The holidays came and went, leaving us to deal with January’s frigid air and cold, gray skies. In colder weather, the days feel shorter and our beds feel warmer, making it difficult to wake up and start the day. As white wintery landscapes form around us, the idea of wrapping up in a warm blanket and playing video games all day has never seemed more appealing. And yet life goes on, forcing us out into the cold and toward responsibilities.
Luckily, we won’t have to face future winter days alone. Our trusty mobile games are always there when the weight of reality presses down on us, to comfort our inner child and keep our minds entertained. If your former mobile games have grown stale, then have no fear! January has already provided a collection of excellent mobile games to try out. 2025’s newest mobile games have kicked off the year with a bang, setting up high expectations for those to come. If cold weather has you dreaming of a trip to the sunny Savannahs, then this first game is for you!
10. Rodeo Stampede+
Rodeo Stampede+ is an endless runner zoo management game that lets players mount various animals in a variety of habitats. If the player stays on one animal for too long, they will be thrown off and the round will end. In order to avoid defeat and keep runs going for as long as possible, they must time leaps from current animal to the next, which requires quick thinking and systematic aim. If a player manages to mount a new type of animal, such as a zebra, elephant, or giraffe, they have the opportunity to tame and keep them. After taming an animal, it can be added to the player’s sky zoo, where they profit off of tourists who visit the zoo on their traveling blimp.
This game was a surprisingly entertaining challenge for me, and once I began to get the game’s unique hold and release mechanics down, I had a lot of fun. It does a great job at letting players feel adrenaline as they fly through the air. The taming mechanic is the tensest moment of all, as your heart meter competes with the animal’s anger. If the player manages to stay put for long enough, they’ve made a new friend and a profit asset, if you’re more into the zoo management side of things. The game’s minimalistic design prevents the game’s timeless simplicity from being overcomplicated, and admittedly makes the more fearsome animals appear rather cute.
Rodeo Stampede+ is available on iOS devices with an Apple Arcade subscription.
9. It’s Literally Just Mowing+
The title of the game does not lie! Literally Just Mowing+ is literally just a game about mowing. but don’t let that dissuade you. In real life mowing is a chore for most people, as it takes a long time and typically occurs under a grueling sun. The best part of mowing, however, is the intense feeling of satisfaction one experiences as they shred their final blade of grass and appreciate what they’ve accomplished. In this game, that feeling of satisfaction is much more easily attained. Players choose their avatar and then jump right into their new career as a professional lawn mower. They then move from yard to yard, navigating each of the different landscapes with their efficient ride-on lawnmower. Along the way players can build up a collection of wildlife and clothing items.
The biggest appeal to Literally Just Mowing+ is undoubtedly its simplistic nature. This game is not trying to appeal to the intense gamer dude who lives and breathes competition. Instead, it creates a safe and relaxing space for those who find satisfaction in moving through games at their own pace. There are no ads, no time limits, and no competition mechanics involved, as the game prioritizes satisfying the player without elements designed to incite stress. It’s the perfect game to relax your nerves and fill up spare time whenever you’re out and on the go.
It’s Literally Just Mowing+ is available on iOS devices with an Apple Arcade subscription.
8. LOK Digital
LOK Digital is a mobile puzzle game that uses letters as elements of strategic gameplay. Players are tasked with introducing a new and mysterious species called the Lok to the world around them. They must guide the Lok through their world by spelling LOK and then pressing where the creatures must move. These movements must be well thought out, however, as choosing the wrong location will prevent the next LOK spelling and leave the poor creatures at a dead end. New words are introduced to the game as the puzzles progress, each of which alter the fictional environment in surprising ways. Over time, players begin to learn and understand this complex puzzle language as they progress through a total of 15 distinct worlds.
My description of the mechanics definitely did not do it any justice. In reality, LOK’s gameplay is surprisingly intuitive once you dive into it, with a well-crafted user interface and monochromatic design that makes comprehending its puzzles satisfying and simple. Along with the games story mode it also features three daily puzzles, which I found myself looking forward to trying out each morning after I woke up. Its relaxing lo-fi soundtrack and simplistic visuals were a refreshing contrast from the often bright, noisy, and ad-laden mobile games I am accustomed to. Instead of overstimulating my senses, LOK pleasantly stimulated my mind.
