Smartphones today are affordable and have largely replaced feature phones. Gaming is a primary use case for new phone purchases. While low-cost smartphones may not handle Asphalt 8 or Real Racing 3 smoothly, they can accommodate many other games. Personally, I prefer simple puzzle games for mobile devices, offering hours of entertainment. Although games like Angry Birds, Temple Run, and Fruit Ninja dominated during the early stages of the smartphone revolution, numerous new contenders have emerged.
Top 15 Puzzle Games for Android and iPhone
1. Can You Escape – Tower
Can You Escape is a popular game series where you must escape rooms and locked cells to advance. Can You Escape – Tower is currently trending among the top puzzle games on the app store. You must find items and clues in each level to progress. The game challenges your wits and occasionally leaves you puzzled. If you get stuck, the game provides walkthrough videos for assistance. If you enjoy puzzle-solving with clues, give this game a try.
Price: Free with in-app purchases
2. Candy Crush Saga
This needs no explanation. It’s the Angry Bird of current times. This app, downloaded over 100 million times, is so popular that it spawns meme and parody videos, plus several knock-offs. But the original Candy Crush reigns supreme. For those who’ve been living under a rock for the past two years, you group together three or more candies of the same type until you reach a set number of points in limited time or moves. The game has added many new features and is now more exciting than ever.
Price: Free with in-app purchases
3. Flow Free
Flow Free stands as a popular heavyweight in the puzzles category. In this addictive game, connect two dots of the same color using pipes, covering the entire board with no area left uncovered. There are limited ways to achieve this, and difficulty escalates with each level. Additionally, engage in time trials, connecting as many dots as possible within a set timeframe. If you seek a challenge, explore this vibrant app.
Price: Free with in-app purchases
4. Unblock Me FREE
Unblock Me is a game where you rearrange blocks to create an exit path for a red block. The challenge can be hair-pulling tough. Each move counts towards your score, so fewer moves mean a better achievement. There are two modes: challenge and relax. A hint system assists those who need it. Install the original from Kiragames.
Price: Free with in-app purchases
5. Where’s my Water? 1 & 2
This app isn’t from California; Disney developed it alongside similar ones named Where’s my Perry and Where’s my Mickey. The main characters, Swampy, Allie, and Cranky, appeal to both kids and adults. You must carve a path for a limited water supply to reach these characters while obeying gravity’s laws. As levels progress, complexity increases, requiring avoidance of destructive elements.
Price: Free with in-app purchases
6. Monster Puzzle 3D
Decide whether it’s an RPG Puzzle game or an MMORPG, but it’s undeniably challenging. Currently among the top puzzle games in the play store, this game offers collectable RPG elements, Facebook integration, and more. The premise is simple: combine elements of the same type (like Bejeweled) to empower your monster. As you defeat bosses and progress, you can expand your team with more monsters and upgrade their powers for added enjoyment. Similar to Dota, your team can raid dungeons for additional monsters. Give this Puzzle-MMORPG combo a try; you’re bound to enjoy it.
Price: Free with in-app purchases
7. Shoot Bubble Deluxe
Small things often hold great surprises. This game embodies that notion perfectly. At a mere 1.3 MB, it delivers a simple yet captivating experience. The gameplay mirrors reverse Tetris, requiring players to shoot bubbles from a platform at the screen’s bottom, aiming to group three or more bubbles of the same color together. Once grouped, they detach and fall. Meanwhile, the upper area steadily descends, demanding players to clear all bubbles before it’s too late, resulting in game over. Additionally, there’s an arcade mode where a continuous wall of bubbles descends, demanding swift action to prevent failure. Personally, this game ranks among my favorites and serves as an excellent stress-reliever.
Price: Free with optional in-app purchases
8. Two Dots
Two Dots is the sequel to Dots, a popular game where you connect same-colored dots vertically and horizontally to remove them. Completing a square clears all dots of that color from the board. The challenge is to clear a specific number of dots of each color within a set number of moves. Dots demonstrated that a simple, well-designed UI and straightforward gameplay can lead to a top-charting game. Two Dots builds on this success by retaining the core game while introducing new power-ups, a ranking system, and expanding the levels to 285.
