Pixel Gun 3D

Pixel Gun 3D brings the blocky, Minecraft-style aesthetic into the first-person shooter genre — the player moves with a virtual analog joystick on one side of the screen and aims and shoots with the other finger on the other side, a solution that became the standard for touchscreen FPS games. The game offers both a singleplayer campaign against zombies and other enemies, and online multiplayer in arenas for multiple players at once.

The game was released in 2013 by studio Cubic Games and from the start relied on a huge selection of weapons, skins, and cosmetic add-ons that let players customize their character and gear — from classic rifles to fantasy laser weapons to costumes inspired by pop culture. The game is free to download, but a large part of the content, especially the more striking weapons and skins, is locked behind in-game currency that can be earned slowly by playing or bought quickly through in-app purchases — a model that has kept the game among the highest-grossing mobile shooters for years. Over the years, new game modes, maps, and seasonal content were added, so the game functions more like a live service than a closed title.

The visual style remains true to its blocky aesthetic, but the animations and effects gradually received more modern treatment than one would expect from a 2013 game, which helped the title keep its player base even a decade later.

Why play it: For players who want a Minecraft-style multiplayer shooter on mobile and don't mind gradually unlocking content with in-game currency or small purchases, Pixel Gun 3D offers a solid, long-term updated choice.