Another month, another list. May has brought on some warmer weather, and some really great mobile games. Each one was just as good as the last, and the one after was just as good too. So much there was a lot of shifting around the final top 10. So much so that as this was being posted, there was shifting around. With so many great games, it was hard to make certain decisions. And all these decisions led up to this, the final Top 10 Mobile Games of May, list. To begin? SPACE!
#10. Solar Explorer: New Dawn
Earth is no longer habitable, so humankind takes to the moon to begin a base camp and start a new civilization. In Solar Explorer: New Dawn, developed by Dwarf Cavern AS, players control a spaceship that’s coming in for a landing on the moon. Well, all three stages of landing; the approach, the descent, and the landing. Each time you land, you order a new ship with more settlers on it, or a new ship that’s specifically filled with supplies for mining, food, so on and so forth. And each time that ship comes in? It needs to land. Control the ship by keeping it within the lines of safety, as well as dodging all sorts of oncoming threats, and get the ship slowed down enough to land. And the more times you successfully land, the more things that can be added to the ship, and the more threats there are when landing. Soon enough, you’ll have all sorts of ships, satellites, and equipment to restart the human race.
Solar Explorer: New Dawn is available on iOS Systems only, for $2.99 USD.
#9. Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap
This is the long awaited return of the cult classic game Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap from 1989 on the Sega. It had been redesigned from the ground up for PC back in 2017 by developers Lizardcube, and has finally arrived to mobile this month. The story is that your main character, either Hu-Man or Hu-Girl, depending on your personal aesthetic, is cursed by the Mecha Dragon to be a half-human and half-dragon hybrid. And it’s up to them to break this curse by finding the Salamander Cross. Each dragon slays intensifies the curse and allows you to transform into different creatures. With beautiful hand-drawn animation, a stunning soundtrack, and a big slap of nostalgia, this is one to check out.
Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap is available on iOS and Android systems for $9.99 USD, though there is a promotional sale for its release for $6.99 USD.
#8. Hamsterdam
Hamsterdam has been on this list since the first Mobile Games list as it’s been in and out of closed beta for some time. But it’s finally here. Sort of. It is technically unreleased, as it’s still in development, but if you can try it out, it’s a lot of fun. Take on the role of, well, a hamster named Pimm who’s familiar with the art of Hamster-Fu. As Pimm, you are sworn to protect your city of Hamsterdam as the wicked chinchilla Marlo and his band of vermin attack. Go all out in this little beat-’em-up game with special movies and a keen paw to take out the ones who bring harm to your city. Favourite thing? Dress-up. Pim is rocking some Matrix-style glasses and coat with some big ol’ oven mitts, and it can change from there. Great for a chuckle each time the game starts.
Hamsterdam is available on iOS and Android systems, and is currently still unreleased but anyone can sign up for the demo here.
#7. Ailment
Love space? Love mysteries? Love really cool guns and way too many enemies? Ailment is the way to go. Ailment, developed by BeardyBirdGames, is a pixelated horror sci-fi game where you wake up without remembering anything. Well, you remember you were meant to go on a rescue mission, but that doesn’t seem to be going your way as the entire crew has transformed into creatures who are out for your blood. Your goal? Uncover the truth of what happened here while also wielding some really cool guns to take out the ones trying to rip your face off. Find other survivors and help keep them alive while the mystery starts to unfold.
Ailment is available on iOS and Android systems for free.
#6. John on Fire
Your name is John Mills. The Russian Mafia has taken your dear cat Mittens. You want revenge. John on Fire, developed by XK Software, is a top-down shooter that has players take on the role of a retired detective who only gets back into action when his cat is stolen. The game has a lot of levels, a lot of guns, and a lot of references. The game itself is a parody of a lot of Hollywood action blockbusters (if I named all the ones I recognized, we would be here for a few days), and the humor is completely aware that it’s over the top ridiculous. Which only makes it better. The game does support controllers, which is great because sometimes thumbs alone can’t get the job done. But for an over-the-top, action packed, cat-loving, revenge story? This is the way to go.
John on Fire is available on iOS and Android systems for $3.99 USD.
