When we talk about casual multiplayer games, the discussion should start with understanding what casual games are. Casual games are pretty loosely defined compared to other genres such as MOBA, FPS, or MMORP. Come to think of it, any game in any genre can be a casual game. A game needs to feature two aspects to be categorized under casual games. Firstly, the gameplay should be easy to understand and pick up for anyone without prior knowledge, experience, or research. Secondly, they should only require minimal time and mental investment.
There are umpteen free casual games available over various consoles such as smartphones, tablets, PCs, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation, and more. Since the pandemic, playing video games has drastically increased worldwide, especially in the US. This is the same country where Grand Theft Auto V has been the best-selling game of the decade, with over 115 million copies sold.
Two-thirds of Americans, amounting to nearly 227 million people, are gaming enthusiasts. And the most popular genre in gaming, you ask? Casual games, of course, constitute a whopping 63%. Several casual PC games have also found a home in handhelds, enabling everyone with a mobile device to play.
Our Definitive List of the Best Casual Online Games
Our definitive list will feature casual games across different genres, ranging from card games to city builders to board games and more. We’ll also include details on genres, platforms, developers, and prices. Everything said, since each game is unique and different from the other, you can treat this list of the best casual games online in any order of preference.
1. Among Us
Genre: Simulation
Platform: Android and iOS
Developer: InnerSloth LLC
Price: Free, with in-app purchases
Among Us was released back in 2018, but it grew into a worldwide fad only when lockdowns came into effect. It is a kind of social deduction game where players use clues to understand who to trust and who to be suspicious of. Due to the game’s massive popularity, we’re sure you have already played it or had a friend who kept asking you to check it out.
The game offers a unique graphical atmosphere with its cartoon-like outer space theme. It is played between four to fifteen players dressed in astronaut suits of varying colors, communicating with each other through the game’s in-built chat. It progresses with players raising suspicions, fighting, and voting against each other to weed out imposters and eliminate them. The impostors can be one or up to three friends with an objective to finish off all the crewmate players or prevent such players from successfully averting emergency sabotage.
While the game was expected to get a sequel – Among Us 2 – the developer InnerSloth opted to support their game with patches and updates for a longer time instead. The latest update was on 30 June 2021.
2. Candy Crush Saga
Genre: Puzzle/Board
Platform: Android and iOS
Developer: King
Price: Free, with in-app purchases
If there’s one game that’s the embodiment of casual games, it’s Candy Crush Saga, developed by King back in 2012. The game transitioned from King’s FB-linked Candy Crush game into its own distinct application based on a freemium model. At this point, if you haven’t seen a parent (or even a grandparent) aggressively playing Candy Crush Saga, then you’re in the minority. The longevity of this tile-matching game makes it one of the top entries on our best casual games list.
From the gameplay standpoint, Candy Crush Saga is a straightforward matching game with a candy-based theme. You need to clear out a board by matching a minimum of three candy tiles to pop them and keep progressing through the levels. Specific quirks make the game easier and more complex. The board also features some challenging blocks that are immobile. Players also get a limited number of lives, moves, and power-ups (in the form of gold bars) that aid in winning.
3. Bingo Clash
Genre: Hyper Casual
Platform: iOS and Android
App: MPL
Price: Free, with cash games and tournaments available
When you look up free online games to play in the casual game category, it is practically impossible to look past the MPL app and its casual games. First up, we have Bingo Clash – an online iteration of the classic 75-ball game everyone in the US loves playing at bingo halls. In the game, you’re given a 5×5 bingo card, and your objective is to mark off all the numbers that are called out and see if you can clear an entire line – row, column, or diagonally – with the centermost space left empty.
The game features a timer within which you need to earn maximum points. The faster you’re able to daub each number, the higher the points you get. You can also win occasional power-ups that let you score higher. You can play 1v1 battles with random opponents or battle it out for the top leaderboard position in mega tournaments.
