1. Subway Surfers

In this fun and fast-paced game, you get to be a teenage skateboarder caught doing graffiti on a train who is running down the tracks to avoid the Inspector and his dog. The premise of this game is to grab gold coins while dodging trains and to get as far as you can without running into a train or getting captured. This was the number one game on Android during the first three months of 2017, and it has been very popular since it’s release in 2012.

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2. My Talking Tom

If you don’t have a pet in real life, why not have a virtual pet? With this app, you can adopt a kitten and help it grow into a happy adult cat. You get to name and take care of your virtual pet while making him a part of your daily routine. You need to feed him, play with him, and nurture him as he grows up. One of the cool features of this app is that it’s packed with fun mini-games to play to earn gold coins to buy things for your cat!

3. 8 Ball Pool

This game is pretty self-explanatory: it’s an 8 ball pool game that you can play on your cell phone. Some of the features that make this app really stand out in the app store are that you can refine your pool skills in the practice area, you can play one-on-one matches, and you can even enter tournaments to win trophies. There’s even a feature where you can challenge your Facebook friends to a game; or, you can always play against randomly matched strangers.

4. Pokémon Go

This app was crazy popular during the first quarter of 2017 with over 500 million downloads (so far). This was one of the first apps for Android that fully utilized augmented reality; players use their camera to see an image of a Pokémon walking around their real-life neighborhood. In Pokémon Go, players can create custom avatars, walk around collecting Pokémon, and also compete in battles at Pokémon gyms.

Read More: The Top 5 Best Games Available on Android

Fire Emblem Heroes

Released on February 2, Fire Emblem Heroes is a free role-playing game that is a spin-off of the popular Fire Emblem series. In the game, your objective is to create a team of up to four “heroes” to attack other players’ teams on missions. Missions use up players’ stamina, depending on how difficult other teams are to fight. Additionally, to improve your teams, you can use the game’s currency to gain more “orbs,” which, in turn, help you choose better heroes.

Injustice 2

Although Injustice 2 hasn’t been released yet — it will be released this month — players are already excited for this sequel to the popular 2013 game, Injustice: Gods Among Us. Like in the first game, players choose characters and engage in “clashes” where they can fight other characters. Unlike the first game, though, the sequel includes a “Gear System” that lets you choose characters equipped with costumes and equipment that make them fight differently than other characters.

Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series

This game series is based on Marvel’s comic book series, Guardians of the Galaxy. The game will be released in a series of episodes; the first one was released in April. Like in other adventure games, players in Guardians of the Galaxy explore environments and objects where they make choices and take part in “actions.” If you’re familiar with the Guardian series, you’ll be happy to know that you play at Star-Lord in much of this role-playing game.

Shadowgun Legends

Another sequel that’s soon to be released, Shadowgun Legends is a follow-up to its 2011 predecessor, Shadowgun. In 2380, Earth is stripped of its resources and corporations control every element of people’s lives. This is the scene into which your warrior is thrown and must fight for human survival. In this game, players control a warrior who is battling aliens to save the world.

In order to get the most out of games with such incredible detail and graphics, use DFNDR’s Game Booster feature. This feature will maximize your phone’s gaming performance by entering a “gaming phone mode.” It will stop your device from lagging, crashing, or freezing by optimizing your device and freeing up RAM. This will make your games run smoother and faster so that you can enjoy your games in the way they’re meant to be enjoyed. To receive the benefits of this feature, you’ll need to launch the game through the Game Booster feature. Click here to enhance your gaming experience on your device:

There are several different ways that you can play your favorite smartphone games on your computer, but this will usually involve using a virtual machine or an emulator. The following are a few ways that you can accomplish this task.

The Nox App Player

This is a free Android emulator and a user-friendly option. Simply download the Nox App Player from its website. Then, once installed, you can use the emulator in a similar manner to how you use your phone (by swiping), or else by using a keyboard keys to play various games. You can also use this emulator for other non-game apps on your device, if desired.

