Summer kicked off this year with a blast: metaphorically and literally. As temperatures rise,  hot and new mobile games hit the market that captivated players from all over.  This list compiled a couple of June releases that stood out amongst the rest and come from all throughout the spectrum of game design that caters to a certain experience. Everyone has a game that they can kick back and kill time with as they bask in the Sun’s warm light while enjoying all of the splendors of summer.

#10 Solitaire Match 3

Solitaire Match 3 is a matching puzzle game where the player combines the suites of solitaire. The player has to match three of the same suit in a row or column in order to break the pieces and remove them from the grid. There are special power ups that players can get if they match suits in a particular way: for example, if they match four of the same suits in a square formation, it turns into a bomb that the player can use to eliminate a bunch of nearby pieces. In addition, there are items that the player can use to eliminate other obstacles like wooden blocks and patches of grass. One such item is the King’s Hammer that destroys a single tap that the player can use. The way items are obtained is either through the in-game store or completing levels. The object of Solitaire Match 3 is to complete the mission associated with each level which upon completion is rewarded with coins. It is available to play on Android and iOS.

#9 Stepets: Walking Pet Simulator

Stepets: Walking Pet Simulator is a virtual pet mobile game where you cultivate your own digital pets known as stepets. There are a variety of different virtual pets ranging from domestic animals to mythical creatures: dogs, rhinos, even pegasus! Players can pet, feed, and play with their stepets to nurture. The player evolves their pets from infants to adults as they continue to take care of them. Since the player has an infinite supply of food, they simply have to drag the food into their stepets to feed them. Also, they can pet the digital pets by rubbing their fingers across the top of their heads. Players can play with their digital pets by having them participate in different mini games. For example, the minigame “Happy Hop” has the player tap on the screen to help their stepets jump on floating platforms in order to advance to the top. With the completion of each minigame, the player receives hearts that can be used to level up their digital pets. Stepets are placed in grass grids called “zones” that house the pets. Each one can contain up to three different virtual pets and the player can expand the zones with the use of special in-game currency of diamonds.

In addition, players can decorate each of the zones with tiles, furniture, among other things. One of the biggest mechanics of Stepets: Walking Pet Simulator is having the player level up their pet through accruing steps in the real world. Players walk to achieve a certain amount of steps that the game records and uses as experience towards the stepet of their choice. However, the game offers an Accessibility Mode that enables the player to use timers in place of steps to level up their digital creatures. This game is available on Android and iOS.

#8 Merge Sweets

Merge Sweet is a merging game. You play as the granddaughter of an elderly woman that owns the bakery. It was a quaint little business, unfortunately, the grandmother suddenly falls ill and cannot run the bakery. It is up to the player to help their grandmother’s bakery continue to prosper and grow in her absence. On a grid, players merge pieces of bread to form pastry items to sell in the shop: cake, donuts, bread rolls, and much more. In addition, the player collects new recipes and items to sell at the store such as pet treats and fruit. Players get new bakery items by merging bread pieces around a block that contains a picnic basket which will cause it to produce new foods. When merging items, coins are produced which the player can use to expand and improve the bakery. Also, players have the ability to level up their character which enables them to expand the size of the grid, so they can merge more items and collect more rewards.  Merge Sweets is available to play only on Android.

#7 Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon

Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon is a puzzle game similar in structure to the iconic title Tetris.  As Shovel Knight moves across a grid landscape, enemies and obstacles will drop at the same time. The speed of their drop rates coincide with the speed of Shovel Knight’s movements: if Shovel Knight moves on space, the enemies drop from the top of the screen by one space. The player operates as Shovel Knight as he collects keys throughout the level to unlock chest and doors that will allow the character to exit the level. The way to win the game is to progress through all of the levels and defeat every boss in order to escape the pocket dimension they have been sucked into. The game is available on Steam, Android and iOS, however, those with Netflix subscriptions can play the game for free.

#6 Stickman Survival: Stick War

Stickman Survival: Stick War is a two-dimensional casual rogue-like mobile game. Players use either a fixed or manual joystick to traverse a landscape covered in enemies that need to be defeated. The object of the game is to kill all of the wave of enemies and survive. As waves of enemies chase after the player, they must dodge them while the character automatically attacks the enemies. Defeated enemies drop experience in the form of green, blue, and red crystals: green crystals have a small amount of experience; blue crystals have a moderate amount of experience; and red crystals have the highest number of experiences. to upgrade themselves. As experience is gained, a yellow bar at the top of the screen increases; once the bar is full, the player has a choice between three random skills. The more experience garnered from crystal allows the player to receive new skills or upgrade old ones. Moreover, there are chests scattered around the level that the player can collect coins and items from which are used for other upgrades. Stickman Survival: Stick War has a Shop where players can buy gems, gold, and energy potions using blue gems which are a premium form of currency. In addition, there is an Upgrade menu where the player can specifically upgrade attack, health, range, and other skills for each character. The game is only available on Android.