4. Pinball Clash
Genre: Hyper Casual
Platform: iOS and Android
App: MPL
Price: Free, with cash games and tournaments available
Another exciting addition to the list of best casual games is MPL’s Pinball Clash, a contemporary version of one of the most well-known arcade games of the ’80s and ’90s. This game reimagines Pinball for the current generation, presenting a machine inside which we toss and flip balls using various components to keep playing and score points.
Every game features three balls handed to the player. Use the launch button to activate the plunger and launch the ball into the playing area. Use the flippers to keep the ball in play for as long as possible and navigate it through different machine parts. Each component has a distinct role in interacting with the ball and adding to your score. The more the interactions, the better the score. You have three chances to score more than your opponent within the two-minute timer.
5. Stardew Valley
Genre: RPG and Simulation
Platform: Android and iOS
Developer: Chucklefish Limited
Price: $4.99
Stardew Valley was initially developed for the PC by one man – Eric Barone – as a tribute and extension to the Story of Seasons series (formerly known as Harvest Moon in the US). Chucklefish team later picked up the game and ported it to Linux, Max, smartphones, and other contemporary consoles.
The game features many similarities to Story of Seasons and includes plenty of quality-of-life alterations for players. It transports you into the world of a burnt-out office worker who works at Joja Corporation, suddenly deciding to quit your job to acquire your late granddad’s farm in Pelican Town. When it comes to gameplay, it’s an intriguing mix of dungeon crawls, dating simulators, and farming simulators.
The game continues to get significant updates, adding more to the mechanics, storylines, and characters. While the smartphone version does not support multiplayer play, the other ports do.
6. Battle Cats
Genre: Tower Defense
Platform: Android and iOS
Developer: PONOS Corporation
Price: Free, with in-app purchases
Battle Cats was initially released on the Japanese iOS store as “The Great Kittycat War” in 2011 and became an instant hit. An English version of the game came about in 2012, but it was pulled back the same year. Battle Cats, an improved version, was re-released on 17th September 2014.
It is an oddly fun, free game where you take control of your cat army and lead them to world domination. The game plays out like a tower defense game in the landscape mode. It features two unique game modes, a kind of preparation mode and a battle mode. The prep mode allows you to use in-game currency (known as “Cat Food”) to purchase loot boxes for distinct units and upgrade them. At the time of battles, you must defend your tower by spawning your kitties to attack the opponent’s tower. The developer constantly adds updates to the game, besides new units and “Cat Combos.”
7. Mini Metro
Genre: Simulation
Platform: Android and iOS
Developer: Dinosaur Polo Club
Price: $3.99 on iOS, $0.99 on Android
Undoubtedly, Mini Metro is one of the less sophisticated games on this list with a minimalist backstory. But don’t brush it aside, as you’re in for a great mind-teaser of a game. The game has won awards since the time of its release in 2016, including the Excellence in Audio award at the Independent Games Fest. It also received a BAFTA nomination and was a finalist for the Best Mobile Game at the yearly IGN and Gamespot awards.
Gameplaywise, it is an uncomplicated puzzle game where you connect stations to deliver passengers. This is done while also keeping the efficiency and time of each railway line in mind to secure the maximum possible points. The game features multiple cities that you can plan out for, ranging from the New York City Subway to the London Underground. The developers offer updates to the game six years after its original release, adding more and more cities to the mix.
8. 2048
Genre: Puzzle/Board
Platform: Android and iOS
Developer: Solebon LLC
Price: Free on Android and with in-app purchase on iOS
Gabrielle Cirulli created the original game and its applications back in 2014. Since their release on an open-source MIT License, plenty of copies and clones have shown up on both iOS and Android platforms with their pros and cons. But unquestionably, nothing can beat the original!
