The 2000s were a time of growth for the gaming industry, filled with technological, narrative and marketing breakthroughs. One of these breakthroughs was the advent of mainstream mobile phone games, some of which changed the way we think about gaming permanently.

Angry Birds

During the 2010s there was no place you couldn’t go without seeing Angry Birds paraphernalia, from plushies to backpacks to pillows to tabletop games. Multiple people have commented on the cultural phenomenon of angry birds, even the CEO Kati Levoranta, saying that she hopes its success encourages more diversity within the tech industry.

In the early days of smartphone gameplay this game encapsulated everything that the smartphone platform did right: easy accessibility, free to play and consisting of gameplay that was intuitive and simple yet deceptively difficult. This series has been through multiple franchises and was even made into a film series.

Flappy Bird

To say Flappy Bird was a hit during 2014 would be an understatement. This game took the App Store by storm unexpectedly. Its gameplay was very straightforward, consisting of simply keeping a flapping bird in flight while dodging pipes and all kinds of obstructions. 

The game was incredibly hard to say the least and inspired a lot of playthroughs on YouTube, which resulted in various memes. The app was taken off the app store due to claims of harassment by the creator, according to productmint.

Shadow Fight

Shadow Fight is probably one of the most intricate games to be put on a smartphone. Modeled after traditional fighting games like Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter, Shadow Fight offers a fast-paced strategic combat system equipped with items and all kinds of things. 

The skill and expertise required to be good at Shadow Fight is astounding and it will remain a classic mobile game to many. 

Stickman series

In the early 2000s, flash games were a staple of the internet, along with point-click games. One of the most popular of these was the Stickman series. The game revolved around stick figure men doing various activities like skateboarding or motorbiking.

When this series of games came to the App Store it was an instant hit. The gameplay easily transferred to a mobile game format and had multiple levels. Although the pay-to-play nature of the app inevitably stunted the growth of this game, it definitely cemented itself as a game to remember. 

Geometry Dash

Geometry Dash might possibly be the hardest game on this list as well as the one with the most replayability. Geometry Dash involves moving a square across the screen without hitting spikes. With such replayability, it’s no wonder why it has lasted the longest, spawning multiple playthroughs The catchy electronic music in the background helps to accentuate the fast paced, high-stakes atmosphere of the game.