Casual games are ideally suited for mobile devices. For example, a few levels of Monument Valley is the perfect way to unwind on the bus ride home when a long day’s work has left you stressed. Other games prioritize creativity and exploration, encouraging players to think outside the box. Even if you don’t like mobile games, it’s worth trying out some of them. Some beautiful creations are here.
In this list we have collected casual games from different genres. There’s something for everyone, from the aesthetically pleasing town builder Townscaper to the delightful puzzler Railbound. But if you fancy a game that gets your pulse racing rather than falling, check out our roundup of the best online multiplayer games for Android, and don’t forget to pick up one of the best Android controllers if you prefer tactile controls.
monument valley 2
With such a crowded lineup, it’s difficult to pick the best casual game for Android, but the original Monument Valley is a longtime resident of our roundup of the best games. Its sequel, aptly named Monument Valley 2, takes the formula developed by the original and improves on it. Gorgeous graphics, soothing puzzles, and an engaging story make the sequel an equally must-play game. It’s ideal for casual gamers who want to see the best of the genre. Don’t worry if you haven’t played the original yet (although we’d recommend it!), Monument Valley 2 is a completely standalone game.
God
Godus incorporates elements from multiple genres to create an original god game that will keep you hooked for hours. While there’s a lot to take in here, soothing graphics and simple building mechanics make Godus an ideal casual game. It’s perfect for people who want an everyday game with a little more substance than most, and if you get bored you can always beat your population and start over.
WorldBox
WorldBox knows that sometimes you don’t want to build something or explore a new world. Sometimes you just want to play God. WorldBox features a pixelated world where you can choose to nurture life as it grows or destroy everything in a fiery apocalypse. Unlike Godus, the world requires minimal interaction from you to progress. While you will inevitably choose to destroy your nascent civilization, watching your civilization grow is fascinating.
While WorldBox is free, it’s clear that this is meant to be a trial for the premium version. It might seem expensive at $7.99, but a massively expanded roster of creatures, divine powers, and tools like time control makes it an easy purchase.
Cityscaper
Townscaper has no missions, achievements, goals, or unlockable content. What it has is the smartest building mechanic of any mobile game. You interact with the game by placing colored blocks on an irregular grid, and Townscaper’s algorithm combines the blocks into houses, bridges, towers, gardens or stairs as you place them. It sounds simple, but it leads to stunning cities every time.
While there’s nothing more to Townscaper than placing blocks, its flawless execution makes it well worth the price. Play this when you want to relax with a nice building game.
pocket town
Pocket City is a scaled down city building game perfect for casual gamers. If you like the idea of a city builder but often find it too challenging, it’s ideal. It has no microtransactions or long cooldown times for building features and is playable offline. You won’t find features like advanced traffic controls or spectacular citizen events here, but you’ll quickly find that Pocket City offers plenty of content. Trigger disasters, expand your city with recreation zones and manage citizen services to build a beautiful city.
Golf in the desert
There are plenty of golf games for Android, including the amazing puzzle game Golf Peaks, but sometimes you just have to go back to basics. Desert Golfing offers players the opportunity to hit a ball into a hole through hundreds of levels. There are no upgrades, power-ups, or tricky puzzles, and it’s just you, the ball, the hole, and a basic physics engine. Desert golfing may not be the best game of golf, but it lies in its simplicity.
Railbound
Created by the aforementioned Golf Peaks developers, Railbound is a puzzle game whose challenges are matched only by its charm. In the task of transporting two dogs by train, use different elements of railway infrastructure to reach your goal. Many puzzle games can frustrate you at a tricky level, but you can’t help but smile when your carriages clash in disgust thanks to a misplaced track. Play this if you like a good puzzle game that challenges you but don’t want anything that takes itself too seriously.
Neko Atsume: Cat Collector
Strangely addictive game Neko Atsume makes us all achieve our biggest dream and collect countless kittens. While your property starts out sparse, buying extra toys and providing a steady supply of food will bring all the cats into your yard. There really isn’t much going on here, but you’ll quickly develop your favorite cats, get excited about buying a new scratching post, and before you know it you’ll be checking your phone every hour to see who’s turned up. In a way, it’s the perfect casual game, pointless but totally addictive.
Choose the best casual game to relax
Finding the perfect casual game to relax in can be a chore, but we’re sure this list got you on the right track, whether you like city builders like Pocket City or prefer god games like WorldBox. If you like the puzzle elements on this list, you should definitely try one of the best puzzle games for Android.