Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP

Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP from 2011 by the Canadian studio Capybara Games is among the works that proved a mobile game could be an artistic experience on par with the independent computer adventures of its time. As the Scythian, the player travels through a stylized landscape full of ancient mysteries, solves simple puzzles by touching the screen, and watches the moon's phases influence events in the game – a mechanic tied to the actual phases of the real Moon was one of the production's most distinctive and widely discussed ideas.

The controls are minimalist, based on tapping and dragging a finger across the screen, which suits the slow, contemplative pace of the game well, along with a story that unfolds more through mood and imagery than dialogue. The bold, angular pixel-art visuals with long shadows and hazy color gradients create the atmosphere of a dreamlike fairy tale, heightened by Jim Guthrie's soundtrack – one of the most quoted and acclaimed pieces of mobile game music of its time, later also released as a standalone album.

The game became a symbol of the rising wave of artistically ambitious mobile titles and, alongside other independent projects, helped show that iOS and Android could be a fully-fledged platform for auteur projects, not just quick arcade distraction. The pace is deliberately slow and meditative, which some players will welcome as a refreshing change, while others may initially find its unusual structure jarring.

Why play it: a good choice for players seeking a short, atmospheric, and visually unforgettable experience, rather than those expecting fast action and clear rules from a mobile game.