Start playing the game on a 4×4 grid with tiles starting at two or four. Sliding tiles towards same-numbered tiles results in adding the face value of those specific tiles into a fresh tile that replaces them. The game progresses until you run out of moves to make where you can combine tiles or get to the coveted 2048 tile. When you reach the 2048 tile, you can resume playing until you reach the maximum 131,072 tile. The only in-app purchase you have on iOS is a $4.99 option to eliminate in-game ads.
9. Plague Inc.
Genre: Strategy
Platform: Android and iOS
Developer: Ndemic Creations for iOS, Miniclip.com for Android
Price: Free for Android, $0.99 for iOS; both have in-app purchases
As the title suggests, the game is about annihilating humanity with a plague or pandemic. It was released on both iOS and Android in 2012. While it’s pretty dark to think about, given everything we’ve been through in the last couple of years, the game is a shocking hit with over a hundred and sixty million downloads worldwide.
In this game, you play as the inconspicuous hand of evolution to guide your selected plague to erase all of humanity. The game offers many options, from simple microbes to engineered bio-weapons. After deciding where to begin your plague, you’ll spend most of your time navigating the world map. You get a pretty solid simulation of the world economy and the transfer of pathogens between continents and countries.
Every now and then, you’ll need to press red pop-ups that offer more DNA points to evolve your pathogen and blue pop-ups that obstruct humankind’s efforts to create a cure in the nick of time. The Android version of the game is inferior to the iOS version. The version is free, but it doesn’t have the option to purchase expansions like the Shadow Plague or Simian Flu.
10. Tiny Tower
Genre: Simulation and Management
Platform: Android and iOS
Developer: NimbleBit LLC
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Tiny Tower, released for iOS and Android by Nimblebit in 2011, is a peculiar blend of city building, management, and business simulation. The Android version was pulled out on 24 September 2015 and then re-released on 25 May 2016. The re-release added many new items, including the “Golden Ticket” mechanic, “bitizen” trading, etc.
The game runs along the lines of a city management game. However, instead of a city, you’re responsible for a future high-rise with just one floor. The game introduces you to its mechanics, such as heating, water, electricity, and most importantly, the tenants. Your objective is to slowly augment the number of floors in the building and keep up with your ever-increasing bills.
The game continues to receive updates even years after its initial release. The latest release arrived in June 2021, which added a customizable player house following the game’s tenth anniversary.
11. Uno!
Genre: Card
Platform: Android and iOS
Developer: Mattel163 Limited
Price: Free with in-app purchases
There’s no bigger name than Uno! when it comes to social events and gatherings. The iOS and Android versions replicate the base version of the game. Gameloft released them back in 2008, and they have gone on to enjoy a considerable following among gamers interested in card games. Gameloft is also responsible for porting games to the mobile, such as Assassin’s Creed, The Amazing Spiderman, and Brothers in Arms 3.
It is an enjoyable game that nearly everyone loves playing with their friends online. Your goal in the game is to become the first player to put down all your dealt cards. The cards come in four color suits numbered 0-9 alongside some wild/action cards. The Uno! apps feature competitive modes where you can play online and win prizes. Mattel now continues to bring updates to the game with new aesthetics, rule changes, and game modes.
12. Mario Kart Tour
Genre: Racing
Platform: Android and iOS
Developer: Nintendo Corporation
Price: Free, with in-app purchases
A not-so-surprising recent addition to the list is Mario Kart Tour, released on Android and iOS on 25 September 2019. The game is essentially Nintendo’s first edition of their Mario Kart games ported to the mobile. While the game was announced initially in 2018, the first day of its release witnessed over ten million downloads.
Mario Kart Tour plays out pretty different compared to the other Mario Kart games. At its core, it’s a racing game, but a large chunk of the driving is automatically done. Nintendo continues to provide support for the game with additional content, new characters, and updates. With the recent multiplayer mode addition, you can even compete with up to seven friends from anywhere in the world.
