obile gaming has often been regarded as just a casual alternative when you can’t access your console or PC, but times have changed. Gone are the days of pixelated gameplay and choppy graphics because the new wave of mobile games, especially ones that fall in the action genre, bring everything from stunning visuals and smooth gameplay to impressive mechanics and a rich storyline to the table. If you are looking for some adrenaline-pumping action games for your Android smartphone, here’s a list of the 12 best mobile titles that’ll provide you a thrilling experience and will keep you engaged for quite some time in 2020.
1pubg
This game is a phenomenon, and if you are into mobile gaming, you’ve probably played it or heard about it from friends. So, what’s unique about PUBG? Well, all you gotta do is land in a zone alongside 99 others in an abandoned area, collect weapons, kill enemies and be the last man standing. You can also drop with a partner in duos mode, or form a four-man squad. Sounds pretty simple, right? Well, the objective is clear, but PUBG Mobile’s excellent visuals, the sheer variety of weapons and add-ons, vehicles and the open-world surrounding with the ‘live or die’ setting makes it a thrilling experience unlike any other.{}
And if you think collecting weapons and shooting opponents is a simple task, wait until someone uses a sniper rifle and shoots you from a location you can’t even see. Every single battle royale match is a delight in itself, and with the addition of content such as new maps, weapons, game modes and character customization options, there is always something new to discover and keep the quest for the ‘Chicken Dinner’ alive. Plus, if you don’t have the time to spend playing a full classic match of PUBG that can easily last over 30 minutes, there’s an Arcade mode as well, with quick matches, and special variations to the game that make it a lot more exciting even for quick breaks between your work sessions.
Along with that, the PUBG Mobile Royale Pass adds on cosmetic upgrades and rewards to make the game even more interesting. There’s a free pass that everyone gets access to, with limited weekly missions and rewards, and you can get the elite Royale Pass to unlock additional missions, more rewards, and even just for bragging rights.[
2. Mortal Kombat X
Mortal Kombat X is hands down one of the on the mobile platform. While Tekken and Injustice 2 are awesome too, their mobile versions could not replicate the same experience that they offer on consoles. Mortal Kombat X remains the exception in this regard. The iconic characters, over-the-top moves and brutal fatalities, all trickle down in a visually stunning form in Mortal Kombat X. There is plenty of gore and bloody violence, all of which is captured in stunning detail, something that is a signature element of the franchise.
You can engage in a 3V3 battle with three fighters on your side and build a roster of different characters, challenge other players in an online bloodfest, and get help from allies during a battle. Taps and swipes are what constitute the gameplay mechanics, while the rewards can be used to buy new characters, customization items, taunts, etc. Fatalities are a little tough to execute but trust me, the wait is totally worth it. The X-ray spectacle of shattered bones, blood spraying, and flying skulls is gore at its best.
bones, blood spraying, and flying skulls is gore at its
While the campaign mode in Mortal Kombat X is excellent, the game offers a bunch of other game modes as well, including a Quest Mode where you can send your collection of Mortal Kombat fighters on epic quests to gain rewards. You can also check out ‘Shao Kahn’s Tower’ where you’ll have to fight to the top to earn talent points and spirit fragments. Plus, if you want, you can play against real players in the Faction Wars as well.
Download Mortal Kombat X (, with in-app purchases)
3. Fortnite
Fortnite can be called a more colorful and creative version of PUBG with less realistic battle settings and more in-game content than any Android title game out there. The game is simply a blast. The premise remains the same i.e. survive until you are the sole player alive or kill the maximum number of opponents in a specified time. There are multiple modes such as solo, duo, squad, and Playground, alongside a ton of limited time events including a 50v50 mode, big team mode and a lot more. However, what sets Fortnite apart from every other out there is the building mechanism involved. You can ‘farm’ materials by breaking down almost everything you find in the map including trees, houses, rocks, and even cars, and you can use those materials to build structures to get cover when you need it, or reach higher ground to use as a better vantage point for sniping.