BlueStacks App Player

This is another popular Android emulator. You can download it for free from the BlueStacks website. This emulator features location services, multitask support, and BlueStacks TV, among other features. You can also easily connect to the Google Play store to download Android games, thus making the whole process of playing smartphone games on your computer even easier.

AMIDuOS

You can download this emulator for free from the AMIDuOS website. There are a variety of versions available, mostly for older operating systems like Lollipop and Jellybean. This option is user-friendly and fast, and it works with a number of PCs and tablets. You can also easily switch back and forth between operating systems.

As the number of new monsters to catch decreases, and the level of your current Pokemon increases, the one thing left that can sustain and engage the dedicated trainer are Gyms; geographic locations that members of Team Mystic, Valor, and Instinct can battle over to control. Aside from local bragging rights, these Gyms provide Pokecoins, an in-game currency that can be redeemed in the app’s built-in shop for rewards like PokeStop Lures, Incense, PokeBalls, Egg Incubators, and extra space for Pokemon and items. To get these coins, you must either battle the occupying team until no Pokemon remain, or find space in a friendly gym, before placing one of your monsters in the gym and claiming your coins. The more Gyms you hold at one time before cashing in, the more coins you’ll have. Then, it’s just a short 21-hour wait before you can repeat the process and get those sought-after coins.

Read More: Olympians Couldn’t Play PokémonGO and They Were Pretty Upset

Still, whether you’re a trainer yourself, or the parent of one, these in-game locations may not be safe to congregate at. Some may be in less-than-ideal locations in your neighborhood that aren’t 100% safe, while others may be too remote and away from houses and communities in case the unimaginable occurs. No matter the reason, it pays to follow a few simple tips while battling Gyms to make sure each gaming session is as fun as it is safe.

Battle With Friends
With some gyms hosting Pokemon with particularly high combat points, attacking gyms with friends on your team is not only effective in staying safe while strolling around the neighborhood, but can make the process of taking a high level gym far quicker and entertaining than it would be flying solo. Moreover, going with a friend ensures that you get wherever you need to go, and that nothing happens to you or your buddy while you’re gaming

Don’t Battle Gyms Far Away from Others
While most Gyms are located in places frequented by pedestrian traffic, like monuments, churches, or historic landmarks, others may be off the beaten path that see far fewer visitors. It may be tempting to go after these gyms since there is less of a chance that competing teams will battle you for control of the gym, but their remote locations can also be potentially dangerous — whether someone decides to mug you at this gym, or if you fall and sprain an ankle, help won’t arrive quickly, To lower the odds something awful like that happens, leave those backwater gyms for other trainers to claim.

Visit Gyms During the Day
Following similar logic to the previous tips, you’ll want to be playing while there are many people around and about. As the days become shorter and the temperature drops, this means you should be playing between dawn and dusk, both because autumn and winter aren’t as conducive to an outdoor video game like PokemonGO, and because common sense would conclude that you’re less likely to deal with vengeful players, thieves, or other delinquents in broad daylight.

Maintain Situational Awareness
This one should be an obvious recommendation (the loading screen for the game even says this for legal reasons), but considering that people have died playing PokemonGO because they were distracted and unaware of surrounding hazards, it deserves repeating here. If you’re going to spend 30 minutes battling Pokemon, do so somewhere that has clear lines of sight of your surroundings, is outside of roadways, and, when possible, where you can have your back against a building or wall. Not only does this give you a good view of the pedestrian and vehicular traffic around you, it gives you protection from potential muggers coming at you outside of your field of vision. 

While we hope that you never have to put these tips to the test in real life, these tips are intended to give players of all ages a sense of security while gaming by lowering the odds of something bad happening to you. To this end, strive to be the very best, but keep in mind that your safety matters more than becoming a Pokemon master.