13. Pocket Trains
Genre: Simulation and Management
Platform: iOS and Android
Developer: NimbleBit LLC
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Originally released on iOS on 15 September 2013, Pocket Trains is another exciting game by NimbleBit LLC, which also saw an Android release soon after. The game is the ideal mix of a transport management game and a business simulator. It’s essentially the train version of Pocket Planes, made by the same developer.
In the game, you are a train company manager, creating railroad lines and managing what cargo must shuttle between each station. A big part of your time will alternate between the station maps and the world map. You have one primary objective – to bring the major cities of the world closer to each other using your company’s rail network and earn massive profits.
The game gets the occasional update with new events, season decor, and train sets. With a crazy huge number of trains, regular updates, and exciting in-game events, this is one of the best casual games that you can play on your smartphones and tablets.
14. Angry Birds 2
Genre: Puzzle
Platform: Android and iOS
Developer: Rovio Entertainment Corp
Price: Free, with in-app purchases
The second entry in the universally popular Angry Birds franchise, the game was initially known as Angry Birds Under Pigstruction. Part 2 is a significant improvement on the original worldwide hit, released on 5 March 2015, first in Canada (with its former name) and in the rest of the world on 30 July 2015. The game continues to get updates in its Daily Challenges, events, and a super competitive leaderboard.
Another straightforward game, Angry Birds 2, has you catapulting cartoon birds at sleepy green pigs that hide behind crumbling constructions. You have many birds to pick from, each possessing different abilities and powers. Your ultimate goal is to eliminate all enemy pigs while causing as much destruction as possible.
15. Pocket City
Genre: Simulation and Management
Platform: Android and iOS
Developer: Codebrew Games
Price: $2.99
Codebrew Games’ first venture – Pocket City- was released on iOS and Android on 31 July 2018. The Android edition has a downgraded free version and a paid version. The developer offers one promise with the game – no microtransactions whatsoever. Instead, the game would include unlockable items and mechanics gained exclusively through gameplay. Codebrew occasionally came up with optimization updates and bug fixes besides adding new translations. However, there haven’t been any substantial updates rolled out since 2020.
The game has you in the shoes of an architect, a city planner, and the mayor simultaneously. The gameplay somewhat reminds you of Sim City and several other city-builder games. You’re responsible for slowly and steadily building your tiny town into a sprawling metropolis. You’re in charge of balancing the happiness of the urban population, the city’s financial management, and completing quest demands which lead to leveling up and unlocking more upgrades each time.
16. Mahjong Epic
Genre: Board/Puzzle
Platform: Android and iOS
Developer: Kristanix Games
Price: Free, with in-app purchases
This 2017 game by Kristanix Games is the developer’s second mahjong solitaire post Mahjong Titan. It continues to get updates in the form of multiple new tilesets and backgrounds, several free boards, and more.
Play Mahjong Epic in a manner similar to most mahjong solitaire games, where you need to match exposed tiles to clear out the board. With over 1,600 boards to pick from and eight distinct tilesets, and full HD optimization, there’s no doubt that Mahjong Epic is a treat to keep playing!
17. Wordle
Genre: Word/Puzzle
Platform: Android and iOS
Developer: Josh Wardle
Price: Free
Wordle is a browser-based free application that sent the social media world into a frenzy owing to its familiar but challenging gameplay. The game is easy enough for anyone to understand and play on a daily basis. The most interesting aspect about Wordle is that it was originally developed as a gift for Wardle’s partner. The game’s title is also a quirky wordplay on his own last name.
You have to guess a five-letter word without any hints as part of the game. If any tile turns green, that implies the correct positioning of the respective letter(s). If it turns yellow, the letter is in the word but in the wrong position. You get six attempts to guess each word of the day. You can return after 24 hours to the same website to proceed with another round of guess-the-word.
Final Thoughts
Though we can list out umpteen names under the casual game category, this is our handpicked list of the best casual games you can play on your phones and tablets. Download the MPL Pro app to play two fantastic games on this list – Bingo & Pinball. We hope you enjoy playing every game on this list, and let us know your thoughts!
