The best casual games in 2024

Published:

There’s no better way to waste half an hour than… best casual games. Whether it’s a pick-up-and-play puzzle game or an idle tap-a-thon tycoon, sometimes an basic time is a good time and we have no problem with that.

If you’re still not sure what to play but like a good theme, check out our picks for the best samurai games, assassin games, fashion games, and cowboy games. If you prefer to play sports in your free time, check out our lists of the best football, basketball, bowling and tennis matches.

- Advertisement -

With that in mind, let’s kick back, relax, and get into our list of the best mobile casual games. The best mobile casual games If:

What Golf?

We love a crazy sports simulation that forces you to think outside the box, and What the Golf? delivers on all fronts. With an impressive number of levels to devour at any time, you’ll be delighted with outrageous minigames that include crab golf, stealth elements, and even a Portal homage section.

While it’s not a live game like others on this list, the lack of novel content isn’t really a problem for What the Golf? due to the surprising depth of content available. If you prefer something more stern and less crabby, be sure to check out our list of the best golf games for Switch and mobile devices.

Play What the Golf? in Apple Arcade.

Idle mining tycoon

There’s nothing more casual than idle gaming, which is why we had to include Idle Miner Tycoon on our list. In much the same way as its tycoon compatriots, this title gives you an insight into the true workings of capitalism, and you’ll have a surprisingly good time doing it.

Earn millions of dollars in the game by upgrading your mine and eventually hiring a few specialists so you can sit back and relax while watching the money roll in.

Play Idle Miner Tycoon for free.

Word Connect – words of nature

There’s nothing like grabbing a cup of coffee (or your preferred beverage), relaxing, and starting a great word game. Luckily, Word Connect – Words of Nature is one of them, providing a satisfying game where you connect letters to form words, all against a peaceful, relaxing background.

Of course, it’s not as basic as three letter words for the entire game. As you progress through each stage of zen, the levels will become increasingly more complex. However, it never becomes stressful, giving you a quick boost of energy before tackling the next list of chores for the day.

Play Word Connect – Words of Nature for free.

The World of Zookeepers

A challenging Candy Crush game for the ultimate mobile puzzler, ZooKeeper combines match-three mechanics with a zoo tycoon simulator for a unique experience. This makes it onto our list of the best casual games just because of the ease with which you can pick them up for a quick round of monkey matching, as well as the cute animals that inhabit your area. You’ll also find it as part of an Apple Arcade subscription, which is always a bonus.

Play Zookeeper World on Apple Arcade.

Monument Valley 2

If you like casual games with a lot of charm and creativity, then Monument Valley 2 might be right up your street. It’s one of the few games on this list with a narrative element, but like the gameplay, the story keeps at a pace that’s basic enough to jump in and out without losing any of the magic. If you’re still not sure, check out our Monument Valley 2 review for the full breakdown?

Play Monument Valley 2+ on Apple Arcade.

Way of the Cross

A certified classic, millions around the world have wasted their time and enjoyed every second playing Crossy Road. For those who don’t know, it’s basically Frogger, but with a huge number of playable characters you can apply in your mission to reach the other side. For a game with such a basic goal, you might be surprised how many hours you’ll spend playing Crossy Road. Just remember to look both ways before you do it.

Play Crossy Road on Apple Arcade.

Minimetro

A transport simulator without a million menus and an unnecessarily confusing design, Mini Metro is a charmingly designed puzzle that goes deeper than it seems. Designing subway systems for London, Paris and other iconic capitals is easier than ever thanks to a zen-like interface and soothing synth soundtrack. This is another Apple Arcade title, so you can download it with a subscription.

Play Mini Metro+ on Apple Arcade.

Idle Bank Tycoon: Money Empire

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a banking tycoon? Well, now you can get this experience without any effort, in the excellent casual business simulation Idle Bank Tycoon: Money Empire. Start with a tiny branch, then continue to modernize and expand until you have your own banking empire. You can even hire managers to keep your cash flowing while you’re offline!

Cover of Angry Birds 2, one of the most popular casual games

Angry Birds 2

With Angry Birds threatening to become even more of a rage, we couldn’t risk not including the mobile classic on our list. For those who don’t know – and where exactly you have been for the last fifteen years – Angry Birds is a fairly basic concept in which you take control of a catapult that throws the titular flightless birds into a structure in order to bring them down.

It sounds basic enough, but the gameplay loop is incredibly complex to put aside, and you’ll be surprised how time flies past Angry Birds. Now, with countless iterations, spin-offs, tie-ins, and just about everything else the franchise can spit out, there’s still little competition when it comes to having a great time with a catapult and a few incensed birds.

Key art for Candy Crush, another classic on our casual games list

Candy Crush

Ok, so these won’t be all classics, but if you’re looking for a casual game and haven’t tried Candy Crush, this really is the place to start. It’s the definition of an easy-to-play/hard-to-put-down title, with striking colors, original candy-colored bonuses, and decent gameplay variety. In fact, the pick-and-mix puzzle is so popular that it has spawned tons of spin-offs, which you can learn more about in our list of the best Candy Crush games.

Cover of Stardew Valley, a casual farming game

Stardew Valley

There’s nothing more free-spirited than living the basic life, fishing, farming, and maybe even falling in love with a rural place. If this sounds like your idea of ​​fun, then Stardew Valley is the game for you. Despite such a tiny package, this game contains hours of content, many secrets to unlock, and a long list of crops and vegetables that will turn your piece of land into a lucrative harvest.

If spending a few seasons as a farmer sounds like a good idea to you, get ahead of the curve with our helpful guides with everything you need to know about Stardew Valley fish and Stardew Valley characters. Or, if you’ve already made your way to Pelican Town, check out our picks for the best games like Stardew Valley.

Promotional art from Project Makeover, our trendy pick from casual mobile games

Design overhaul

Don’t worry fashionistas, we haven’t left you out. If you love seeing glitter or just need a few tips to get a little more sparkle, Project Makeover is a good time to avoid weird fashion faux-pas. After recently enjoying the Queer Eye crossover, there’s never been a better time to find your style with Project Makeover.

The cover of AdVenture Capitalist, one of the best casual tycoon games for mobile devices

Adventure capitalist

The next time someone tells you “more money, more problems”, ask them if they have ever played AdVenture Capitalist. As you might expect, AdVenture Capitalist puts the dollar above all else in an attempt to monopolize the universe, planet by planet. Luckily, all you have to do to make this happen is click, click, and click on this idle tycoon wealth accumulator, and once you unlock the auto-click feature, the moolah really starts rolling.

You got it! Our picks for the best mobile casual games with something for everyone. If you’re looking for a challenge after one of these basic rides, be sure to check out our picks for the best mobile roguelike games.

Related articles