Best Mobile Games Based On AAA Franchises

Key Takeaways

• Mobile publishers are creating AAA franchise experiences on mobile devices with unique gameplay experiences.
• Lego Star Wars: Castaways
  ,
  Halo: Spartan Strike
  , and
  Pikmin Bloom
  offer engaging experiences on the go.
• Star Wars Hunters
  ,
  Valiant Hearts: Coming Home
  , and
  Call of Duty: Mobile
  bring diverse genres to the mobile market.

Although the mobile space is full to the brim of indie and free-to-play idle games, some publishers have seen the success of the mobile market and endeavored to provide mobile users with experiences based on their successful AAA franchises.

From mobile-exclusive sequels to interpretations of beloved franchises adapted for the mobile market, the unique portability and accessibility of mobile devices have forged some unique experiences in AAA series.

8 LEGO Star Wars: Castaways

A Creative, Customizable Star Wars Environment On Apple’s Gaming Ecosystem

• Released: November 19, 2021
• Developer(s): Gameloft
• Platform(s): iOs, macOS, Apple TV, Apple Vision
• Genre(s): Action

Nearly 20 years after the inaugural video game entry of what has remained a consistently revered Lego-themed subseries, the collaborative IP of Star Wars and Lego bricks is arguably as strong as ever. As such, while titles such as Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga may hold down the fort in the console and PC space, more experimental, customizable experiences such as Gameloft’s Lego Star Wars: Castaways have become powerhouse mobile titles.

While the title is locked behind Apple hardware — and the gameplay loop generally revolves around perfecting runs through a more limited selection of levels — the incredible polish seen in gameplay and visuals does much to encourage more engaged play. Alongside themed events similar to the best examples of the live-service model, Lego Star Wars: Castaways remains a relatively consistent way to access a more hands-off, easy-going Lego Star Wars experience.

7 Halo: Spartan Strike / Spartan Assault

A Duology Of Top-Down Twin-Stick Shooters Based On Microsoft’s Flagship Franchise

While the Halo series of seminal FPS titles may have defined their genre, IP-owner Microsoft has seemingly had no issue propping up the sci-fi shooter franchise with adaptations into multiple varied genres. From RTS and light-gun titles to the twin-stick shooters of Halo: Spartan Assault and Halo: Spartan Strike, the high-octane antics of UNSC super soldiers are no longer limited to first-person shooters.

While the original Halo: Spartan Assault title has been ported to PC and Xbox consoles since its 2013 release on mobile devices, Halo: Spartan Strike‘s updated adaptation of the top-down formula remains on a small screen. With a consistent feel, aesthetic, and sound with the rest of the Halo franchise, the two Spartan mobile titles may not scratch the itch of mobile Halo FPS titles, but they remain supremely solid ways to take the world of Xbox’s flagship franchise on the go.

6 Pikmin Bloom

A Mobile Extension Of Pikmin‘s Themes Of Growth, Collaboration, & Outdoor Play

Although the Pikmin series is definitively not one of Nintendo’s biggest IPs, the near 25-year-old RTS franchise has remained one of the console manufacturer’s most resilient properties. With core gameplay pillars regarding movement in an outdoor environment and nurturing the growth of life outside, Pikmin Bloom‘s GPS-oriented design broadens the series’ reach to mobile devices.

As an extension of Pikmin, Mario, and Legend of Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto’s idea that “Pikmin are all around us,” Pikmin Bloom doesn’t just complement other Pikmin titles such as Pikmin 4 due to its shared IP, but due to its extension of a shared philosophy. In collecting fruit, planting flowers, and growing more Pikmin as players walk, Pikmin Bloom gamifies exercise in a way not many mobile titles have been able to consistently manage.

5 Gwent: The Witcher Card Game

The In-Universe Card Game Of The Witcher IP Brought To Life On Mobile, Console, & PC

While the collectible card game action of CD Projekt Red’s Gwent: The Witcher Card Game is not exclusive to mobile devices, the tactile nature of TCG gameplay arguably works best when coupled with the swipes and touches of a mobile device’s input. Similar to other collectible card game titles such as Hearthstone, Magic: The Gathering, and Pokemon TCG Pocket, Gwent is tactically and aesthetically intricate while being seemingly approachable to new players.

