There are countless mobile games available to play on your smartphone. However, with so much choice around it's difficult to sort the wheat from the chaff. In this article we explore a number of ways to find new mobile games actually worth playing.

1. Check the App Stores for Recommendations

On first glance, the expansive catalogs of mobile games available on app stores can seem overwhelming. However, Google and Apple have begun curating lists of mobile games to help you find the best ones.

The app stores now have personalized recommendations where you can browse a list of new games compiled for you. These suggestions are based on behavioral patterns such as the games you've played in the past.

In addition, you'll find collections hand-picked by human curators. While these won't be personalized for you, they'll showcase hidden gems and trending titles you should give a shot.

On the Android Play Store, for instance, the landing tab is titled "For You" and is comprised of mobile games you might enjoy. There's also a section called "Editor's Choice" which presents listicles like "5 of the Best Star Wars Games".

The iOS App Store, on the other hand, takes a more behind-the-scenes approach to sell you new games, but the result is the same.

2. Try Android Games Without Installing Them

Google has built a separate Android app for your mobile gaming needs called Google Play Games. It acts as a central dashboard where you can track achievements across all of your games and keep tabs on your leaderboard rankings.

Google Play Games also has an Arcade segment which allows you to easily discover new games. Its algorithms take into account your preferences and what your friends have been playing if you've added them on Play Games.

Plus, thanks to Google's Play Instant technology, you can try games without even installing them. The app essentially lets you play a portion of compatible games so that you don't end up wasting your data later.

Google Play Games boasts a couple of other handy features which make it worth installing even if you don't want to use it to find new mobile games worth playing.

Download: Google Play Games (Free)

3. Watch Mobile Gaming YouTube Channels

Whatoplay Gaming YouTube channel

If you think manually hunting for new games is a bit inconvenient, take a look at mobile gaming-focused YouTube channels. Apart from the usual content like reviews, most of these periodically publish a list of fresh games you can download. Plus, you can watch the games in action before deciding which to install on your phone.

For instance, a channel named Gameranx (one of the best YouTube channels for honest video game reviews) uploads a new group of free iOS and Android games you can try at the end of every month. Another channel called Whatoplay publishes similar clips as well as special compilations for specific genres such as first-person shooters.

4. Look for New iOS Games on TouchArcade

Discover iOS games on TouchArcade

TouchArcade is an iOS-exclusive game discovery platform where you can browse hundreds of the latest games without having to dig into the app store. The website catalogs both iPhone and iPad games across a number of genres.

On its dashboard, you are presented with a carousel of the hottest games with their prices and ratings. Clicking one will take you to a detailed page with its description, some screenshots, and the option to visit the App Store listing. To filter and browse other lists, you can head over to the "Hot Games" tab.

What's more, TouchArcade hosts a ton of other mobile gaming content like news, reviews, podcasts, and forums for interacting with the rest of the community. Unfortunately, TouchArcade doesn't offer an Android section at the time of writing.

Visit: TouchArcade

5. Bookmark the iOS and Android Gaming Subreddits

Androidgaming subreddit

Android and iOS both have their own subreddits which are treasure troves of recommendations and deals on all kinds of apps, including mobile games. They have an active following with thousands of subscribers who post quite regularly. The topics span from general compilations to tips and tricks you can adopt for a better experience.

That's not all. The moderators run weekly or monthly threads to highlight new games. AndroidGaming, for instance, has a "What have you been playing?" discussion every week to talk about what its members have been playing on their phones.

Visit: The Android Gaming Subreddit

Visit: The iOS Gaming Subreddit

6. Discover the Highest-Rated iOS Games on Metacritic

Metacritic iOS section

For people who just want to spend their time playing the highest rated mobile games, Metacritic is the best bet. The aggregator service has an iOS section which indexes the top iPhone and iPad games. Unfortunately, Metacritic doesn't offer an Android section at the time of writing.

The ratings are determined based on reviews by various critics including TouchArcade. It also lets you read specific reviews if you want. Moreover, you can browse by genre and read reports on new game releases. Like it does for other platforms, Metacritic compiles the best iOS games in a given month or year as well.

Visit: Metacritic's iOS Section

7. Get Personalized Recommendations on GameTree

GameTree is a social discovery network which lets you connect with other gamers. You can employ that ability to form sessions and play multiplayer games together. Its biggest feature, however, is the personalized recommendation engine.

When you first sign up for it, GameTree asks you to specify your favorite games and the platforms you own. Select Mobile, and then in the Discover tab, browse new mobile games which GameTree thinks you might like.

You can rate games to further improve your preferences, and follow users who have a similar taste as you. GameTree is available as an app on iOS, Android, and the web.

Visit: GameTree

Life Is Too Short to Play Bad Mobile Games

Selecting only a handful of mobile games can be tough when you have such a vast repository to choose from. However, by making use of these methods you should be able to find new mobile games that are actually worth your time and attention.

Once you've found some new mobile games worth playing, we suggest checking out these tips to improve your Android gaming experience.