The Best Mobile Games to Play During Isolation

Updated on April 21st It’s a really difficult time for everyone right now, with the Coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world. If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably found yourselves with a lot more free time on your hands. On the …

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Updated on April 21st

It’s a really difficult time for everyone right now, with the Coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world. If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably found yourselves with a lot more free time on your hands. On the plus side, that means you’re going to have a lot more time to play mobile games.

Rather than writing a big list that doesn’t dig deep into why you should be playing the games on it, we thought you deserved better. Instead we’re going to make three suggestions a week, explaining exactly why now is the perfect time to play these games.

If you’ve got your own suggestions then please do share them in the comments section at the bottom of the article. And make sure you keep checking back regularly, because we’ll be adding to this list on a regular basis.

QuizUp

Learning is a great was to pass some time when you’re in isolation. It’s even better if you can show off that learning by beating your friends in quizzes. And that’s exactly what QuizUp has to offer.

Once you’ve signed up you can play against people all over the world, strangers and friends alike, and test your knowledge about a wide range of subjects. From Marvel movies to psychology, The Big Bang Theory to astrology.

The game is really easy to pick up and play – with a few taps you’ll be ready to go. Every quiz you play you’ll earn points, pushing your level up and showing that you’re the smartest there is.

There are loads of different modes, super-hard quizzes that really stretch your brain and much, much more. QuizUp is pretty much everything you want from a quiz app, and it won’t cost you a thing to pick up and play.

Download QuizUp from the App Store and Google Play Store

Dino Squad

This one has just come out for iOS and Android. It’s a game that sees you taking on the role of a prehistoric monster. Not just that, you’re a prehistoric monster with massive guns strapped to your back. What’s not to like about that?

The developer has some pedigree in mobile shooters, having built the excellent War Robots. This one follows a similar template, but with some added twists to keep things fresh.

The action is fast and explosive, and there’s always a game waiting for you when you load up. You need to capture objectives, blast other dinosaurs and level-up. The more you play, the better gear and dinos you’re going to have at your disposal.

You can click here to check out our preview of Dino Squad – but it’s safe to say we really liked what we saw. We mentioned it was a game about dinosaurs with rocket launchers, right?

Download Dino Squad from the App Store and Google Play Store

Retro Bowl

We’re all missing sports right now, but the world of mobile gaming offers up loads of different options to get our fix. Retro Bowl is one of them – it’s a pared back version of American Football with a focus on management and team development.

That’s not to say you’re not going to be throwing touchdown passes – when your team is on offence it’s up to you to chuck the pigskin, pass it off to a running back, or try a QB sneak yourself.

It might look simple, but there’s actually a real depth to the experience. And a lot of excitement too. Trust us, when the clock’s ticking down in the fourth quarter and you’re a touchdown behind, your palms are going to get super sweaty.

The game lets you draft and trade players, upgrade your facilities and pick which coaches you think can lead your team to victory. It is, simply put, not just one of the best mobile sports game,s but one of the best American Football games, period

Download Retro Bowl from the App Store and Google Play Store

Words With Friends 2

It’s been around for a while now, and there’s a good chance you’ve already played it, but now is the perfect time to jump back in to Zynga’s digital reinterpretation of Scrabble.

You can connect with friends around the world to play games, but there’s a lot more going on here than that. There’s challenging solo play that sees you facing up against powerful AI characters. And there are regular puzzles that change the shape of the game and stretch your mental faculties even further.

There’s also a brilliant, fast-paced multiplayer version of the game that sees you teaming up with five other players to try and score points as quickly as possible. It’s a bit like auto-chess meets battle royale meets a spelling bee, and it can get really tense.

The game features some pretty interesting social features on top of all of that, meaning you can stay in touch with your friends while you’re playing. Stay connected, get smarter and have fun while you’re doing it? What isn’t to like about that?

Download Words With Friends 2 from the App Store and Google Play Store

Call of Duty Mobile

It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that Call of Duty is one of the best shooters available for mobile. It’s super slick, action-packed and stuffed with more modes than almost every other FPS that you can get on your phone.

The battles here are sharp and short, tightly paced and often super close. Looking for something more expansive? Jump into the 100 player battle royale mode with some friends and try and be the last squad standing.

There’s always a challenge to complete, and the CoD branding means that finding a game is as simple as clicking play. You level-up as you play, and you’ll unlock new weapons, gear and special moves that make you an even more formidable opponent on the battlefield.

You can tweak the controls to fit your play-style, and that lets rookies play against more experienced players on a level battlefield. Call of Duty: Mobile offers everything you could want from a palm-sized shooter and an awful lot more as well.

Download Call of Duty: Mobile from the App Store and Google Play Store

Spaceteam

You’re going to need to be in isolation with people to play this one, but it’s an absolutely wonderful way to turn some free time into a crazed journey through the cosmos.

Everyone plays on their own device, and the screen represents a control panel covered in switches, sliders and buttons. Instructions pop up and you need to do what they say to keep your ship flying. More often than not, those instructions refer to things on other player’s screens, so get ready for a lot of shouting.

You need to work together to succeed, and more often than not you’re going to end your run exploding in the bleak expanse of space. Don’t worry though, because you’re all almost certainly going to be laughing when that happens.

Spaceteam is a unique and engaging game that, if you haven’t played yet, you should definitely pick up right now. It’s a game that brings people together and asks them to co-operate, which is a pretty brilliant thing if you ask us.

Download Spaceteam from the App Store and Google Play Store