With tons of mobile games rolling out, some of the titles that deserve a spot at the top get buried and lost among the hodgepodge of other games that, frankly, still need some improvement.
App stores do their best to give each one exposure and a fair chance to climb the charts, but with more than 300,000 games in the App Store, it's just a little difficult to do so. To help them find their way to your smartphone, here's a compilation of the top 10 mobile games of 2015.
Fallout Shelter (Free Play Store / App Store)
(Photo : Bethesda)
This one is a shoo-in on the list because, c'mon, Bethesda is letting players become overseers of their very own Vault-Tec vaults. The main objective of Fallout Shelter is managing the inhabitants of the vault, and that has appealed to thousands of fans, clocking 30 million hours of gaming in the first month in total.
For a first-timer in the world of mobile gaming, Bethesda did extremely well.
Her Story ($5 App Store)
Love murder mysteries with a strong touch of realism? Well, Her Story can surely whet your appetite for them.
In the game, players are set out to find the truth by listening intently to interrogations and typing in keywords that lead to more clues surrounding the case. What's more, it's awfully immersive because of the real-life footage it uses to lead players from one point to another.
Lara Croft GO ($5 Play Store / App Store)
Lara Croft is renowned for embarking on action-packed adventures and whatnot, seeking ancient treasures here and there. This time, Lara Croft GO provides quite a different experience for players and Ms. Croft herself.
The game takes on a turn-based style, where the world only moves when the player moves. It's more like a slew of puzzles that gradually becomes more difficult one after the other at a comfortable pace. In other words, players will have to tango with a bunch of monsters to get their hands on the coveted treasure.
It's currently 80 percent off at the Google Play Store and 60 percent off at the App Store.
Minecraft: Story Mode ($5 Play Store / App Store)
Taking something good and making it better or different is a time-tested method to dish out an excellent game. That's exactly what Telltale Games did with the massively successful Minecraft.
Despite technically having no characters or story, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the original game. However, gamers who love a well-written script can trust Minecraft: Story Mode to satisfy their craving for a fantastic adventure in a blocky and pixelated universe, no less.
It's currently $0.10 at the Play Store.
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition ($10 Play Store / $5 App Store)
(Photo : Beamdog)
In case you missed it, yes, the 1998 PC classic has been ported to the mobile platform. Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition takes players to Sword Coast for a long and grueling quest, where they'll be gathering loot and experience points to grow stronger along the way.
Explore every corner of the realm for many days to come, as the title boasts over 60 hours of thrilling gameplay.
It's currently $3.58 at the Play Store.
Star Wars: Uprising (Free Play Store / App Store)
One good way to keep riding the "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" wave is by playing a game that's set in a galaxy far, far away. Star Wars: Uprising takes place right after "Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi," where players will blast stormtroopers - minus their cockamamy accuracy - and collect loot.
If that doesn't float your boat, you can go ahead and become a Padawan in Lightsaber Escape, a browser-based mini-game that turns your smartphone into a lightsaber.
Downwell ($2 App Store)
Plunge down some of the most dangerous caves the gaming world has ever seen, where a deluge of monsters and platforms constantly appear at the bottom.
To advance in the game, players will have to react quickly to stay alive while shooting downward to exterminate enemies. Each level enables the player to grab more power-ups and weapons.
Categorized in the arcade division, Downwell has some pretty retro graphics, screaming out "old-school cool" - and yet, it's not technically counted among the elderly.
Marvel Future Fight (Free Play Store / App Store)
Set up a band of superheroes to go against the bad guys in the Marvel universe with Marvel Future Fight.
Right off the bat, players will be partnered up with Captain America, Iron Man and Black Widow, unlocking even more heroes throughout missions. The RPG game is just perfect to give you your Marvel fix.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas ($7 Play Store / App Store)
Crimes, pimped-out cars, insane characters . . . the list goes on. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is among the several mobile games that offers a rich storyline and action-packed gameplay, all on the streets of San Andreas.
Rockstar Games delivered well.
Dead Trigger 2 (Free Play Store / App Store)
If shooting down zombies are your cup of tea, you'll get a kick out of Dead Trigger 2.
One of the main selling points of the game is the touchscreen-friendly controls. It's pretty easy aim the crosshair right in the center of a zombie's head. To keep the ball rolling, it has pretty awesome graphics that goes well with the undead mayhem.
Bonus: Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector (Free Play Store / App Store)
(Photo : Hit-Point)
No "best mobile games" list is complete without Neko Atsume. Sure, it's a game where the player just collects cats and takes pictures of them, but it's doing one heck of a job in that department.
The game is simple enough: just leave out some cat treats and toys and wait for them to occasionally give a couple of silver and goldfish so you can purchase even more food and playthings for them. It's borderline therapeutic.
The furry felines each have their own clever names, including Tubbs, who always gobbles the food right up, and Breezy, whose mortal enemy may very well be a plastic shopping bag. Download it meow!
And on that kitty-friendly note, we come to the end of our list. Of course, some of your favorite games may have gone under our radar, but these are the top 10 mobile games of 2015 that we've come across for the year. Hopefully, some of them will make their way to your smartphones.
Photo: Jan Persiel | Flickr