Price: Free with in-app purchases
9. The Room & The Room 2
Room surpasses Can you escape, offering a heightened experience. Despite being earlier on the app store, comparisons arise, yet Room presents greater difficulty and rigor. Its refinement outshines its counterpart, evident in meticulous level design. Already a top-grossing iOS app, Room garners acclaim and a Bafta award. Though a paid app, its quality ensures satisfaction, prompting repeat purchases.
10. Block Puzzle Mania
This game is intriguing, combining Tetris elements with a unique twist. Players must manually arrange Tetris-like shapes on a board to create lines. Failure to fit a piece ends the game. However, the app lacks additional features, offering only one mode and the option to link a Google account. Block Mania could enhance the experience by incorporating more creative features.
Price: Free
11. Cut the Rope 1 & 2
Cut the Rope remains a classic, enduring title that merits inclusion in any list of top games. I fondly recall my initial foray into it on my iPod touch back in 2010, losing countless hours to its captivating gameplay. Cut the Rope 2 builds upon this beloved foundation, introducing a wealth of fresh challenges, obstacles, and vibrant environments. The core objective remains unchanged: deftly sever ropes to guide the candy safely to Om Nom within the allotted time. The sequel introduces diverse locales, ranging from cardboard boxes and cluttered garages to cozy rooms and winding tunnels.
Available on iPhone (Paid) and Android (Free with in-app purchases)
12. Tetris Blitz
Tetris Blitz builds upon one of the most popular and recognizable games globally. Developed by EA, known for PC/console games, it introduces numerous features and graphical effects that enhance gameplay. No longer limited to watching lines disappear, explosions now intensify the experience, leaving players in a Frenzy. The new Frenzy mode keeps players on their toes, offering double points for each clearance. Additionally, Power-ups and Finishers like Frostbite and Mino-rain add further excitement. If you’re a fan of the classic Tetris, give this game a try.
Price: Free with in-app purchases
13. Super Hexagon
This example showcases the power of simplicity in both design and gameplay, resulting in an outstanding app. Who would have imagined that hexagons could offer such enjoyment? In this game, a small triangle navigates around a central hexagon, while the surrounding larger hexagons gradually enclose the screen. Your task is to prevent the triangle from being trapped between them. Adding to the experience is the captivating background music, which can leave your mind feeling entranced after extended play sessions. Furthermore, it offers a higher level of difficulty compared to similar games. While it may be priced slightly higher than others, the unique design and concept justify the investment.
Price: Paid
14. TWIST 3D
Remember Rubik’s Cube? Hold on, this app doesn’t require you to solve one. I mention it because here, you manipulate a similar cube. To elaborate, you’re presented with a cube where you tap combinations of the same color, at least three in a row. You can rotate and twist the cube to discover new combinations. To up the challenge, the colors constantly change. Additionally, there are gems that you earn by matching gems of the same color pattern. It might seem perplexing at first, but once you start playing, it’s remarkably simple to grasp and highly enjoyable.
Price: Free with optional in-app purchases
15. Kitchen Scramble
If you enjoy SIMS or simulation games, you’ll adore this one. Manage and operate a virtual kitchen, handling tasks like preparing recipes, serving customers, and exploring different locations. The recipes are based on real-world cuisine, offering a chance to learn cooking skills while playing. While it may not elevate your culinary prowess to Gordon Ramsay levels, you can grasp basic skills. Connect with friends who share your cooking interests via Facebook to exchange and discover new recipes.
Price: Free with in-app purchases
That’s it. While there are numerous other games gaining traction, for now, if you seek relaxation after a day’s work, these are worth exploring. Feel free to recommend your preferred puzzle games or share your thoughts in the comments section.
Pritam Chopra is a seasoned IT professional and a passionate blogger hailing from the dynamic realm of technology. With an insatiable curiosity for all things tech-related, Pritam has dedicated himself to exploring and unraveling the intricacies of the digital world.
