Ten Fun Android Games Worth Your Time

Spring is finally here, and there's no better way to celebrate than by getting out of the house and having fun in nature. Eventually, however, you'll need to use the bathroom, which is where this list of fun mobile games should come in handy.

Android owners often have to wait for big mobile releases, but there are still plenty of great games out there just waiting to be played. I always try to offer players a mix of highly polished titles and amateur offerings in these Android round-ups, and today's list is no exception.

Pixel Twist
I've never quite seen a game like Pixel Twist before. The simple puzzle game puts players on the periphery of an explosion of cubes; it's up to you to rotate the camera around the jumbled mess until the target picture comes into view. Pixel Twist isn't the deepest or most challenging game on the list, but it is a fun and relaxing novelty that's perfect for short play sessions.

Furiosity
This minimalist indie game doesn't look like much, but it kept me hooked for all 144 levels. Furiosity is like the old Lights Out puzzle game, where tapping on tiles either lights up or darkens adjacent tiles. The twist? Each level has its own logic for which tiles are affected. Most levels can be solved eventually with trial and error, but figuring out what the hell is going on in each new level doesn't get old.

Flow Electric
Another variation on a classic puzzle game, Flow Electric plays a bit like Pipe Dream, only instead of laying out tiles, you simply rotate them to restore power to various homes. There is no timer in Flow Electric, and the puzzles aren't too challenging, which makes it a fun and relaxing way to pass the time during commercial breaks and car rides – provided you're not the one driving, of course.

Compulsive
Matching games are a dime a dozen on Android – actually they're even cheaper. However, Compulsive provides a simple and entertaining alternative to more challenging entries in the genre. Players can select and drag colored squares from anywhere on the playing field while lining up matches, ensuring that the 60-second rounds are free from lulls in the action. You can unlock a couple of additional modes as well, and compete with friends via online leaderboards.

Little Things Forever
I don't usually enjoy hidden object games, but something about Little Things Forever managed to catch – and keep – my attention. Instead of placing objects in some innocuous environment like most hidden object games, Little Things Forever presents players with an object composed entirely of other random crap. The pleasant art style makes hunting down items as fun as it can be, and there's no hokey story breaking up the action.

7 Little Words
I can't very well put together a list of Android games without including at least one word game. Each puzzle in the game tasks players with guessing seven words based on their corresponding clues. Players piece together the answers by selecting tiles that contain different combinations of letters, making it a little easier than a straight-up trivia game. I also like Trivia Labs' clone, Game of Words, which features a much higher degree of difficulty – but you should support the original game by checking out 7 Little Words first.

Quiet, Please!
If you're a fan of old-school adventure games, you should think about setting aside an hour or two to play through Quiet, Please! The game stars a little girl searching for some peace and quiet, and she must outsmart her family, a lawn-mowing neighbor, and a pack of playful kittens to get it. The simplified controls and inventory system make interacting with the environment a cinch, and the humorous puzzles elicited a couple of chuckles from me.

Knights of Pen & Paper +1
I played a lot of Dark Souls II last month, but my nightly progress was frequently sidetracked by Knights of Pen & Paper. The tongue-in-cheek RPG provides a simple but rewarding take on the genre, allowing you to level up a party of gamers-turned-heroes, buy and forge new items, and save the kingdom from an evil threat. The frequent fetch quests eventually wore on me, but I still had a lot of fun with the game.

Star Command
I'm a huge sci-fi nerd, so commanding my own starship and recruiting a custom crew in Star Command was an easy sell. The retro-looking strategy game lets you explore the universe while battling a variety of different enemy species. The vulnerability of your crewmates keeps the simple ship-to-ship battles tense, and the variety of upgrades you can invest in offers a rewarding sense of progression. Star Trek fans will definitely appreciate the lighthearted tone – but that won't lessen the sting of permanently losing your favorite engineer when you blow it in the captain's chair.

Terra Forma
At first I thought Terra Forma was just another Minecraft rip-off, but it's actually a unique puzzle game. Players tap on various plots to transform them into different land types and ultimately remove them from the level. Each land type behaves differently, however, requiring strategic transformation and removal. Terra Forma even features an editor for creating and sharing levels, ensuring you won't run out of content anytime soon.

Know of any other Android games worth playing? Share them in the comments below!