also stayed away from purely advertising-based free-to-play games that can’t be played without an Internet connection. App owners use your phone to learn about your gaming habits and can sell these insights to advertisers. You can find out more about the privacy policies of individual apps using our guide to smartphone data collection and protection.