Long journeys, be it by car, public transport, or even a long hike, can be exceedingly dull. But they are a frequent occurrence, such as for work or school commutes. Heading into the holiday season, plenty may be making long and arduous journeys to visit distant loved ones.

But they needn't make these journeys without entertainment. Mobile devices have made gaming more portable than ever, and there is a huge range of quality games that are available on mobile to make these long journeys a little less dull. Whatever journey players may happen to be on, why not try one of these great games to be transported on a completely different journey.

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10 Ghost Detective

3.4 Star Review On Google Play Store

Ghost Detective
Ghost Detective

Platform(s)
iOS , Android
Released
September 21, 2023
Developer(s)
Capcom
Genre(s)
Idle Games

Ghost Detective, by Wooga, is the perfect mobile game for those who would prefer a casual experience to accompany their long journey. It features a charming narrative about the ghost of a detective attempting to solve her own murder. Despite the spooky theme, it is a sweet and relaxing adventure, seeing players work through various hidden object puzzles.

In such a relaxed experience, there is plenty of downtime for more travel-sick players to take a pause, and players could also easily listen to their own music if they wished without detracting from the experience too much. It is available with Netflix Games, for those who have an account.

9 Pokemon Go

69 Score On Metacritic

Pokemon GO Paldea region Pokemon debut announcement trailer cityscape still with game logo
Pokémon GO

Released
July 6, 2016
Genre(s)
Augmented Reality

There is a reason that Pokemon Go took the whole world by storm when it was released in 2016. The augmented reality mobile game allows players to catch and collect their own Pokemon, battling with Team Go Rocket, and other trainers, and sending gifts to friends. Players collect everything from Pokeballs to potions by spinning either Gyms or Pokestops, which are all centered on real life landmarks.

Since it tracks walking, and is primarily designed as a walking companion game, it is far better suited for long treks on foot. However, long car journeys can be just as viable, so long as players are speedy with their Pokemon catching and Pokestop spinning, and confirm that they aren't the ones driving. An addictive open-ended game, players are sure to sink hours of journey time into their Pokemon catching endeavors.

8 Fallout Shelter

71 Score On Metacritic

Best Mobile Simulation Games Fallout Shelter people inside the vault
Fallout Shelter

Released
June 14, 2015
Developer(s)
Bethesda Game Studios , Behaviour Interactive
Genre(s)
Simulation

The Fallout franchise is beloved in gaming, with 2015's Fallout 4 being nominated for Game Of The Year and having a Metacritic score of 87. It wasn't the only Fallout game in 2015, as they also released Fallout Shelter, their mobile game, which also received a nomination for best mobile game.

Fallout Shelter allows players to manage their own vault full of survivors, making the Fallout experience portable, and a brilliant companion for a long journey. With this game at their side, players will soon find their journey taking them across the post-apocalyptic wasteland.

7 Reigns: Three Kingdoms

4.1 Star Rating On Google Play Store

Reigns Three Kingdoms
Reigns: Three Kingdoms

Released
November 1, 2022
Developer(s)
Nerial
Genre(s)
Idle Games

Another Netflix Games entry, Reigns: Three Kingdoms is another casual but highly addictive experience. Players are sent back in time to rule over the ancient Han Dynasty, making various choices in the style of the dating app, Tinder, in order to try and maintain balance between their wealth, popularity, and military might.

With a huge number of situations and choices, as well as an entertaining card game to simulate battles, Reigns: Three Kingdoms can keep players occupied for hours as they attempt to gain complete rule over the Dynasty. However, it is also casual enough that players can easily put it down for whatever breaks they might need to take on their journey.

6 Oxenfree

80 Score On Metacritic

Using the radio in Oxenfree
Oxenfree

Released
January 15, 2015
Developer(s)
Night School Studio
Genre(s)
Adventure

Oxenfree is another incredibly popular game, available for free on mobile through Netflix Games. It is a beautiful branching narrative journey, long enough to see players through their own long journey. On top of this, there is a time loop element to the game, which means players can experience the narrative for far longer than it may initially seem.