LOK Digital is available for free on iOS and Android devices. The full game is available for $5.99 as an in-app purchase.
7. Archero 2
The sequel to the popular action-roguelike game, Archero, finally arrived this January, and it has improved upon its first iteration. Archero 2 introduces players to the once-heroic Lone Archer, who has fallen into the Demon King’s trap and become a powerful leader of dark forces. From there, players must take on the role of a good-hearted young hero and work to combat the game’s new threat. The game consists of multiple chapters and stages filled with enemies, where players defend themselves with their trusty bow. Who could have guessed you’d be playing as an archer? While progressing through layers of seemingly endless enemies, players utilize over 100 unique skills across different rarity tiers. Archero 2 also features 50 main chapters, 1,250 floors of the Sky Tower, and multiple game modes, including Defense Mode, Survival Mode, and Room Mode.
The gameplay was smooth and exciting, with polished visuals akin to Brawl Stars’. It’s a perfect time waster and easy to jump right into, with a progressive story arc to boot. As the sequel to Archero, Archero 2 expands on many of its core features. It enhances the original’s roguelike experience with faster combat, new game modes, and dungeon types, like Boss Seal Battle, Trial Tower, and Gold Cave, which offer different rewards.
Archero 2 is available for free on iOS and Android devices.
6. Skate City: New York
Skate City: New York is a side-scrolling skateboarding game, and like Archero 2, it also happens to be a sequel to its predecessor, Skate City. The game lets players experience skating through real New York streets as they compete with other skaters and even evade the police when needed. With the amount of tricks the game lets players perform, it’s natural to worry about dealing with overly complex controls. Mobile formats often struggle with highly complex games, especially ones where character movements are mechanically complicated. Fortunately, Skate City: New York utilizes an intuitive user interface that lets players perform any number of impressive skateboard tricks with a single finger. Players get to explore real New York areas, including Central Park, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, each of which feature their own environmental challenges.
I really enjoyed this game’s soft yet realistic graphics. Its back-and-forth slider gameplay made the game very satisfying to play with one hand, and yet the game was complex enough to sincerely leave me impressed. It’s beautiful city scenery and semi-interactive environments moved smoothly buy as the calming sound of wheels scraping pavement droned on. My favorite levels of the game involved skating through New York during the night, when the city lights and dim surroundings made the experience feel especially dreamy. I would recommend playing those levels before bed if you want to drift to sleep easily and dream of sick skating tricks.
Skate City: New York is available on iOS devices with an Apple Arcade subscription.
5. Turnip Boy Robs a Bank
Its three for three, everyone! Our next game also just so happens to be a sequel! Following the iconic game, Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion, Turnip Boy Robs a Bank center around Turnip Boy as he teams up with the Pickled Gang to pull off the biggest heist in veggie history. Turnip Boy and his devious mafia-like team target the Botanical Bank, which holds cash, rare artifacts, and some scandalous secrets. This game continues the wacky humor of Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion, while incorporating roguelite elements to its gameplay. Turnip Boy navigates through procedurally generated levels where he must engage in combat with enemies (security staff) and evade obstacles (security systems).
Everything, from the game’s charming vegetable-themed graphics to its adorable absurdist dialogue, makes it an undeniably entertaining experience. I found myself obsessed with the game’s protagonist Turnip Boy, who never says a word and yet somehow got roped into the most nefarious crime schemes. There is something so weirdly hilarious about a bunch of cute little vegetable characters partaking in serious action-packed crimes. How can anyone frown at a pickle mafioso boss with an evil mustache and fedora?
Turnip Boy Robs a Bank is available for $5.99 on iOS and Android devices.
4. Aarik and The Ruined Kingdom
Aarik and the Ruined Kingdom is a puzzle adventure game where players are tasked with guiding a young prince named Aarik through a kingdom that has largely fallen apart. His father, the King, has fallen ill, while Aarik’s mother, the Queen, has vanished on a quest to restore their homeland. Left alone and confused, the young prince has no choice but to borrow his father’s magical crown and venture out into the ruins. The kingdom would most likely be impossible to move through if not for Aarik’s crown, which lets him manipulate the environment around him and his perspective in order to overcome all sorts of obstacles. Similar to games like Monument Valley, Aarik and the Ruined Kingdom features subtle storytelling that progresses as players solve perspective and time-shift puzzles.
