Mobile gaming has come a very, very long way. What once started as pixelated time-killers on tiny screens has turned into a global industry rivalling console and PC gaming! Chances are, whether you’re a gamer or not, you’ve played at least one of these games… or watched someone next to you on the bus play them a little too intensely.
To celebrate us turning 20, we’re taking a look at just how far mobile games have come. The past 20 years have been filled with titles that defined eras, drained batteries, and somehow made “just five more minutes” a universal lie. So strap in, buckle up, and let’s take a drive through memory lane, highlighting 5 of the best mobile games of the last 20 years!
Subway Surfers (4 Billion+ Downloads)
Long before the game was used to satisfy Gen Z’s diminished attention span on TikTok brain-rot videos, it was once the most downloaded mobile game of the decade. Released in 2012, this endless runner became a global phenomenon thanks to its bright visuals, simple controls, and extremely addictive gameplay.
The premise is straightforward: run, dodge, jump, and slide your way through train tracks while escaping a grumpy inspector. But what really made Subway Surfers stand out was its accessibility. Anyone could pick it up, play for 30 seconds or 30 minutes, and feel like they were improving!
What’s helped Subway Surfers stay relevant for so long is how often the developers refresh the game. Regular updates, themed locations, seasonal events, and new characters keep the game feeling familiar but never stale! It’s the kind of game that lives on phones for years. It quietly waits to steal your attention whenever you have a spare moment.
Pokémon GO (1 Billion+ Downloads)
When Pokémon GO launched in 2016, the world briefly agreed on one thing: we were all going outside! Parks, beaches, and footpaths suddenly filled with people staring at their phones, hunting virtual creatures.
By blending augmented reality with real-world exploration, Pokémon GO changed what people expected from mobile games. It encouraged players to get outside and interact with the real world in ways mobile games hadn’t done before. You didn’t just play it on the couch; it pushed you to walk, explore, and even travel.
The social side of the game also played a huge role in its success. Community days, raids, and in-person events turned what could have been a solo experience into something shared. Even years later, it’s still one of the best examples of how mobile games can bring people together. Pokémon GO’s unique ability to bring the masses together during its prime easily makes it one of the best mobile games of the last 20 years!
Clash of Clans (790 Million+ Downloads)
If you were in school during the peak of this game’s popularity, you’d know few games have dominated lunch breaks and spare moments quite like Clash of Clans. This strategy game launched in 2012, introducing millions of players to base building, resource management and the joy (and frustration) of waiting for upgrades to finish.
At its core, Clash of Clans is about patience and planning. Build your village, train your troops, and defend against attacks from other players around the world. Join a clan, and suddenly the game becomes as social as it is strategic.
Its long-term success comes from how invested players become in their progress. Villages take months or even years to perfect, which creates a strong sense of ownership. Add regular updates, balance changes, and competitive events, and you’ve got a game that keeps players coming back long after the initial download!
Plants vs. Zombies (500 Million+ Downloads)
Plants vs. Zombies is one of those games that looks innocent… until you realise how much time you’ve sunk into it. Released in 2009, this tower defence classic combined humour, strategy, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting! The concept is delightfully odd; players place an army of plants on a front lawn to defend a house from waves of zombies. Each plant has a specific ability, and success depends far more on planning than fast reflexes.
What really sets Plant vs. Zombies apart is how approachable it made strategy games feel. It slowly introduced new mechanics without overwhelming players, making it perfect for casual gamers while still offering depth for those who wanted a challenge. It’s clever, funny, and surprisingly tactical. Which is why it’s still fondly remembered and played today, making it one of the best mobile games of the last 20 years!
Angry Birds 2 (450 Million+ Downloads)
The original Angry Birds was everywhere when it launched in 2009, and Angry Birds 2 built on that success with new mechanics, better visuals, and more strategic gameplay.
The idea behind the game is to sling birds at mischievous pigs in poorly constructed towers. Each bird has different abilities. The player has to find successful strategies for each level to pop the pigs hiding within and around the towers. Angry Birds 2 added depth without losing the pick-up-and-play charm that made the original so popular. The creators of the game have since made different versions, such as Angry Birds: Star Wars and Angry Birds: Transformers. But Angry Birds 2 remains their most popular title, with the game still receiving updates 10 years after its original release.
Despite being very different, these are often called some of the best mobile games of the last 20 years. They share simple controls, strong visual style, and the ability to hook players almost immediately. Easy to pick up but hard to put down, they fit perfectly into spare moments throughout the day.
Over the last 20 years, games like these have helped shape how we use our phones. Pushing demand for better screens, faster processors, and smoother performance. The downside is that all of that power comes at a cost, especially when it comes to battery life and device longevity.
If your phone is running hot, draining faster than it used to, or struggling to keep up, mobile gaming could be part of the reason. Modern games are far more demanding than they once were, and older devices can really feel the strain. That’s where we can help! Whether it’s optimising performance, sorting battery issues, or helping you decide when an upgrade actually makes sense, we’ve got your back. Can’t be having your phone crashing right before a high score!
