10 best multiplayer games for Android phones and tablets

Thanks to the power of the internet, gaming is more social than ever before. Multiplayer gaming no longer means 2-4 friends huddled around the same screen — we can now play with strangers from all over the world. And because our smartphones are so powerful these days, you can also play games no matter where you are in the world.So, today we're taking a look at the best multiplayer games for Android. From competitive shooters to card games and everything in between, we're sure you'll find something you and your friends can get into.Further reading: New Android apps & games [5/2/18] – Harry Potter, Google Tasks, Paladins Strike

PUBG Mobile

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG for short) got its start on PC, and now you can play the defining game of the exciting battle royale genre on your Android phone. For the uninitiated, this type of game sets you up in a massive fight to the death where you must survive 99 other players to walk away as the victor.A typical game of PUBG starts with you jumping out of a plane in a race to the ground to find your first weapon. If you're not quick or careful, though, you could see someone beating you to the punch and getting all the area's loot. The aim is to kill everyone in sight or sneak your way into the top 10 for a more stealthy victory. How you choose to approach your mission is up to you — just don't die.

Game Details

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• Developer: Tencent Games
• Price: Free with In-App Purchases
• Content Rating: Teen (Violence, Blood) [/symple_box]

Get PUBG Mobile on Google Play

Minecraft

Mojang's Minecraft is one of those games that you don't quite understand at first, but once you play it and it "clicks" with you, you can't get enough. It's hard to describe the game's genre because there's nothing quite like it.Minecraft can be a game that scratches your creative itch, offering up a mode that allows you to use and manipulate the game's various "blocks" freely as you build rich in-game structures, contraptions, and landscapes. It can also be a zombie survival game, allowing you to explore the game naturally and gather materials and resources to survive the dreadful night.You could go it alone, but Minecraft is almost always better with friends. Its multiplayer mode allows you to join public servers or run your own. It's also cross-platform, so playing with gamers who are on PC, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch is a blissful possibility.

Game Details

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• Developer: Mojang
• Price: $6.99
• Content Rating: Everyone 10+ (Fantasy Violence) [/symple_box]

Get Minecraft on Google Play

NBA Jam

This one will take basketball fans back to simpler times. NBA Jam has been reborn as a mobile game, and it delivers classic head-to-head multiplayer. You'll choose two stars from any of the 30 NBA teams to go up against an opponent.These are no ordinary basketball contests. In typical NBA Jam fashion, it's less about winning and more about jamming that freckled pigskin into the basket with style. (But also still about winning, because that always makes it more fun.)

Game Details

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• Developer: Electronic Arts
• Price: $4.99
• Content Rating: Everyone [/symple_box]

Get NBA Jam on Google Play

Hearthstone

Pull up a chair by the hearth! Blizzard has done it again with yet another addictive game. Hearthstone is a collectible card battling game modeled after the World of Warcraft universe. The various cards in play are all inspired by the inhabitants, places, things, and heroes of Warcraft. Even Leeroy Jenkins has a permanent spot in Hearthstone's vast library.The formula is such that the game is easy to pick up and play but tough to master. You'll find fun no matter how experienced you are, and you can build up a substantial collection without spending a dime if you have the grind in you. And who knows? If you do well enough, you could eventually find yourself fighting for points in the pro scene.

Game Details

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• Developer: Blizzard
• Price: Free with In-App Purchases
• Content Rating: Teen (Fantasy Violence) [/symple_box]

Get Hearthstone on Google Play

Asphalt Nitro

Asphalt is back with another game in the longest running racing series to grace mobile. Subtitled Nitro, this entry offers the same high-speed action it always has, but with more stunts than ever before.There are eight different modes, including the return of Police Chase which challenges you to get away from the cops. Brazil and China are just a couple of the locales you'll find in Asphalt Nitro, and licensed cars like the Ferrari LaFerrari or the Lamborghini Veneno give you a chance to race around in cars most of us can't afford.