I found this game to be especially beautiful, with each level incorporating new stylized environments like castle interiors and exteriors, forests, deserts, swamps, and tundras. As the game progressed, I was delighted by the new characters I discovered, along with scrolls that gradually revealed what led to the kingdom’s downfall. The puzzle aspect of Aarik and the Ruined Kingdom was challenging enough to keep me entertained, but it never felt overly difficult or punishing.
Aarik and The Ruined Kingdom is available for free on iOS and Android devices. The full game is available for $1.99 as an in-app purchase.
3. Dordogne
This beautifully hand-painted watercolor game sends players off on a narrative-driven tale that follows a 32-year-old woman named Mimi as she returns to her late grandmother’s house in the Dordogne region of France. Mimi starts the narrative by admitting that she has no memory of most of her childhood prior to the age of thirteen. When her grandmother sends her a farewell note following that invites her back to her home, Mimi sees this as an opportunity to discover more about her past. At the house, she discovers letters, photographs, and keepsakes that transport her back to the summers she spent there as a child.
I cannot properly express how beautiful this game is. Every single shot, setting, and character in Dordogne is expertly crafted with so much personal care. The game’s dreamy watercolor artwork perfectly suits its emotional and heartfelt narrative. Along with an impactful story, Dodogne incorporates a variety of interactive puzzles that keep the player involved.
Dordogne is available for free on iOS and Android devices. The full game is available for $3.99 as an in-app purchase.
2. Trials of Mana+
Originally released in 1995 in Japan as a Super Famicom exclusive, Seiken Densetsu, was later remade full 3D and named Trials of Mana. Trials of Mana+ is Apple Arcade’s version of this already vastly improved game, and it goes even further by updating visuals, enhancing gameplay, and generally making the game easier to navigate via its mobile format. The game takes place in a fantasy world where the Mana Tree, the source of all life, is weakening due to the corruption of evil entities. Players have the opportunity to choose from six playable protagonists, each with their own unique backstory. In addition to choosing a protagonist, players choose two supporting characters who shape the main character’s three possible story arcs.
I’m a sucker for complex RPG’s that feature character-specific story paths, so this game was naturally a perfect fit. I ended up selecting Charlotte as my protagonist, a young priestess with elven blood that gives her a childlike appearance. She wears an adorable clown-like outfit and shuts down anyone who underestimates her abilities with a spunky attitude. For my companions, I decided on Kevin, a half-werewolf prince who wants to avenge his best friend, and Hawkeye, a rogue from the Nevarl Thieves Guild. Charlotte began her own storyline and encountered both Kevin and Hawkeye in ways that naturally fit her narrative. If I hadn’t selected these characters in the beginning, I would have had no idea that Charlotte wasn’t meant to be the protagonist all along! Its impressive that so much replay potential exists within one mobile game.
Trials of Mana+ is available on iOS devices with an Apple Arcade subscription.
1. Cassette Beasts
And for the best mobile game this January, we have Cassette Beasts. This open-world monster-collecting RPG takes place on a mysterious island named New Wirral, where its inhabitants are trapped with no memory as to how they arrived there in the first place. This is exactly what happens to the player’s character, who is fully customized and altered throughout the game. The protagonist is introduced to the island’s people, who reveal that New Wirral is infested with wild monsters. The only way anyone is able to defeat said monsters, is through transforming themselves into recorded creatures using cassette tapes. Players get to explore the open environment at their own pace, uncovering the story’s plot through dialogue, combat, and uncovering secrets.
Unlike most monster collecting games, Cassette Beasts is heavily narrative centered and has a multi-layered plotline. Getting to design my own character and meet other trapped people on the island naturally had me invested in the story and eager to solve the island’s mystery. As with games similar to Stardew Valley, Cassette Beasts features charming retro graphics and evolving relationships with NPC companions. These relationships have impact over the story, and I found myself falling in love with my companion’s quirky designs and captivating personalities. One of my favorite aspects was the game’s fusion system, which lets players combine two monsters into a new hybrid.
Cassette Beasts is available for free on iOS and Android devices. The full game is available for $6.99 on iOS devices and $5.99 on Android devices as an in-app purchase.
I’ll be back again next month with even more mobile games!