#5. Zombie Night Terror
A lot of zombie games have you be the saviour to stop the epidemic, or at least shoot some flesh-eating monsters in the head. However in Zombie Night Terror, developed by NoClip, you! Are the mastermind behind the zombie apocalypse. In this strategy pixelated horror fest, players start to turn all humans into zombies, and feast on those who are unfortunate to be around them. Each level brings on a new challenge, as well as new zombie mutations to help you get from point A to point B, or to achieve the level’s goal. Highly addictive, and genuinely challenging, this game lets you control who dies and well, who dies.
Zombie Night Terror is available on iOS and Android systems, for $5.99 USD.
#4. Durango: Wild Lands
Have you ever been on a train that just, you know, crashes into an alternate dimension that happens to be completely inhabited by dinosaurs? No? Only me? Okay. Well, at least in Nexon’s Durango: Wild Lands, that hypothetical situation can be in the palm of your hands. This is one big MMO for mobile devices, and it just keeps getting better and better. Players can take on the role of one of many different characters to choose from who get thrown through a rift and sent to the world of Durango. Durango is a location that has both humans and dinosaurs roaming through the area. As the newcomer, you need to learn to fight, protect yourself, build, craft, anything and everything, to keep yourself alive in this brutal world. Once you know the basics, your on your own. Build a new homestead on an island, and work through missions to gain better gear, better supplies, and whatever else you need.
Durango: Wild Lands is available on iOS and Android systems, for free.
#3. Alt-Frequencies
There’s something in the radio. It’s a conspiracy. Well, a conspiracy group, trying to uncover the information about a time loop created by a corrupt politician. In Alt-Frequencies, developed by Accidental Queens, you have to uncover this conspiracy by going through several radio stations. Save, record, upload, all through several sets of voices and shows to uncover the truth about this time loop. The time loop that everyone seems to be stuck inside of. By asking the right questions, you can change the outcome of time-loop, alter the course of it, and start to working towards how it’s happening and what the consequences might be. Find the right questions, break the time loop, uncover the truth. Intense and suspenseful with the ability to cause a shiver down the spine, this radio talk-show takes a turn in the right direction.
Alt-Frequencies is available on iOS and Android systems, for $4.99 USD.
#2. Astrologaster
“Long ago in England in 1592. There begins our tale, and all of it is true!*”
The plague has riddled Europe, and most of the doctors are out attempting to find a cure for the illness, leaving only a few people behind. One of these people is “Doctor” Simon Forman, an astrologer, without a doctors permit. But of course, when found with no permit, Simon is set on a mission to obtain one by getting enough letters of recommendations through his patients. And that’s where the players step in.
Developed by Nyamyam, players take on the role of Simon Forman in Astrologaster. Using star charts and your keen sense of observation, help solve the problems of some ridiculous clients in hopes to get your medical permit. These problems range from a woman being pregnant, to a man walking in drunk thinking he’s dying, to foul diseases, to falling in love.
Fully voice-acted, and wonderfully colorful, this story comes to life as a pop-up book that has sing-along theme songs for each of the characters. Once one is stuck in your head, good luck trying to get it out. But if all else fails… coitus post consultatio.
Astrologaster is available on iOS Systems only, for $4.99 USD.
*Actually, yes. Simon Forman was a real person, who did just about all of this. His history is just as ridiculous as the game makes it. There are, however, some creative liberties.
#1. The Gardens Between
Childhood. There’s something about remembering childhood that always seems to jerk up some emotions and memories that fuel us today, and how it shapes our lives and our choices. In Voxel Agents’ The Gardens Between, those thoughts and memories resurface into a manifestation that is this game. Players take on the roles of two best friends, Arina and Frendt, as they start to go down memory lane of their childhood. They’re transported to dreamlike islands that are filled with everyday things and pieces of some moments that they had shared in their friendship.
The goal is to get a light to the end of the level. But there is an interesting catch. With this goal, players are able to manipulate the time and space around them through a series of forward and backwards steps. Having Arina carry the light, and Frendt ringing bells that causes useful items to fall to them, or to fall up. The gameplay is simple, but requires some focus as some levels try to trick you into going a certain way when you need it a different way.
With the simplistic game style, the narrative is allowed to shine through. It looks back on fond memories, while also knowing on specific things to let go. A heart-warming and heart-wrenching story of how two kids grow up with imagination at its height, The Gardens Between gets the top spot for most recommended mobile game for May.
The Gardens Between is available on iOS Systems only for $4.99.
With another 10 game down, and… how many more months left in the year? Seventy more games to go, the next month will bring another great set.