Nevertheless, it seems as if the glory days of Pokemon GO are a thing of the past. At its peak, it was reported that Pokemon GO had 45 million players on the date of July 17, according to their Daily Active Users statistic.

Read More: Top Apps That Are Sure to Put a Smile on Your Face

However, Axiom Capital Management reported that over 10 million players have quit the game since the middle of July. The estimated daily users of Pokemon GO has subsided to below 30 million as of late August. Axiom’s statistics are also showing that engagement and downloads of Pokemon GO has fallen as well.

Fortunately, this decline in daily use has been offset by the proliferation of Pokemon GOers in foreign countries. Right as Pokemon GO was waning in popularity, they began releasing the game in countries such as Brazil, China, Indonesia, France, and more. As a result, the revenue lost by players quitting in the US is being compensated for by the growth experienced in other countries.

This is illustrated through the marginal decline in Nintendo’s profits. Nintendo owns about one third of Pokemon GO, and their price share fell only about 3% as a result of the diminishing popularity. Thus, Nintendo will certainly be able to stay afloat despite this Pokemon GO drought.
Although games are expected to lose players after a popularity boom, there are certainly other factors at hand other than time. For example, Niantic, the creators of Pokemon GO, cracked down on cheating and the usage of third party websites for unfair advantages. Plus, Niantic made the game slightly harder by removing the “nearby” feature on the game, which could have dissuaded some users from playing.

In sum, despite this loss in popularity, both Niacin and Nintendo will certainly have the resources to keep their businesses afloat.

This device, called the “Smartboy,” fits as a cartridge outside of your Android. With tactile Gameboy buttons, this item will deliver the true Gameboy playing experience. Simply slide your phone into the cartridge, insert your desired game, and you are ready for your stroll down memory lane.

Read More: 5 of the Best Arcade Games Available on Android

The Smart Boy Development Kit, which started as an April Fool’s joke earlier this year, manifested into a reality. Hyperkin has a projected release date of December 1^st 2016, just in time for the holiday rush. If you want to ensure you have the item by the holiday season, you can pre-order it for $59.99.

The Smartboy is compatible with both Gameboy and Gameboy Color game cartridges. So gather all of your old Zelda Gameboy games from the closet, because they will finally be useful again.

This product is only available for Android. The schematic presented online only has a depiction of a gray Smartboy, but hopefully more colors will emerge on the market as this product booms in popularity.

The device is still being developed. More details will be available as we get closer to the release date. But it is known that Hyperkin will also include “open source serial app and firmware.” In layman’s terms, this means that users will have the opportunity to fix glitches and develop the technology. The updates and builds can be saved and uploaded to a Hyperkin forum.

Maybe it’s the irony of using new technology to revive antiquated 1990’s games. Maybe it’s the excitement of turning your cellphone into your favorite childhood gaming gadget. Whatever it is, Gameboy enthusiasts can’t wait to snag this item in early December.

Badland

A multi-player game in which you must escape obstacles and beat the scrolling screen from eating you up. The game’s recently-added additions let players create their own levels and play in adventure mode.

Read More: 5 of the Best Arcade Games Available on Android

Plants vs Zombies 2

While it’s in technically a classic tower defense game, Plants vs Zombie 2 has a different twist: you use a variety of plants to take on a zombie army. Each level of the game is different and requires you to use serious strategy to win. Best of all, you get a lot of the game’s content for free.

Fallout Shelter

Fallout Shelter lets you do what its name implies: create a fallout shelter. First, you need to build an underground shelter, and then create a community that lets your little people – called Dwellers – thrive and prosper. Once the fallout is over, you can send your Dwellers out to explore the new land.

Cut the Rope 2

A unique take on the puzzle game, Cut the Rope 2 has you “cut the rope” to feed candy to a strange animal named Om Nom. Each level gets more difficult – and the puzzles are truly a challenge.