Game Details

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• Developer: Gameloft
• Price: Free with In-App Purchases
• Content Rating: Everyone [/symple_box]

Get Asphalt Nitro on Google Play

Vainglory

There's been an explosion of multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games on Android, but Vainglory started it all and you owe it to yourself to try it. The short map and quick matches make this 3v3 MOBA perfect for mobile devices. It didn't take long for Vainglory to grow into a full-on MOBA with a larger map to fit in 5v5 action.Games like this typically involve you and your teammates earning gold and experience throughout a match to unlock new abilities and buy game-changing items. The end goal is to destroy your enemy's core which is protected by several defensive turrets. You'll need the help of your minions and teammates to safely push into the range of those turrets to take them out en route to destroying the core.Think League of Legends, but for your phone. There are three lanes, tons of monsters and objectives to fight for on the map, dozens of champions to use in those fights, and more.

Game Details

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• Developer: Superevil Megacorp
• Price: Free with In-App Purchases
• Content Rating: Teen (Fantasy Violence, Suggestive Themes) [/symple_box]

Get Vainglory on Google Play

Modern Combat 5

You can think of Modern Combat as the mobile alternative to Call of Duty. The 5th installment is the shooter to play on mobile. There's an entire online component waiting for you after beating the single player campaign if you're looking to test your skills even further.Modern Combat 5 is your typical tactical shooter, with tons of different guns to use and a lot of people to use them on. The latest installment in the series introduces nine different customizable classes, all of which have unique skills and abilities. The more you play a class, the more of its goodies you unlock.

Game Details

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• Developer: Gameloft
• Price: Free with In-App Purchases
• Content Rating: Mature 17+ (Violence, Blood, Language) [/symple_box]

Get Modern Combat 5 on Google Play

Uno and Friends

If you're finding it hard to gather your friends and family in one place for a good old game of Uno, you won't have to do so any longer thanks to Uno & Friends. This mobile rendition puts the classic card game in the palm of your hand.You can play just as you always have, with your goal being to ditch your hand before your opponents can. That's easier said than done, of course, with you being at the mercy of the dominant color and a whole host of trap cards your opponents will have to trip you up.Uno & Friends brings a whole new dynamic of its own to the experience, too, with Uno Companions. These companions offer potent boosts and abilities to help turn the tide. Just when you think you can yell "UNO!" you'll often find yourself being reeled back into the fray.

Game Details

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• Developer: Gameloft
• Price: Free with In-App Purchases
• Content Rating: Everyone [/symple_box]

Get Uno & Friends on Google Play

Dungeon Hunter 5

A good dungeon crawler is always better with buddies. Dungeon Hunter 5 takes after the Diablo formula, putting you in procedurally-generated dungeons to fight seemingly endless hordes of enemies.If you manage to chop those enemies down, you'll be rewarded with the euphoria that comes with finding new legendary gear to upgrade your character. There are over 900 items in the game to collect, and because they'll always drop with different stats, you'll never have a shortage of character progression goals to chase. Take three friends with you and let the good times roll.

Game Details

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• Developer: Gameloft
• Price: Free with In-App Purchases
• Content Rating: Teen (Violence, Blood) [/symple_box]

Get Dungeon Hunter 5 on Google Play

Ticket to Ride

This is as ageless a board game as you'll ever find. Ticket to Ride stands the test of time as a game about seizing control of the railways that connected America's cities. You'll do so by trading for and buying as many railroads as you can while you lock your opponents out of the loop.Ticket to Ride can host you and up to four other players in a fully online multiplayer experience. And while the US and Europe are the primary locales for these showdowns, you can also buy special additional maps for Switzerland, the UK, India, Asia, and more.

Game Details

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• Developer: Asmodee Digital
• Price: $9.99
• Content Rating: Everyone [/symple_box]

Get Ticket to Ride on Google Play

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Game on

Whether you're looking to get into mobile eSports or you just want to enjoy some games with your friends, online multiplayer is a boon for mobile gaming. You can connect with anyone, anywhere, and at any time. Use that to your advantage and have some fun!