Kotaku’s 10 mobile games to try instead of doomscrolling

Kotaku published a roundup of 10 iOS and Android games the author recommends as better ways to spend short bursts of time than doomscrolling.

Highlights include Slay the Spire, praised as an excellent $10 mobile port of the 2019 roguelite deckbuilder that suits short plays, and Balatro, a 2024 poker-ish hit that reached mobile after its February success on PC and console and costs $10.

The list also recommends puzzle and indie picks such as Polimines Deluxe (a $5 pack combining Polimines 1 and 2) and Sparklite, a roguelite RPG the author says works especially well on phones for commute-length runs.

Kotaku points to the New York Times Games suite—Wordle, the daily crossword, Connections, Spelling Bee and more—and notes the author pays about $3 a month for access; it also recommends Stuff the Puzzle Bot as a brilliantly clever mobile puzzle experience.

Other picks include Shattered Pixel Dungeon (a $5 long-running fan-led variant of Pixel Dungeon with roughly quarterly updates), Loop Hero (free to download, $7 to unlock), and Holedown (about $4), all framed as satisfying, bite-sized distractions.

The list closes with Crying Suns ($9) and the caveat that mobile gaming choices are vast—the author says the list could go on and invites readers to suggest other games.

kotaku mobile roundup, slay the spire $10, balatro $10, polimines deluxe $5, sparklite commute runs, new york times games subscription, wordle daily play, stuff the puzzle bot, shattered pixel dungeon $5, loop hero $7 unlock, holedown $4, crying suns $9, squardle app