Dragon Heroes: Shooter RPG

Your goal in this game is to save Dragonia from dragons. To play, you advance through various levels, each of which you unlock different heroes with different skills. You then use the heroes to shoot at dragons and protect your land.

As you’re really getting into a new game, the last thing you want is for your phone to slow down. Make sure that doesn’t happen with PSafe Total. PSafe’s CPU Cooler ensures your phone doesn’t get too hot, which, in turn, keeps your phone working quickly.

Terraria

Remember the classic game Minecraft? Terraria has been called a 2-D version. In Terraria you are still mining for minerals, but you are also building things, working to defeat enemies, and traveling through many different environments. The game is huge: there are 450 enemies to fight and over 1,300 crafting recipes. Terraria comes in two versions: a free app that lets you make in-app purchases or a more complete $4.99 version that still has some in-app purchasing.

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Grand Theft Auto

All four of the popular Grand Theft Auto games were converted to be played on Moga Controller. Like the games for other types of consoles, play includes walking around the city, taking on a variety of assignments, and, of course, tons of cars. All four games from the Grand Theft Auto series are available with Moga Controller support for a variety of prices. None of the games require in-app purchases.

The Bard’s Tale

Another game with old-school features, the Bard’s Tale is a revamping of a game popular in the 1980s. The role-playing game, with more than 24-hours of storyline, lets you navigate through a world using different armors, spells, and weapons. One of the first games compatible with the Moga Controller, you can download the Bard’s Tale for $1.99 with in-app purchases.

Final Fantasy III and IV

These classic games just recently became Moga Controller supported, but it was worth the wait. Final Fantasy III and IV are role-playing games with hours and hours of storyline, an open world, and a number of interesting characters for you to meet. Each of these titles costs $15.99, but neither requires any in-app purchasing.

As you’re playing your heart out on your Moga Controller, you want to make sure your phone is running smoothly. Before you get started gaming, download PSafe Total. PSafe’s CPU Cooler makes sure your hardworking phone doesn’t overheat, as well as eliminating lag time while you’re playing.

1. Word Chums

Word Chums is like an upgraded version of Words with Friends for Android users. It provides customizable characters, reminiscent of the Pokemon era, and lets users play with up to three or four other players, whether they be friends or strangers. Word Chums also lets players compete at the same time, which helps keep the game moving.

2. Real Basketball

Kick FIFA, and football multiplayer games to the side, and make room for this realistic, and competitive basketball game. Real Basketball lets users customize basketballs, uniforms, and courts to add aesthetic elements to an otherwise sports-oriented game. It also features a game board that lets you view your statistics, as well as your friend’s. This makes for easy competition between players.

3. RE-VOLT 2

A 3D car racing game with a twist, RE-VOLT 2 lets up to four players face-off in a variety of different stadiums, and vehicles. The game offers different scenes, and sketches that give you the opportunity to face different opponents, whether they be friends or computer-generated competitors. It also trumps a regular racing game by offering different types of powers, like missiles, or water balloons, to add another element of fun, and surprise.

Read More: The 4 Most Addictive Android Mobile Games

4. QuizUp

QuizUp is a more comprehensive Trivia Crack, offering quizzes in over 550 topics from education to history to gaming. This trivia game will test your knowledge, and let you race friends to answer a variety of questions. It also has a social element beyond the competition, offering community forums where you can discuss questions with users who have similar interests.

5. Spaceteam

Spaceteam is a unique, multiplayer game that has you collaborate with three other players to keep the spaceship together. The screen mimics the dashboard of a spaceship, and requires you flip switches, turn dials, and make commands to keep the ship flying. The best part is that each player’s’ dashboard is different, so the commands you can carry out may not show up on someone else’s screen, forcing communication, and joint problem solving.

Game Time, Fun Time

If you’re more into playing solo, check out the PSafe blog for a ton of other Android games. Have you ever tried out any of the apps listed above? Let us know in the comments below!