Top 10 Best App Games of 2023

2023 was a great year for mobile games. While there are tens of thousands of app game titles being released each year, only a few manage to make an impact. Now that 2023 is about to end, it is definitely the right time for us to list 10 best app games that were released this year and created a huge buzz. It should be noted that we are only listing games that were launched in 2023. So, any games that were launched prior to this year and yet retain their popularity will be excluded. Without any further ado, here are our top 10 app games for the year 2023!

Farlight 84

Developed by Lilith Games (Dislyte) and released in April 2023, Farlight 84 is one of the latest Battle Royale games in the market that garnered a lot of buzz this year. It works exactly the same as typical battle royale games where your core objective is to survive and become the last squad standing. It seemingly drew inspiration from some of the giant battle royale titles like Fortnite and Apex Legends. Described as a fast-paced hero battle royale, Farlight 84 brings you quicker battles with more compact mayhem and rampage.

Like Apex Legend, Farlight 84 comes with a squad system. You will be deployed on the battlefield as a squad. Each hero comes with unique abilities that you can utilize during the battle. In addition to that, players can operate a wide variety of vehicles that they can encounter along the way. As you land, you will need to scout for weapons and eliminate every single enemy that comes your way. You can also take advantage of your jetpack to easily navigate the map or to effectively dodge enemies’ attacks. Appearance-wise, Farlight 84 is undoubtedly a visual delight that treats you with well-polished visuals and an immersive 3d atmosphere. While the game, somehow, lacks originality, it is still a decent battle royale game that you can confidently add to your device.

Download Farlight 84: Android / iOS

Arena Breakout

Arena Breakout is an action-packed shooter game developed and published by Level Infinite, a subsidiary of Tencent Games. Interestingly, the team behind this new shooter game is also the same team behind some highly acclaimed mobile game titles such as PUBG Battlegrounds, Tower of Fantasy, and Arena of Valor to name a few. Unlike common shooter games, Arena Breakout is done and played in a realistic fashion. For instance, it comes with a very comprehensive weapon and equipment system which also involves inventory management (you cannot just loot and obtain every item you find on the field).

In addition to that, the game is not as simple as target shooting. In order to complete your mission, you might be required to enter the map undetected and kill all enemies in the stealthiest way possible. You can take advantage of your weapon and make sure to use the right equipment to maximize your chances of surviving and safely reaching the extraction point without being killed. Best of all, Arena Breakout treats you with amazing console-grade graphics. It features a dynamic atmosphere with a realistic weather system that will surely spice up your journey. It is safe to say that this intense shooter game is made to perfection!

Download Arena Breakout: Android / iOS

MONOPOLY GO!

Who would have thought that it is possible to translate this classic boardgame into a fun and addictive mobile game? Developed and published by Scopely (the same team behind Scrabble GO) in April 2023, Monopoly Go managed to capture the elements from the classic board game while incorporating a modern approach to it, making this game possible to be played by a single player. The mechanics of the game are generally simple and manageable. As soon as the game starts, it prompts you right away to the classic Monopoly game board. Instead of having a turn-based competition, you can play the game solo.

While Monopoly Go is based on the classic game, the gameplay is not entirely faithful to the source material. For instance, the game is no longer focusing on obtaining deeds or buying properties. Instead, the player can build and upgrade the city by obtaining Monopoly cash. Once all the buildings are upgraded to the maximum level, you will be able to unlock a new city. The game also incorporates mini-games whenever your token lands on a Railroad slot. It also offers a generous reward system which makes this game even more enjoyable. It is simple, colorful, and undoubtedly addictive.

Download MONOPOLY GO!: Android / iOS

Honkai: Star Rail

Honkai: Star Rail is the newest addition to the Honkai series. It is developed by miHoYo, the same team behind the critically acclaimed Genshin Impact. Following the success of Genshin Impact, many gamers are expecting too much from Honkai: Star Rail and guess what, the game managed to meet all these expectations. Much like its predecessors, Honkai: Star Rail follows the gameplay style of classic JRPG (Japanese Role-Playing Game). In this game, you’ll take control of a squad composed of four heroes and you’ll engage in a turn-based combat.

Each hero comes with unique skills and elemental affinity that affects their ability to inflict damage on certain targets. In the entire course of the game, players can freely navigate the immersive open world and explore dungeons to collect valuable items. Much like most JRPGs, Honkai: Star Rail also features a gacha system that allows you to summon heroes of different levels and rarities. Appearance-wise, Honkai: Star Rail is an absolute visual delight with impressive character designs and a visually striking world to explore. Not to mention the compelling story to follow with beautiful characters dubbed by top-tier voice actors.

Download Honkai: Star Rail – Android / iOS

Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis

It seems like Square Enix is not yet completely over with Final Fantasy VII. The seventh installment of this RPG series which features the famous Cloud Strife was first launched in 1997. While the franchise is still producing major installments, Square Enix launched a spin-off series that solely focuses on Final Fantasy VII. This series is referred to as the “Compilation of Final Fantasy VII.” The first game of the series was released in 2004 and took place before the events of Final Fantasy VII. The series expanded to 12 more titles. Last September, Square Enix launched the newest title – Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis for mobile and Windows platforms.

This newest RPG retells the events of Final Fantasy VII and will highlight three new characters, Glenn, Matt, and Lucia that will expand the backstory of the 2021 Final Fantasy: The First Soldier and will explore Sephiroth’s past. Players can pick the chapter they want to explore in the timeline which allows them to jump between different entries in the series. The combat system in Ever Crisis, on the other hand, is based on the original Final Fantasy’s signature Active Time Battle system. The game is wonderfully optimized for mobile devices, utilizing tap-based buttons to easily execute attacks and combos. If you are an avid fan of the Final Fantasy series, this game is certainly a great addition to your device.

