Best phone and tablet games for beginners
The best phone and tablet games for beginners are Monument Valley, Journey and Balatro. You can try them without buying a console.
A phone or tablet is the cheapest place to start. Some games show adverts or ask you to spend money, so check each note.
| Game | Level | Plays on | Tried & tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monument Valley | 1 · Gentle | Computer, Phone / tablet | 99.1 · Hall of Fame |
| Journey | 2 · Easy | PS5, Computer, Phone / tablet | 97.7 · Hall of Fame |
| Balatro | 2 · Easy | Switch / Switch 2, PS5, Xbox, Computer, Phone / tablet | 97.5 · Hall of Fame |
| Stardew Valley | 2 · Easy | Switch / Switch 2, PS5, Xbox, Computer, Phone / tablet | 95.5 · Hall of Fame |
| Townscaper | 1 · Gentle | Switch / Switch 2, PS5, Xbox, Computer, Phone / tablet | 95.3 · Hall of Fame |
| What Remains of Edith Finch | 2 · Easy | Switch / Switch 2, PS5, Xbox, Computer, Phone / tablet | 94.1 · Proven favourite |
| Minecraft | 2 · Easy | Switch / Switch 2, PS5, Xbox, Computer, Phone / tablet | 93.8 · Proven favourite |
| The Case of the Golden Idol | 2 · Easy | Switch / Switch 2, Computer, Phone / tablet | 92 · Proven favourite |
| Gris | 2 · Easy | Switch / Switch 2, PS5, Xbox, Computer, Phone / tablet | 87.1 · Well liked |
| Spiritfarer | 2 · Easy | Switch / Switch 2, PS5, Xbox, Computer, Phone / tablet | 86.6 · Well liked |
| Mini Metro | 2 · Easy | Switch / Switch 2, PS5, Computer, Phone / tablet | 86.4 · Well liked |
| Among Us | 2 · Easy | Switch / Switch 2, PS5, Xbox, Computer, Phone / tablet | 85.2 · Well liked |
About each game
Monument Valley. Beautiful optical-illusion puzzles; about two hours.
Journey. Two-hour wordless trip across a desert. No way to fail.
Balatro. Poker-hand scoring with joker cards. No real money, but casino imagery.
Stardew Valley. Restore a farm and befriend villagers. Lots to learn but no rush.
Townscaper. A toy rather than a game: click to build pretty towns. No goals, no failing.
What Remains of Edith Finch. Explore a family home; each room is a short story. Themes of death.
Minecraft. Creative or Peaceful mode removes danger. Great for playing with grandkids.
The Case of the Golden Idol. Work out whodunnit from frozen crime scenes. Point and click; hints available.
Gris. Gentle 2D platformer about grief. No dying.
Spiritfarer. A cosy boat-management game about saying goodbye; themes of death handled gently.
Mini Metro. Draw tube lines as a city grows. Endless mode removes pressure.
Among Us. A group mystery game where you work out who is secretly sabotaging the crew. Mostly talking.
Not sure which one? Answer seven questions and we will match games to you.