The best gaming apps to try in 2023

Gaming is one of the top leisure activities of the modern era and there is no indication that its popularity has peaked yet. The love that people have for playing on their mobile phones, tablets and computers seems to be inexhaustible.

That is largely down to the fact that exciting new titles keep hitting the market, of course. This is a golden era for games development and the technology exists to make it easy for people to enjoy the fruits of that. Given the volume of games that come out every month, though, finding the gems can be a real task – to help, here’s a round-up the best ones to play at the start of 2023.

Online bingo

Ok this one is more of a category, but Jackpotjoy is undoubtedly a favourite because it offers a superb selection of games. That includes both the 90-ball and 75-ball variants of this game.

The 90-ball version is especially popular among players in the UK and it ranks among the oldest versions of this famous pastime. One of the reasons people enjoy it is because there are no less than three ways in which a prize can be won.

It works like this: the first player to mark off one line of numbers, two lines or who is first to that famous full house – which means crossing off every number – can win.

Mafia City

For those who prefer the darkness to the bright lights and colour, Mafia City could be just the games app they are looking for. It will provide the opportunity to play at being the head of The Mob in a grimily real urban environment.

This app has the top-class graphics that people expect of games in 2023, but it matches that with compelling game-play. It is a mixture of strategy and role-playing (RPG), requiring the player to effectively run the Mafia and keep the dirty money rolling in.

One can play it alone or in multiplayer mode with friends. The Mafia City app is available for both Android and iOS devices.

Rise of Cultures

Rise of Cultures is the follow-up to the popular Forge of Empires strategy game from the Innogames studio. It is set to be one of the finest games apps of the year thanks to its detailed world-building and complex strategy play.

Just like its predecessor, it is about the player having to construct their own civilisation and then develop it over centuries. The difference lies in a greater focus on people this time.

There are labourers that one can interact with and put to work productively to create a brand-new chosen land. It is also an app that those with iOS or Android devices can download for no cost at all.

ScourgeBringer

Some gamers prefer titles that offer faster-paced action than slower strategy-based play and ScourgeBringer contains enough of that to satisfy anyone. It was made available for console and Steam players three years ago, proving a real hit with them, but this year sees the launch of the app.

The main character is called Kyhra and she has to fight her way through a bleak landscape of killing machines to unlock a seal. This will reveal the story of her past and potentially save the human race.

It has fantastic art design and graphics, which help to bring the action vividly to life.

Call of Duty: Mobile

This has been available as an app since 2019, but 2023 is the ideal time to try it out for anyone who has not done so before. It is difficult to believe that any dedicated games fan would not have heard of the hugely successful Call of Duty franchise, but there are a lot of options out there.

What puts this among the best is its sophisticated play that combines strategic survival skills with ultra-fast action. Players have to be able to solve problems as well as kill bad guys and that makes it any exciting test of gaming abilities.

Call of Duty: Mobile can be added to both Android and iOS devices. It represents the perfect way to break into the series before going on to explore the other ones.

Jetpack Joyride

There were endless runner games available as apps before Jetpack Joyride – notably Canabalt – but this one really brought them to a widespread mobile gaming audience. The reason why it has been so popular for so long is simply that it is a brilliant game.

It cannot be described as is subtle or sophisticated, but no one looks to endless runner games for those things. Taking on the role of Barry Steakfried – yes that is the name of the protagonist – players just have to get as far possible by running, flying and smashing past the obstacles and hazards.

Apart from anything else, it is a wonderful way of letting off steam for anyone having a frustrating day.

Games of all sorts are fast becoming the number one entertainment choice for a lot of people. This year will be another spectacular one for new releases, including Mortal Kombat: Onslaught and DC Heroes and Villains, fuelling that even further.

The editorial unit