But more importantly, Fortnite adds a lot of jazz and wild things which are hard to find in any other game out there. Remember those sassy dance moves called emotes? Then there are some insane weapons such as guided missiles, boogie bombs, and a lot of other fun stuff. The sheer number of controls on the screen and simultaneous killing and construction can be a bit overwhelming in the beginning, but once you get a hold of it, it would be hard to put your smartphone away. The customization options are seemingly endless and the gameplay remains fresh with the regular addition of content with new every season and even
Just like PUBG Mobile, Fortnite also has a season pass called ‘Battle Pass’ which unlocks weekly missions and cosmetic rewards including emotes, skins, gliders, and a host of other stuff that you can use in the game. Plus, if you don’t want to pay for the Battle Pass, there’s a free variant that’s available to everyone with a lower number of missions and rewards, but almost all of the fun.
What I personally love about Fortnite is the fact that even though this is a battle royale game, not everyone is gunning for the win in matches. You’ll come across people who are simply building outrageously ambitious buildings, trying to complete time-trials that are peppered around the map, and basically just having fun. It’s a lighthearted game, and a lot of people play it that way. You should definitely check out Fortnite if you’re looking for a wildly different battle royale experience than any other game out there.
Download Fortnite ( with in-app purchases)
4. Shadowgun Legends
The best alien shooter game out there? Shadowgun Legends. Aside from being a visual spectacle, Shadowgun Legends is simply the most enjoyable game in its genre. The gameplay is super smooth, the graphics are awesome and the weapon mechanics are pretty simple too. But what makes Shadowngun Legends a must-play game is the sheer number of missions, the different settings and the depth of the story development which makes the missions look like a true stealth operation which involves everything from shooting down alien drones and destroying power stations to blasting off alien heads in a glorious fashion.
Just like PUBG Mobile, Fortnite also has a season pass called ‘Battle Pass’ which unlocks weekly missions and cosmetic rewards including emotes, skins, gliders, and a host of other stuff that you can use in the game. Plus, if you don’t want to pay for the Battle Pass, there’s a free variant that’s available to everyone with a lower number of missions and rewards, but almost all of the fun.
The game starts off with a rather fun intro video which you can skip, but I’d totally recommend watching, and after that you can get right into the action. Shadowgun Legends has some elements of an RPG, and while you’re on the base planet (which is where you get your missions from, buy weapons, and even participate in tournaments), you can interact with other real players that are also playing the game. It definitely adds a very realistic feeling to the entire set-up of the game.
The story mode is quite immersive with over hundreds of operations to choose from on different planets, while co-op missions, raids, and PvP team battles will keep the gameplay experience fresh. There are hundreds of character customization options, but there is a separate section where you can choose from no less than 600 guns and armor parts to help you become an alien-killing legend. Also, the in-game dialogues are totally badass and make the experience even more rewarding.
Download Shadowgun Legends (with in-app purchases)
5. Modern Combat 5
Get ready to hit the battlefield in one of the best shooter series on the Android platform, Modern Combat 5. The high-octane explosive action game’s fifth installment is better than ever. In the game, you are the super soldier who’s going to lead your team to glory by shooting terrorists, bringing down helicopters, sniping enemies on water jets and a lot more. Launch an all-out attack as the assault class, embark on a stealth mission with the recon class, or choose a class from the 9 options available which suit you.
If you have played Call of Duty before, then you are going to love this game on your smartphone. You can play in 5 vs 5 game modes against other people from around the world and coordinate your strikes via voice chat with your teammates to win the battles. The game requires a lot of quick reflexes and skill if you want to see your name at top of the leaderboard. The graphics are stunning, the combat environment is realistic and the overall experience is simply one of the best you’ll get from a mobile game.
Mortal Combat 5 also has a bunch of game modes you can play in. There’s the campaign mode, obviously, but there’s also a multiplayer mode, bonus events, and even a new battle royale mode (because why not) that you can play. It’s definitely one of the most fun action games you can play on Android8
