Highlights
- Mobile gaming is the fastest-growing sector of the gaming industry, thanks to its availability and ability to be played on the go.
- Mobile games are not just casual experiences; there are many competitive and unique titles available on the platform.
- Using a mobile controller can enhance the gaming experience for seasoned gamers who prefer physical button presses and more precise inputs.
Mobile gaming continues to be the fastest-growing sector of the gaming industry. It's responsible for billions in revenue, partly due to the platform's availability around the world, and partly for mobile games' innate ability to be played on the go. Regardless of the reasons, there's no denying that the medium has several great titles that players can try out for themselves. Mobile games have a stereotype of being casual-only experiences, titles that no "true gamer" would ever touch.
Thankfully, many people have overcome these outdated perceptions, as there are countless games on the platform with just as much competitiveness and uniqueness as their PC and console counterparts. Players who want to enjoy a competitive edge or just play games without having to deal with touch controls can try using a mobile controller for more precise inputs on the go. It's certainly not mandatory to have a controller to enjoy mobile games... but it definitely helps in its own way, especially for seasoned gamers who are too used to the feedback of physical button presses and the like.
Updated September 14, 2023 by Ritwik Mitra: Mobile gaming has become one of the biggest avenues of gaming in modern times, even if some of the most profitable titles on this medium come in the form of freemium titles that use ad revenue and microtransactions to get as much money as possible.
However, the latest iPhone's reveal is just one of the many indications that mobiles are great platforms to play some serious games too, and using a controller can help players who don't appreciate the lack of feedback from touch controls and want something more solid and comfortable to play these games with. These mobile games with controller support are the way to go.
23 Adventures Of Mana
Before Final Fantasy became the powerhouse that everyone knows it for, Square tried many unique things with this IP. One of these instances involved a game called Final Fantasy Adventure, an RPG with an action focus that the company felt was too distanced from the core of the series. So, this turned into the Mana series, with the first title finally being remade for modern systems after a long time.
Adventures of Mana is a fun and simple game that players can check out for their mobiles. Players can use a controller to heighten their enjoyment of this title even more, even if the gameplay isn't so hectic that a single missed button press can cause problems for the player.
22 Don't Starve: Pocket Edition
A survival game that took over the gaming landscape by storm when it was launched, Don't Starve became such a smash hit that it even got ported to mobile phones! The amazing art style and unique survival gameplay of this series make it a treat in every way, and the fact that players can play this on a device they carry with them all the time makes it even better.
While the touch controls of this title are pretty decent in their own right, there's no denying that Don't Starve: Pocket Edition is better experienced on a controller since that is what the game was designed for. Survival in this game can be pretty challenging, and players will slowly make progress over the course of the game before understanding how its systems work, making for a captivating experience that arguably paved the way for more indie survival games to enjoy the spotlight.
21 Evoland 2: A Slight Case Of Spacetime Continuum Disorder
The history of video games is a truly fascinating one, starting out with what seemed like rudimentary 8-bit graphics before moving on to more complex imagery. Eventually, 3D models entered the picture... and the rest is history. Players who want to witness the huge difference between these art styles will love what Evoland 2 brings to the table, serving as a great sequel that fans will love.
Watching the art style of the game evolve from these rudimentary visuals into a full 3D landscape is pretty engaging and goes a long way in ensuring that players appreciate the effort that goes into showing the evolution of video game graphics while tying this development with the plot. It may be a simplistic game in some ways, but most mobile gamers will have a great time with what Evoland 2 sets out to achieve... especially if they use a controller to play the game!
20 PUBG Mobile
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PUBG is a game that reached immense heights of popularity in no time at all. Picking up the phone and starting a game was as easy as they come, with the intense battle royale gameplay making for lengthy and engaging play sessions where teamwork is key.
PUBG Mobile requires fast reflexes and good aiming to attain victory, and this can be achieved via controllers. Connecting one to a phone and playing this game makes a world of difference and increases the player's chances of getting that elusive chicken dinner.
19 Oceanhorn: Monster Of Uncharted Seas
Fans of Zelda games will love what Oceanhorn has to offer, with this action-adventure title being one of the best mobile games around. Both this title and its sequel are quality games that are well worth their reasonable price tag.
Fans of The Wind Waker will have a great time with this title, given how similar Oceanhorn is to that game in particular. With a controller, this title becomes more fun to play through, with a player's input being precise and satisfying as opposed to the regular touch controls this title is shipped with on mobile platforms.
18 Genshin Impact
Genshin Impact is a game that was initially labeled as nothing more than a Breath of the Wild clone, with its free-to-play moniker drawing even more ire from gamers all over. However, despite being a gacha game, Genshin Impact is a great experience with surprisingly deep gameplay and relatively reigned-in pay-to-win trappings.
Genshin Impact is perfectly playable with touch controls, but it's only a given that players would attain a greater sense of control with a gamepad. This is supported in Genshin Impact, and players will love going through this fun action title with more responsive input.
17 GRID Autosport
Racing games are pretty popular on mobile platforms, with several great titles in this genre being playable on mobile platforms. One such game that racing fans should check out is GRID Autosport, a racing title that is great for people who are seeking out more realistic racing experiences.
GRID Autosport has a bit of a learning curve, which is something that fans might not expect from a mobile title. This is precisely what makes this game such a draw on mobile though, and players will love how realistic it is to handle and drive a car. Players who want to ensure that their handling of the car doesn't waver in the slightest can use a controller to make their lives easier.
16 Asphalt 9: Legends
Gameloft has hit an absolute gold mine with Asphalt, a series that has exploded on mobile and continues to wow players with its tight racing mechanics and amazing graphics. The game is easy to pick up and play, with the wide variety of courses, races, and everything else along the same lines adding to the allure of this title.
