Gaming On-The-Go is a weekly series that explores the mobile gaming industry as well as uncovering current trends, with hands-on guides for the latest smartphone and tablet games.
This year was a big one for gamers, especially for those who prefer to game while on the go. Thanks to the latest smartphone technology, screens have gotten bigger, graphics have been enhanced, and developers have continued to overall wow us with some impressive titles.
With that said, since new titles are being added to the app stores constantly, narrowing down a list of few favorites was really hard to do. I've played many games over the course of the year that proved to be both impressive and addicting across genres. Some worth noting include NBA 2K16 for sports fans, the role-playing game Star Wars: Uprising for fans of the franchise, Land Sliders for those looking for an adorably fun game to just kill some time, and Neko Atsume for cat lovers.
But there were some games that stood out from the pack either because of eye-popping visuals, haunting soundtracks, intoxicating story lines, innovative gameplay, or even a combination of these traits. It's safe to say these games made it hard to put down my phone.
While I look forward to what next year has in store for mobile gaming, these are the titles that are leaving a lasting impact this year. Here's our ranking of the best mobile games of 2015.
5. Rayman Adventures
If you're looking for a fast-paced game that is full of vibrant colors and cute characters, Rayman Adventures should be downloaded right now. While the controls take some time to get used to, Rayman moves along the level on his own, with the player able to swipe and tap to change direction, jump and attack. The objective is to rescue the Incrediball critters who help Rayman during the levels. The levels are short and beautifully designed, making it the perfect title for those who are new to the Rayman franchise, while also pleasing fans who weren't big fans of the two previous endless runner titles.
Rayman Adventures is available to download for free on iOS and Android.
4. Fallout Shelter
Fallout 4 hands down is one of the biggest console titles of the year. And it wasn't long before Fallout Shelter caught on among mobile gamers to become one of the top games in the app stores. This title has the player managing dwellers, with the goal to gather enough resources needed to survive. Of course, you still have to make sure the dweller remains happy. (But you can now send slackers back out into the Wasteland!) Fans of the franchise can also expect funny dialogue with dark humor among the dwellers, making it familiar, yet unique in its own right in comparison to the console games.
Fallout Shelter is available to download for free for iOS and Android.
3. Her Story
If you are a fan of the Serial podcast, the Netflix original series Making a Murderer, have the Investigation Discovery channel on nonstop, or just enjoy a good murder mystery, Her Story is a game for you. Completely different from any title on this list, this mobile game has the player watching short video clips of police interrogations regarding the murder of a man. The player takes on the role as a detective to uncover the secrets by typing keywords into the database to reveal more clues hidden in the videos to solve the crime. The twist in the story will be a shocker as you read the witness to see if she is guilty or not.
Her Story is available to download for iOS for $4.99.
2. This War Of Mine
Similar to the look of Fallout Shelter, This War of Mine has the player controlling a group of survivors. But this game is way more hands on and creative in terms of the storyline, giving the gamer the control to determine each character's fate and happiness based on consequences during times of harsh warfare. This means either taking in desperate civilians or robbing and killing rebels in order to find food and medicine. This emotional game will tug at your heart and have you hooked from day one.
This War of Mine is available to for iOS and Android for a limited discounted price of $4.99.
1. Lara Croft Go
Instead of minimizing the action-packed Tomb Raider titles to fit smaller phone screens, Square Enix decided to take a completely new route for Lara Croft Go. And we couldn't be more pleased with the result. This turn-based mobile game has the player navigating their way through levels that are filled with obstacles that range from various traps, rolling boulders, and deadly snakes just waiting to snack on the sexy, yet strong lead character. While the levels are ideally short, some are impressively challenging — and each is as a captivating as the last. The game's most recent update included 26 brand-new puzzles and is set in a new location. Named Apple's iPhone Game of the Year 2015, Lara Croft Go is a must-play.
It's available on sale for a limited time for the price of $1.99 for iOS and Android.