Download Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis – Android / iOS

Tomb Raider Reloaded

Developed by Emerald City Games and published by CDE Entertainment, Tomb Raider: Reloaded brought the famous heroine into the small screen. Launched last February 2023, Tomb Raider: Reloaded brought Lara Croft into a new action-packed adventure. Unlike the major titles of the giant video game franchise, this one is a stand-alone app game that notably features lighter and less gritty gameplay. Interestingly, despite the simplicity, this app game managed to capture all the classic Tomb Raider elements that we know, from action-packed relic-hunting missions to her signature dual pistols.

The mechanics for this game are generally simple and easily manageable. Here, you explore different maps represented by chapters. As the level starts, you can freely move the character around the fixed map while shooting all nearby enemies automatically. The most challenging part of this game is the non-regenerative stamina. It means that the remaining health you have from the previous stage will be the same health for the next stage. Therefore, surviving all the 30 stages will be an absolute challenge that requires the best of your strategy and skills. You can, however, take advantage of the upgrades to maximize your chances of surviving.

Download Tomb Raider: Reloaded – Android / iOS

Monster Hunter Now

Monster Hunter Now is the newest AR offering of Niantic, the same company behind other popular Augmented Reality games like Pikmin Bloom, Harry Potter: Wizard Unit, and of course, Pokemon Go! The game is developed in collaboration with Capcom. Unlike the original video game, Monster Hunter Now is not a role-playing game but an Augmented Reality game that will use your real-life location as part of its exploration and navigation system.

Generally, the game works similarly to other AR games and the only difference is that it uses the Monster Hunter IPs. In this game, players can interact with small and large monsters on the map by tapping on them. This will engage them in combat. To maximize your winnings, you can take advantage of the in-game resources to craft armor or weapons that you can use to easily defeat monsters. Monster Hunter Now is also an absolute visual delight. It transforms your real-life map into a Monster Hunter universe with various terrains to explore.

Download Monster Hunter Now: Android / iOS

Mortal Kombat: Onslaught

The recently released Mortal Kombat: Onslaught brought all your favorite Mortal Kombat characters but in an entirely different gameplay. Developed and published by NetherRealm and Warner Bros. Studios, Mortal Kombat: Onslaught instantly made a buzz. Instead of the classic fighting game, Onslaught is merely considered a MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) in which you take control of your own squad of heroes and engage in fast-paced group battles. Mortal Kombat: Onslaught is heavily optimized for mobile devices, utilizing tap-based controls to execute all actions. It follows the events between the timeline of Mortal Kombat X and Mortal Kombat 11. Here, you begin your adventure with Scorpion as your base hero and you will soon be accompanied by other randomly generated heroes as you progress.

Onslaught is quest-based. You must complete the main story campaign to progress. Each story is divided into multiple chapters, and each is composed of multiple levels to explore. The game comes with a gacha system that allows you to summon heroes of different levels, types, and rarities. Another thing that makes this app game special is the console-grade graphics, particularly the visually stunning cutscenes or cinematics. Whether you are an avid fan of Mortal Kombat or not, Onslaught is a well-polished app game that you can confidently add to your device.

Download Mortal Kombat: Onslaught – Android / iOS

Hello Kitty: Island Adventure

You are probably surprised to see Hello Kitty in this year’s best app games. Well, Hello Kitty: Island Adventure by Sunblink is indeed surprisingly good, fun, and addictive. Unlike all the games in this list, Hello Kitty: Island Adventure was launched last July and is exclusively released for Apple products. Therefore, you can only access the game via the Apple App Store. The game follows the story of Hello Kitty and her friends who decided to go on a tropical island to get a nice summer vacation. Unfortunately, the plane crash-landed on a different island with an abandoned theme park, and this is where your adventure begins.

Described as a life simulation, you can do almost anything in this game. It can quickly remind you of the Animal Crossing game but will emphasize more on exploration rather than socialization. You can walk, swim, and even fly around the island and you can also cook, craft, bond with the Sanrio characters, take pictures with them, decorate your cabin, and invite them over. In addition to that, the game can also be played by two players in a cooperative campaign. Best of all, the game features all your favorite Sanrio characters, including Hello Kitty herself, My Melody, Cinnamoroll, Kuromi, Retsuko, and a whole lot more. There are no announcements yet if they will release an Android version of the game but the possibility is high!

Download Hello Kitty: Island Adventure – iOS

Flash Party

When Flash Party was launched, you can instantly tell that there is a huge potential for this game to grow. Developed and published by XD Entertainment, Flash Party is a mobile platform fighter game that works similarly to classic brawl games like Super Smash Bros. It features a bunch of colorful characters in an epic battle, but unlike Super Smash Bros, most of the playable characters in this game are exclusively created for Flash Party. However, recent updates started introducing characters from different video games.

The mechanics of this game are simple yet tricky at the same time. The goal is to knock your enemies off the stage using your unique set of abilities. Using the tap-based buttons, you can perform numerous attacks and actions to win each match. The first character to knock opponents three times will win the game. It offers multiple battle modes and more than 20 unique characters to explore and customize. Recent updates also introduced new cross-over heroes from video games like ICEY. There are certainly a lot of exciting things to look forward to in this game. Definitely worth playing!