10 Awesome Cross-Platform Mobile Multiplayer Games to Play With Friends

If you and your friends can’t agree on whether Android or iOS is better for mobile gaming, don’t worry, as there’s no need to choose between them. That’s because these games can be played on both iOS and Android.

OK, so your one friend still using Windows Phone might feel left out, but these awesome cross-platform mobile multiplayer games deserve a place on your smartphone, no matter what operating system you use.

1. Spaceteam

Spaceteam is the one game on this list that requires all your friends to be in the same physical space.

In Spaceteam, you and your friends are the crew of a spaceship and everything’s going wrong. To stay on course, you’ll need to work together by shouting different made-up space commands to each other. The speed and the chaos ramp up and up, until you all inevitably crash and die, only to be awarded medals posthumously. But it was fun while it lasted.

Download: Spaceteam for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

2. Words With Friends 2

The sequel to the acclaimed Words With Friends is more like an update.

Of course, there’s the regular Words With Friends experience that you’re used to, where you and a friend or online stranger take turns trying to rack up points on a board by spelling out words Scrabble-style.

However, while Words With Friends 2 keeps everything you loved about the first version, it adds a few new modes for a different sort of challenge.

Lightning Round pits two teams of five against each other to see who can come up with a certain score in the fastest amount of time. Solo Challenge lets you play against challenging bots to win a virtual prize. Finally, Words With Friends Live drops in with HQ Trivia-style questions during your game, every day at a certain time.

Download: Words With Friends 2 for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

3. Vainglory

A MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) similar to League of Legends, Vainglory lets you team up in 5v5 or 3v3 modes against other players or bots.

Choose from one of over 40 heroes and go head to head against another team to destroy their Vain crystal before they destroy yours. Travel through the jungle destroying enemy turrets and minions, using your special powers and working together as a team.

Download: Vainglory for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

4. Ticket to Ride

The award-winning board game now fits in your pocket.

Ticket to Ride makes you and your friends railroad barons, competing to be the first ones to link up the country by train. The graphics stay true to the original board game, down to the virtual train cards you draw and put in your hand.

You can play in Pass-And-Play mode, which lets you take your turn and pass it to your friends in front of you. You can also play in local, online or solo modes. Each game takes 15-20 minutes to complete, making it perfect for passing the time on a real-life train trip.

Download: Ticket to Ride for iOS | Android ($4.99, in-app purchases available)

5. Minecraft

Originally referred to as the Pocket Edition, the mobile version of the best-selling game is almost identical to the PC version. The only major differences being that you can’t connect third-party mods or use third-party servers. Also, typically, any update that comes out for Minecraft won’t come out for the mobile versions until later date.

That being said, the mobile version is a wonderful way to experience Minecraft on the go.

Playing Minecraft alone, however, is no fun. No matter the platform, Minecraft was made for socializing, and its cross-compatibility lets you play with your friends.

Download: Minecraft for iOS | Android ($6.99, in-app purchases available)

6. Hearthstone

Real-life trading card games are fun, but online trading card games let you do things like summon demons and blow up your booster packs.

Hearthstone, developed by Blizzard and set in the world of Warcraft, is a strategy game that lets you collect cards, build decks, and duel your friends. It’s free to play, but you can always buy new card parks to give yourself that extra edge.

With periodic expansions, tournaments and challenges, there’s always a reason to get back into Hearthstone. Play your friends in the Arena or battle strangers to increase your Rank.

And if you’re struggling to win, check out our complete guide to Hearthstone.

Download: Hearthstone for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

7. Pokémon Go

When it debuted, Pokémon Go smashed the glass ceiling for AR (Augmented Reality) gaming, bringing pocket monsters into the real world. You and your friends can take your phones, no matter the platform, and go out into the world and explore.

Download: Pokémon Go for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

8. Fortnite

The world’s most popular battle royale game is available on pretty much any platform you can think of, including iOS and Android. While playing on your smartphone might not sound great, Fortnite on mobile is well worth playing.

First of all, unlike PlayStation 4, XBox One or Nintendo Switch, whose online platforms require a subscription, playing Fortnite on your phone is free.

Secondly, the mobile version has some features that make moving around a little easier. You can automatically pick up whatever you walk over and open doors that are in front of you.

And finally, now that you can play anywhere, you can dab on the bus.

Download: Fortnite for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

9. Super Stickman Golf 3

Get in a quick nine holes before lunch with this simple-but-fun golfing game.

While Single Player mode is fun on its own, Stickman Golf offers two different multiplayer modes. You can either compete to see how fast you can play each hole in Race Mode, or take turns in the Turn Based mode. Also, you can play locally or online.

Download: Super Stickman Golf 3 for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

10. Letterpress

Letterpress is similar to Words With Friends, but with a much simpler premise and a beautiful aesthetic. You play one opponent, and your goal is to cover the entire tile board in your color (which is always blue). On each turn you spell out a word, and every letter you take turns your color. Your opponent can do the same, and can even take tiles back.

You can “protect” tiles by surrounding them with tiles of your color, and you and your opponent go back and forth until one of you has conquered the entire board.

The premise is simple, but the strategy involved makes Letterpress a fun, challenging game that’s perfect for playing on mobile, whatever your platform.

Download: Letterpress for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

Give Yourself the Best Chance of Beating Your Friends

So there we have it, a selection of the best cross-platform multiplayer games to play on your mobile devices. We can’t guarantee you’ll be any good at these games, but we can guarantee you’ll have fun playing them.

Is one of your friends always beating you? Maybe they’re playing on an iPad Pro while you’re stuck using an old Android phone. In which case you should read our guide to the best device for mobile gaming.

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