Minecraft

Minecraft arrived on mobile phones as early as 2011 under the name Pocket Edition and became one of the proofs that a sandbox game about mining and building with blocks can work on a touchscreen too, not just with a keyboard and mouse. Studio Mojang, only shortly after the release of the PC version, showed that the concept of an endless, procedurally generated world in which players set their own goals and pace works across platforms - building, gathering resources, crafting items, and surviving against nighttime monsters all remain the same at their core as on PC.

Touch controls are handled via a virtual joystick for movement and a set of buttons for jumping, attacking, and opening the inventory, while placing and breaking blocks works through a simple tap on the target surface in view. Building more complex constructions and redstone mechanisms is slower and less precise on a small display than with a keyboard and mouse, but basic gameplay - building a house, mining resources, and fighting monsters - is fully functional and accessible on touch even for younger children with no prior experience, which explains its popularity among the youngest players.

Mobile Minecraft today is connected to the same multiplayer, marketplace for add-ons, and updates as versions on other platforms, so players lose no meaningful content or features compared to owners of a PC or console.

Why play it: For anyone who wants to build, mine, and survive in an open world anytime, anywhere - the controls are simplified but functional, and progress syncs across platforms with the same account.