Its gorgeously spooky synth soundtrack, by scntfc, particularly 'Beacon Beach', is bound to get in players' heads for their whole journey, and that is definitely not a bad thing. Oxenfree is well worth experiencing, especially since there is a recent sequel, Oxenfree 2.

5 Spiritfarer

84 Score On Metacritic

Spiritfarer Game Cover Boat On Ocean
Spiritfarer

Released
August 18, 2020
Developer(s)
Thunder Lotus Games , Kowloon Nights , Canada Media Fund
Genre(s)
Platformer , Indie Games , Simulation

The next game is free on mobile with Netflix Games. Not only is the mobile version of Spiritfarer an entertaining but casual game to accompany players on their long journeys, it is also a very thematic companion for any sort of journey. Spiritfarer sees players control an adorable pair of apprentice grim reapers, Stella and her pet cat, Daffodil, as they expand their cheery little boat and collect anthropomorphic spirits.

The ultimate goal is to bond with these spirits and guide them through their emotions until they are ready to pass on. As long as players have some tissues with them on their journey, Spiritfarer provides hours of relaxing gameplay and an emotional journey unlike any other, all at a player's fingertips.

4 Papers, Please

85 Score On Metacritic

A player being asked if they're the Inspector in Papers, Please
Papers, Please

Released
August 8, 2013
Developer(s)
3909 LLC
Genre(s)
Simulation

Players looking for a one-off narrative experience, complete with addictive gameplay, should look no further than Papers, Please. Papers, Please was originally released in 2013, when it took the gaming world by storm for its compelling and darkly humorous dystopian narrative. However, it was only released for mobile in 2022.

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Players control a border worker, who must inspect the passports of incoming visitors to increasingly stringent standards. Make too many errors or fail to meet the quota for passports checked, and players may struggle to pay for rent, food, and medicine at the end of each working day. It does cost $4.99 on the App Store, making it cheaper than Slay The Spire, cheaper than its Steam price of $9.99, and an overall bargain.

3 Vampire Survivors

87 Score On Metacritic

Vampire_Survivors_18_Update
Vampire Survivors

Released
December 17, 2021
Developer(s)
Luca Galante
Genre(s)
Roguelike

Vampire Survivors is a reverse bullet hell roguelike, which players can sink hours into. Its status as a top mobile game can be clearly seen, as it is currently the top-rated game on the Play Store, with a 4.4 star rating out of 53k reviews.

Another highly popular game, Vampire Survivors is actually free on mobile. This easily trumps its $4.99 price on Steam. Whatever the journey, Vampire Survivors is a hugely popular free accompaniment that will keep them entertained for hours on end.

2 Slay The Spire

89 Score On Metacritic

Slay-the-Spire_The-Cursed
Slay the Spire

Released
January 23, 2019
Developer(s)
Mega Crit
Genre(s)
Roguelike , Deckbuilding

Slay The Spire is a highly popular rougelike deck-builder game, with a Metacritic rating of 89, that spawned many similar games, such as Inscryption. Given its nature as a roguelike, Slay The Spire is sure to keep players occupied for even the longest of journeys.

Slay The Spire is a great option for those who want a slightly more challenging mobile game. While it does cost $9.99 on the App Store, it is far cheaper than its $24.99 price on Steam, making it well worth purchasing on mobile as a companion for long journeys.

1 Stardew Valley

89 Score On Metacritic

Stardew Valley Expanded Mod
Stardew Valley

Released
February 26, 2016
Developer(s)
ConcernedApe
Genre(s)
RPG , Simulation

Stardew Valley is another big name game, also with a Metacritic rating of 89, in which players journey to a farm that they get to manage and expand. Unlike Papers, Please, its gameplay is a lot more open-ended, making it a little more suited for long journeys, and perhaps multiple long journeys.

Players can put hours into managing their farm but, as with some of the earlier entries, it is also casual enough to allow for the frequent breaks that players may need to take during their journey. Stardew Valley also costs $4.99 on the App Store, making it even more of a bargain, as it is $14.99 on Steam.

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