Let’s be honest: when you hear “mobile gaming”, your brain probably autocorrects it to “brain-dead tapping” or “games your aunt spends RM500 a month on.” And fair enough — if you’re scrolling through the top charts, you’ll see a buffet of colour-matching puzzles and kingdom-building pay-to-wins that scream “I peaked on Facebook in 2011.”

But in 2025, that narrative is looking increasingly outdated. There are mobile games out there that rival PC and console experiences — games that demand skill, offer depth, and most importantly, don’t immediately nag you for your credit card the moment you log in.

So no, this isn’t a list of Block Blast clones. These are the best mobile games of 2025 for people who actually like… y’know, playing games.

 

Delta Force

Genre: First-Person Shooter

Free-to-Play? You bet

The return of Delta Force is a bit like bumping into your childhood friend who’s now inexplicably jacked and has a crypto portfolio. It didn’t need to go this hard — and yet, it did. This shooter lets you drop into massive battlegrounds with proper objectives and teamwork mechanics, not just the usual “spray and pray” that most mobile shooters rely on. Plus, it’s free. Properly free. No “premium bullet packs” nonsense. Just good ol’ fashioned pew-pew with actual skill involved.

 

Roblox

Genre: Sandbox Platform

Free-to-Play? Yes, with in-game purchases

Look, say what you want about Roblox being a glorified babysitter — the sheer creativity on display here would make a modded Minecraft server blush. If you can dream it, there’s probably a Roblox server already doing it better, with 12-year-olds inventing more engaging game loops than half the AAA industry. Plus, it runs smoother than you’d expect, even on lower-end phones — perfect for testing both hardware limits and your patience with screeching voice chat.

 

Pokémon TCG Pocket

Genre: Collectable Card Game

Free-to-Play? Technically

If you’ve ever wanted to open Pokémon card packs but didn’t have the funds, or just didn’t fancy being emotionally destroyed by a scalper on Carousell, TCG Pocket scratches that exact itch. You get the rush of card pulling, the strategy of deck-building, and none of the crushing regret of opening a third foil Snubbull in a row. A dangerously addictive pocket monster time-sink — in the best way possible.

 

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang

Genre: MOBA

Free-to-Play? Yes

We get it — it’s been around forever. But MLBB has quietly become the FIFA of mobile esports. Whether you’re playing casually or grinding ranked, this game somehow balances the chaos of mobile team fights with legitimate mechanical skill. Add in its ever-growing competitive scene (hello, M-Series), and you’ve got a MOBA that does what even Riot’s Wild Rift couldn’t fully pull off: get everyone, from boomers to teens, to care.

 

Honor of Kings

Genre: MOBA

Free-to-Play? Yes

Yes, another MOBA, but hear us out. Honor of Kings is like MLBB’s richer, flashier cousin who studied abroad and came back with an accent. Since its global launch, it’s been aggressively player-first — we’re talking cool crossovers, regular updates, and community events that don’t feel like cheap filler. Tencent basically brought the Genshin Impact mentality to competitive gaming, and it’s working.

 

Pokémon GO

Genre: AR Adventure

Free-to-Play? Yep

Yes, Pokémon GO is still alive. No, we’re not joking. While you may have stopped during the great Weedle migration of 2017, the game has quietly evolved (pun intended) into a content-rich AR RPG. With PvP, trading, shiny hunting, and real-world events, it’s doing more to get gamers outside than your smartwatch ever could. Also, still one of the best ways to test your phone’s GPS accuracy… unless you’re spoofing. Naughty.

 

Minecraft (Mobile)

Genre: Sandbox

Free-to-Play? Nope – it’s premium

This one’s a no-brainer. It’s Minecraft, the global phenom, except now it fits in your pocket and still runs smoother than your dad’s laptop. Whether you’re building redstone contraptions, surviving the night, or just blowing stuff up in Creative Mode, Minecraft Mobile proves that yes — your phone can run “real” games. And no, it doesn’t need 5 years of updates to be fun.

 

Balatro

Genre: Roguelike Deckbuilder

Free-to-Play? Nope – premium indie

From breakout indie hit on PC to slick mobile port, Balatro is the kind of game you open during a commute and accidentally miss your stop because you’re five moves away from a perfect hand. It’s poker meets roguelike, with a devilishly addictive gameplay loop and a soundtrack that makes you feel cooler than you actually are. This is what indie done right on mobile looks like — no fluff, no bloat, just pure design brilliance.

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Mobile gaming in 2025 isn’t just surviving — it’s thriving. The days of looking down on it like it’s the Tesco Value version of gaming are well behind us. Whether it’s triple-A experiences, nostalgic gems, or smart indie bangers, there’s something in here that could melt your phone’s battery faster than TikTok at 3:00 AM.

So if Sony’s still treating mobile gaming like an afterthought, maybe it’s time they realised that what’s in our pockets deserves the same respect as what’s plugged into the telly.