As the name suggests, Gwent: The Witcher Card Game is based on CD Projekt Red’s much-revered Witcher franchise of RPG titles based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels. Beyond that, Gwent is an extension of that beloved lore, as the game of Gwent is an in-universe activity that can be played for fun or coin around the Continent of the Witcher.

However, while Gwent‘s multi-faceted gameplay is still ongoing within its multiple ports, it should be noted that CD Projekt Red has stopped supporting the title and is simply updating the game at a maintenance level at the point of writing.

4 Star Wars: Hunters

A Third-Person Star Wars Hero Shooter Exclusive To Mobile Devices & Nintendo Switch

Although the PvP arena combat of Star Wars: Hunters was seemingly designed with mobile devices in mind, it would be remiss not to mention that the sci-fi hero shooter is also playable on the Nintendo Switch family of systems. With an extremely diverse set of characters — ranging from a lightsaber-wielding droid and a Wookie warrior to a literal set of Jawas in a trench coat — and a plethora of environments from across the galaxy, Star Wars: Hunters is a title with a supremely silly sci-fi aesthetic.

Controlling characters in round-based, objective-focused third-person combat, Star Wars: Hunters‘ seeming priority of providing varied playstyles is continued in its live-service model. Although the title is set between the events of Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, the character roster is emblematic of Star Wars‘ expansive chronology, with Ewoks, Mandalorians, and KX Imperial Security Droids fighting their way through the chaos.

3 Valiant Hearts: Coming Home

The Once Mobile-Exclusive Sequel To One Of Ubisoft’s Most Inspiring New IPs

With the somewhat surprising commercial success of the critically adored Ubisoft title Valiant Hearts: The Great War, the existence of a sequel in the same hard-hitting illustrative vein is not shocking. However, with Valiant Hearts: Coming Home‘s originally touted as a mobile-exclusive title on Netflix’s game platform, the title has arguably become synonymous with the platform.

While Valiant Hearts: The Great War was a breakthrough hit on PC and consoles, the slower pace and point-and-click-esque puzzles of its gameplay ensured that a mobile experience would not be hindered by graphical issues or lagging controls. Although the sequel installment has since found a place on PC and consoles, the narrative-led WWI puzzle-adventure title is just as comfortable on the mobile devices it called home for almost a year.

2 Call Of Duty: Mobile

The Call Of Duty FPS Formula, Copied Almost One-To-One On Mobile Devices

While the mobile gaming ecosystem is home to a plethora of AAA-standard titles, the limited hardware of mobile devices can seemingly lead players to expect a less developed gaming experience. However, with the FPS juggernaut Call of Duty series making the jump to mobile, with near as many modes and experiences as console and PC titles, that philosophy is something that has to be set somewhat aside for Call of Duty: Mobile.

Containing Multiplayer, Zombies, and Warzone modes of play, Call of Duty: Mobile provides an experience on mobile devices that — unless played on a portable console such as a Steam Deck — is the optimal way to play the FPS franchise on the go. With custom classes and even an ESports scene, Call of Duty: Mobile ensures that the FPS series has a solid foundation on the industry’s most prolific platform.

1 Pokemon GO

A Generation-Defining Social Event, Disguised As A Free-To-Play Pokemon Title

Although some mobile titles based on AAA franchises have been released after Pokemon GO‘s 2016 launch, and some are no doubt more technically robust than Pokemon‘s foray into the mobile space, arguably none have made the impact that Pokemon GO has in its near-decade on the platform. By championing social features and GPS connectivity, Niantic’s interpretation of Game Freak’s pocket monster formula has proved to be insurmountably resilient.

With its own meta of gym challenges, evolution, and battling, Pokemon Go distinctively sets itself apart from the core Pokemon franchise. However, its influence can clearly be felt in such software as the Nintendo Switch titles Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu & Pokemon: Let’s Go Eevee, which incorporate Pokemon GO‘s simplified catching mechanics and portability into its own gameplay design.