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If you are a mobile gamer, you probably have a preference regarding screen orientation. Some prefer landscape (phone sideways) games, while others prefer portrait (phone vertical) games.
Personally, we’ve grown to love portrait mode games, often for their ease of use. Quite frankly, it’s much easier to play a mobile game while holding your phone naturally.
Because of this preference, we’ve spent quite a bit of time seeking out vertical screen phone games.
If you are in the same camp and want some great portrait mode games to play, we’ve compiled a list of some of our current favorites.
Our favorite portrait mode mobile games (Android and iOS)
We’ve been diving deep into some vertical mobile games recently, and here are the ones that we enjoy the most.
Goddess of Victory: Nikke
Goddess of Victory: Nikke isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but we’re enjoying the game. While monetization can be a bit rough, the combat and vertical UI are fantastic.
The developers behind the game have also started addressing many of the bug issues that were previously rampant, which has helped increase our enjoyment of the game.
It’s still definitely akin to an idle game, but for us, that hasn’t been a bad thing.
Nikke is available on Android, iOS, and emulators like BlueStacks.
Tower of God: New World
If you are looking for a new idle (AFK) game to dive into, Tower of God: New World recently released and definitely has the potential to become a solid main or side game on your phone.
This game features a great art style and character designs and contains all the different modes and gacha pulls people have come to expect from AFK games.
Tower of God: New World is available on Android, iOS, and through emulators like BlueStacks.
Marvel Snap
We’ve been loving Marvel Snap since it released in October 2022. This digital card game is extremely F2P-friendly and features a ton of awesome cards.
This portrait-mode game is absolutely worth checking out if you like games like Magic: The Gathering and Hearthstone.
While it is definitely different, card game veterans (and newcomers!) will find plenty of things to love about this one.
Marvel Snap is available on Android, iOS, BlueStacks, and Steam.
Clash Royale
A true classic on this list, Clash Royale has stood the test of time to be a solid card-based Arena battler.
There’s a huge number of different cards to collect, all of which can be used to craft your strategy in live PvP battles.
Clash Royale isn’t the most F2P-friendly game at high levels, but you will still have a ton of fun playing for free or buying small in-game packs occasionally.
Clash Royale is available on Android, iOS, and emulators like BlueStacks.
Knighthood
Knighthood doesn’t have the biggest fanbase, but it’s one of the games that really showed us vertical-screen mobile games could work well in the RPG genre.
It features bright, colorful graphics and a solid UI. Monetization is about standard for a mobile game, as well.
If you like the medieval fantasy genre and fun art styles, this one is definitely worth checking out.
Knighthood is available on both Android and iOS.
Pokémon Go
Pokémon Go has gone through some changes that many players don’t love, but the game is still a ton of fun.
Explore your neighborhoods and catch tons of different Pokémon and then use them in Raids and PvP content. Fill out your Pokédex and complete missions to earn even more Pokémon.
It’s definitely not the best mobile game out there, but for a casual experience with friends and family, it’s hard to beat.
Pokémon Go is available on Android and iOS.
AFK Arena
AFK games like AFK Arena are a pretty divisive genre of mobile games. But, if you are looking for a team builder with a ton of characters, AFK Arena definitely has that covered.
The AFK part also means that it is a perfect game for people that don’t have a ton of time to play and can only play in short bursts.
Looking for a new idle game to play in 2023? We highly recommend Eversoul!
AFK Arena is available on Android, iOS, and emulators like BlueStacks.
Whiteout Survival
If city-builders are your style, Whiteout Survival is definitely worth checking out.
In this game, you must battle the cold, wild animals, and other settlements as you work on your own settlement.
Whiteout Survival features a solid gameplay loop and building your civilization up from a campfire to a massive civilization is definitely satisfying.
Whiteout Survival is available now on emulators like BlueStacks, as well as Android and iOS.
Magic Survival
If you are looking for a bullet hell roguelike, look no further than Magic Survival. Gather powerups, destroy countless waves of enemies, and repeat.
Don’t let the minimalistic graphics fool you, there’s a lot to like about this one.
Magic Survival is great for players looking for a reverse-bullet hell game and those who have exhausted some of the other options out there.
Magic Survival is only available on Android, with no word on an iOS release.
Check out other Vampire Survivor mobile alternatives here.
Tetris
You can’t beat a classic, and it doesn’t get more classic than the 1985 classic Tetris. It’s literally perfect as a portrait-mode game.
If you want an easy-to-play puzzle game or just a taste of nostalgia, look no further. Your old friend Tetris is still here.
Tetris is available on Android, iOS, and emulators like BlueStacks.
Portrait mode games are perfect for the phone
At the end of the day, playing mobile games on a vertical screen just makes sense. It’s how you normally hold a phone.
While portrait mode orientation does have some limitations, the convenience is worth it, in our opinion. Ultimately, it’s about finding the right games for you.
You might find that you prefer landscape orientation games, and that’s totally fine too. And with those, you can always use a controller to help, as well.
Looking for the best mobile games to play in 2023? We’ve got you covered.
More from MobileBytesGG:
- Best gacha games for beginners
- Marvel Snap: Starter guide, mechanics, card rarity, and more
- Google Play Games PC requirements: What you need
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