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Who says games are a waste of time? Depending on the genre, they have the capacity to teach you almost anything. In particular, word games offer a unique blend of entertainment and puzzle-solving. And it just so happens that they feel right at home on contemporary Android tablets.
Creating a quality puzzle app is not easy, even for the best of the best on the Play Store. Balancing gameplay elegance, intricacy, and satisfaction while adhering to a reasonable difficulty curve is a task only the top puzzle games can achieve. The key is to reward players for their deductive reasoning skills rather than demanding snap decisions, incentivizing some deeper thought and caution before proceeding. Build it around an entertaining gameplay loop with a sweet artstyle, and you’ve got a great puzzle game, ready for the best budget Android phones. From calming apps like Mekorama to addictive “just one more go” experiences like Melon Maker, Puzzle apps are primed and ready to keep you guessing.
Railbound is an adorable puzzler from the same dev behind Golf Peaks, out now on Android
A combination of puzzles and charm make this a must-play
Afterburn, the studio behind Golf Peaks, has released a new game titled Railbound. Golf Peaks is one of our favorite Android puzzle games, and the developers have channeled that energy into the equally addicting Railbound. It's an adorable puzzle game where you'll direct a pair of dogs on a train journey worldwide.
Rovio Classic: Angry Birds starter's guide — Tips and tricks for fledgling bird flingers
Forget Angry Birds Reloaded, here's how to navigate the original classic
The original Angry Birds is back, now as a modern Unity release. Rovio remade on eof the best Android games using a premium monetization model. Thanks to this decision, you can access the complete title for $0.99. Nostalgia is always a powerful draw, and Rovio has ensured the classic feels just as good as the original while modernizing the game's graphics, which is why it's an excellent remake worth revisiting.
Netflix adds two more subscriber-exclusive games
Sorry, Netflix. This doesn't make up for the price hike.
Netflix started offering mobile games with each subscription late last year, but the selection wasn't exactly AAA. That part hasn't changed, but the library has been expanding, and Netflix is adding two more titles today. Like the rest, they're both free with a Netflix subscription. If you can't have quality, you might as well have quantity—that's the Netflix motto (or at least it should be).
Baba is You was one of the best games of 2019, but if you have yet to play it, it's finally coming to Android and iOS. A clever puzzle game where you win by changing the rules, it's a perfect fit for smartphones, and it's out on the Play Store right now.
Noodlecake Studios is renowned and well-loved for some amazing games. Following up to 2014's Framed, a noir-style puzzle game, Framed 2 is a prequel-sequel that promises to bring the same comic book-style, world-altering wonder that defined the first game.
When it comes to puzzle and logic games, there is a delicate balance to be struck. If the game is too simple, it's just no fun. But if it's too difficult or too complicated, then the game becomes frustrating or the learning curve becomes too steep. Many games fail to strike this balance, and even those that do sometimes leave you wanting more once you've beaten all its levels.
Welcome to the roundup of the best new Android games that went live in the Play Store or were spotted by us in the previous 2 weeks or so.
Simple, straightforward puzzle games are du jour on mobile platforms, but that doesn't mean they can't be visually impressive. Shadowmatic from developer Triada Studios is a great example. This puzzler uses basic principles of light and spatial arrangement as elements of its brain-teasers, challenging players to correctly align floating objects and create perfect silhouettes. The game is also visually stunning, using its 3D lighting effects and an essential element of the gameplay.