#5 Words Collide

Words Collide is a puzzle game where the players are given letters of the alphabet to create words for levels. The object of the game is to create the longest word you can using the letters given in hand. With the completion of each level, the player is given points which can be exchanged for in-game currency which can be used to obtain upgrades. The player begins with four letters, but as they use more the upgrades the slots of letters will increase. The simple gameplay and cheerful aesthetic makes the game quick additive as players progress through the levels. Words Collide has two modes of gameplay: cooperative and solo. Cooperative mode allows players to partner up with a friend to think of as many words as possible against opponents. It is available to play on Android and iOS.

#4 Fireball Wizard

Fireball Wizard is a slide-scrolling, action, platformer where wizards take on hordes of enemies controlled by the Darklords that have invaded Wizardonia. The goal of the game is to expel all the enemies within the levels by using a variety of spells from the wizard’s magic wands with minimal health as they only have three hearts. The game has few buttons which makes it easy for anyone to pick up. There are three arrows used for movement: left, right, and up used as both  jump and double jump. The wizard also has three action buttons: the enter button, the attack button, and the wand button. The enter button pops up when the player walks in front of an accessible door or item and allows the wizard to interact with it. The wand button opens up a small menu that shows the player what types of spells they have access to. Meanwhile, the attack button makes the wizard shoot a fireball where players tap it for a weak attack and hold it for a strong attack. In the homeworld hub, the wizards can go to the Wand Shop to buy wands with better abilities and more strength. Fireball Wizard has three castles that house ten levels each in which proceeding levels are unlocked upon the completion of the one previous one. In addition, all levels have a hidden secret with treasure and end with bonuses for the player to access. As the wizard takes down enemies, they collect rings which can be exchanged in the Wand Shop and other areas. Not only that, but there is a Gintronic Arcade where the player can engage with three minigames that cost one ring to play. Fireball Wizard features mystical tones in the hub world while level has their own soundtracks that correspond to the theme of the gameplay. The mobile game is available on Android and iOS.

#3 Korilakkuma Tower Defense

Korilakkuma Tower Defense is a strategy tower defense mobile game under the Sanrio Intellectual Property, Rilakkuma. Players use units called “Toys” to fight against the opposing army of Kiiroitori. The player uses energy to place the Toys on the battlefield to prevent the opposing toys from reaching the goal at the end. In addition, the energy can be used to upgrade the toy units three times per wave. Enemies come in waves with each level having three that the player has to clear before advancing in the game. At the end of each wave, players have the option to select certain upgrades to boost their defense for the next incoming attack. The Toys are divided into types of combatant: close range and far range. Players also have the option of leveling up each of their units’ in order to increase their chances of stopping the Kiiroitori by using the in-game currency of coins that are obtained through winning stages. Korilakkuma Tower Defense has daily missions that awards the player with tickets; these tickets can be exchanged for gacha draws, so that the player can obtain new Toy units. In addition, there are special events within the game that the player can participate in to get exclusive bonuses, items, and units. This game is available on Android and iOS.

#2 Hunter Raid: Idle RPG

Hunter Raid: Idle RPG is a roleplaying, idle, hack-and-slash mobile game. It was a normal day on planet Earth when suddenly a blue portal tore through the sky. The portal then altered into a red portal that unleashed a plethora of demonic monsters that ravaged the planet. The players play as a young guy who witnesses their school being set ablaze by some monsters and takes it upon themselves to defend the students. Unfortunately, the hero gets overwhelmed and is on the brink of death until a mysterious surge of energy flows through them giving them magical abilities to take on the monsters. Now, it is up to the player to level their character so they can hunt down the terrors that come their way. The player levels up their hunter by defeating waves of enemies that surround them. The hunter automatically targets and attacks enemies while collecting experience and coins. The player uses these items to level up different skills like attack and defense to increase the power of their hunter to make eliminating waves easier. In addition, the player can obtain daily bonuses like event, armor, and weapon tickets that aids in summoning stronger equipment for the hunter.  Hunter Raid: Idle RPG is available to play on Android and iOS.

#1 Autogun Heroes: Run and Gun

Autogun Heroes: Run and Gun is an automatic shooter mobile game where players take the stance of the last homeland defense against an alien invasion. Players use heroes with special skills to take down rooms and rooms of alien units that have different abilities and ranges. The heroes enter a world that has a certain number of levels that the player must complete in order to reach the next one. The players use a joystick to move around a room while the character automatically aims and shoots their bullets at the enemies. It is up to the player to traverse the area and evade the enemies attack until they are all exterminated before progressing forward into the next room. Upon the completion of each room, the player is given three random power-ups to choose from that stack as they progress further in the world. Every so often, the commander of the army teleports to their location to either heal or boost the heroes’ attack and defense before entering a new room. In addition, coins are awarded to the player for each successful mission which can be used to level up heroes, weapons, and purchase upgrades. Autogun Heroes: Run and Gun allows players to collect heroes by using chests within the in-game store.  It is available to play on Android and iOS.