The latest game in the series, Asphalt 9: Legends, continues this trend of excellence by pushing the boundaries of mobile graphics and gaming itself to new heights. The game is pretty optimized for touch controls, but people who want that added level of control can plug in a controller and use physical buttons to control their car instead!
15 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is one of the most legendary open-world games ever made. Even with all the controversy surrounding the release of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, there's no denying that San Andreas is still a beloved title that many people will enjoy playing even now!
The story of Carl "CJ" Johnson as he gets roped back into a life of crime following the death of his mom is a captivating one, with the tale featuring everything from betrayal to revenge and everything in between. The sandbox of San Andreas still impresses many fans to this day, and the mobile version can be further enhanced with the use of a controller to make movement even more precise!
14 Life Is Strange
Life is Strange is one of the best story-driven adventure games ever made, and the fact that it has been released on mobile devices is nothing short of a massive achievement. The adventures of Max as she discovers the power to rewind time are rewarding, with the impending doom of an oncoming storm forcing the characters into action as they try and avoid this fate.
Life is Strange is a great game that is full to the brim with memorable character interactions and an excellent story. Players who want to experience this title on mobile platforms with an added level of authenticity can use a physical controller to move Max around and interact with the environment as well.
13 Call of Duty Mobile
When one thinks of the best mobile games, the FPS genre generally doesn't come to mind. Maybe it has to do with the lack of decent controls in most games, or maybe it's the lack of good graphics compared to PC and console counterparts. Call of Duty Mobile is one outlier that's well worth trying out — and it's one of the best mobile games with controller support.
It has one of the largest player bases of any game in the mobile market, and it's constantly updated and kept alive through the rapidly growing community. The controls are surprisingly decent without a gamepad, but of course, it plays much better (and gamers will fare much better) with a mobile controller connected.
12 Fortnite
Fortnite has had a hard time on the mobile market, particularly on the Apple Store. As such, the game is only available for Android devices or can be downloaded through Epic Games directly. The game plays much the same as it does on PC, and its cartoony art style makes it a good fit for mobile devices.
It will be a while before iPhone users can download the popular battle royale game again. For now, Android players who haven't had the chance to try the ever-popular online shooter can give it a go on their phones.
11 Terraria
Terraria has often been compared to Minecraft over the years, having come out around the same time. It's hard for Terraria players to go back to Minecraft, though, because the latter is just not nearly as robust or deep as its 2D counterpart. On mobile devices, the game functions differently in several ways, making for a fresh experience for even the most hardcore fans.
The game received its final major update recently, the Journey's End update, which will soon make its way to the mobile version of the game. Using touch controls certainly has its appeal, especially for inventory management. However, most mobile controller games benefit from gamepads by making the player a bit more accurate, and Terraria is no exception.
10 Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is one of the most heartwarming and satisfying indie games ever made. Eric Barone, the game's sole creator, has spent the better part of a decade developing and working on this absolute gem, and it almost works better on mobile than on PC or console.
Part of this is the touch controls innate to just about every smartphone nowadays, but with a mobile controller, it turns into the perfect road trip or lay-on-the-couch casual game. It's one of those controller-supported games that can suck away hours of the day without realizing the time passing by – in a good way, of course.
9 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2
Surprisingly enough, the Star Wars RPG Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords was ported to mobile. It's not a graphically intense game, but the complexity of the game's mechanics makes it a bit hard to play with just touch controls.
Knights of the Old Republic 2 with a mobile controller, though, feels exactly like the original game. Plus, very few gameplay changes were made from the original version to the mobile version.
8 Limbo
Limbo is a platforming horror game that puts the player in the shoes of a silhouetted boy traversing terrifying terrain. The game was one of the original "classic" indie horror games, and its mobile port introduced new players to its black-and-white world.
The game requires relatively precise inputs at points, though, which can be hard to do accurately just by touch reactions. Limbo plays OK without a controller, but like most mobile games that support controller use, players find it a little bit less scary if for no other reason than they can reliably control the character.
7 VVVVVV
VVVVVV is a wholly unique platforming game that relies on a single, solitary mechanic: reversing gravity. To get through the game's various rooms, the player must time their movements and gravity switches together.
Any of the mobile games that support a controller and that require timing is better with a controller than with touch, though – luckily enough VVVVVV allows players to plug one in and use the intuitive controls present on the console version.
6 Roblox
Roblox is the always-popular open-world sandbox game that features countless separate worlds, each with its minigames, community, or another unique aspect to them. If you've never played Roblox, the game is free and worth checking out for the minigames alone.
Using touch controls in Roblox is super unintuitive, though. A mobile controller is absolutely the way to go for those who plan to play Roblox for any decent amount of time.
5 Minecraft
Those who don't know what Minecraft is, or have never played it, are missing out on one of the most popular gaming experiences of the current generation. It wouldn't be exaggerating to say that Minecraft is probably the most popular game in the U.S., thanks to its simplicity and in-depth building mechanics.
The mobile version of Minecraft is different from the PC version in a number of ways. As one of the best mobile games with controller support, Minecraft becomes much like the console version, but with slightly less polish.
4 Brawlhalla
Brawlhalla is a free-fighting game that puts a huge emphasis on multiplayer and quick, brutal brawls. The game can be played locally or online with crossplay functionality across a huge number of systems, including the Switch, Xbox systems, and PlayStation systems.
The game is surprisingly fun to play and features a huge roster of characters. The modding and customization in the game are pretty extensive, too. With a controller, Brawlhalla turns into a proper competitive game that can't be matched with lackluster touch controls. It's one of those mobile games with controller support that almost requires the player to use a gamepad.