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Even if you're not a dedicated gamer, chances are you've gotten wrapped up playing something at some point. But there's no reason to resort back to those old standbys on your journey home for the holidays (or whenever you have a free gap of time you need to fill).
Together with Google Play, we asked R29ers what mobile games they can't stop playing lately — from competitive word games to immersive true-crime games. Do yourself a favor and download these now.
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"I don't just play Monument Valley 2 for the creatively challenging puzzles. I play for the visuals, which let me escape into a dreamy fantasy world no matter whether I'm playing on the subway or in my apartment." —Madeline Buxton, tech editor
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"I don’t think I’ve ever cared about a phone game like I do this one. It may look super basic, but it’s actually crazy addictive. Each tile has an even number written on it, and your goal is to add up to the number 2048 by joining adjacent tiles together. You can choose from different board sizes — from 4x4 (the smallest) to 8x8 (the biggest), which makes it more challenging." —Cassidy Turner, associate photo editor
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"Remember that Snake game we all played on our first cell phones? Think of this as the 2017 version of that. It’s perfectly mindless — your only objective is to move the snake around and break as many bricks as you can to grow the snake longer. It’s the perfect game to play when you need to wind down after a stressful day." —Cate Seiser, senior content editor
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"I'm obsessed with true crime, so this is my ideal game. You're given access to a (fake) police database and are tasked with sifting through videos from a murder investigation, in order to piece together a woman's story. If you've been binging true-crime docs and podcasts, you need this in your life." —Lucy Meilus, senior lifestyle and entertainment editor
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"I grew up in the '90s and have such fond memories of playing Super Mario games with my siblings, so naturally, I love this version that I can play on my subway commute home." —Claire Fontanetta, beauty editor
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"I'm slightly obsessed with interior design — as a kid I would play Sims for hours just to build and decorate the houses for my characters. I discovered Design Home a few months ago when my husband and I were planning a renovation of the house we were buying, and I quickly became addicted. You enter design competitions and have a budget to ‘dress’ an empty room — and if you win a competition, you get extra money in your budget to use toward future competitions. Honestly one of the most satisfying parts of the game is being able to ‘buy’ gorgeous expensive furniture that I could never afford IRL. Highly recommend to fellow design fans, but fair warning: You'll soon consider $3,000 to be a reasonable price for a sectional." —Karen Lehmann, senior audience strategist
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"I was a huge fan of the original Words With Friends game, so I've been playing the new version constantly since it came out. You can choose to play against someone or a fictional character (though it's always more fun if it's someone you know IRL). It's challenging enough to keep you entertained without requiring a ton of effort when you just want to chill." —Paulina Canini, project manager
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"1010 is my go-to game for any spout of boredom — especially when I'm commuting to and from work. It's simple enough that I don't get too distracted and miss my subway stop, and I can stop or pick it back up whenever I want, even if I'm in the middle of a round. The game is comprised of a 10x10 grid with Tetris-like blocks in various shapes. The idea is to fill out a complete row or column of 10 blocks. Each time you fill a row or column, it clears out and you get points. Simple enough, right? The only thing is, you never know when they're going to slam you with huge 3x3 squares or long 5x1 pieces. There's no clock or pacing, so it's really all about strategy and trying to beat your highest score without hitting gridlock." —Jennifer Anderson, editorial assistant
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"Yes, I still play Fruit Ninja, and I love it! I don't usually play games on my phone, but I've had this one for years and it never gets old. It's also a stress-reliever if I've ever had a long day and just need a distraction. This is perfect to play while I'm on the subway home." —Dilpreet Kainth, associate social editor
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