Summary

  • Supercell's free-to-play games aim to boost player progress without being pay-to-win through regular updates and community feedback.
  • Squad Busters offers fast-paced fun but can become repetitive with frustrating randomness, despite positive changes based on player feedback.
  • Brawl Stars excels with regular updates, vast amounts of unlockables, free rewards, and exciting cross-over events, maintaining a strong player base.

The hugely popular mobile game developer, Supercell, has made a lot of games in its time; some have never launched, some have been canceled, and some have become mobile classics. Part of what makes Supercell’s games so successful is that they are free-to-play, which draws players in. Furthermore, the monetization of each game aims to boost player progress, but not be pay-to-win by allowing free-to-play players to earn everything if they play regularly. Drawing from a variety of themes and genres, Supercell’s games are among the most beloved and well-known mobile games in the world, but which ones are the best?

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There are currently six Supercell games that are live and playable for players and this list will rank them from worst to best, considering longevity, replayability, monetization, and player feedback. That’s not to say that any of the games on this list are bad, and it depends on which genre of game players like as to which one they’ll love playing the most.

6 Squad Busters

Fast-Paced Multiplayer Battles

The Wizard, Barbarian, Colt and Bea from Squad Busters grabbing green gems while floating on a purple background
Squad Busters
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Released
May 29, 2024
Developer(s)
Supercell
Platform(s)
Android, iOS, PC

Squad Busters is the latest game to be released by Supercell, where 10 players compete in action-packed matches to collect coins and gems. The player with the most gems at the end of the match wins. Players build their squads over time, earning new characters that each have unique abilities. Once unlocked, these characters can be found in chests that are opened with coins during a match. The characters are a mixture of familiar faces, crossing over from other Supercell games, and new ones, that are unique to Squad Busters. Furthermore, there are various maps, game modes, spells, and monsters that change how players approach any given battle.

While fun to begin with, the repetitive nature of the game and its lack of interactivity when fighting means it can get boring very quickly despite all the random variables. Additionally, the game’s randomness can make it frustrating to play. The random maps, game modes, and chest unlocks mean that every game is slightly different, but it also means that players who get offered weaker characters to others are at a disadvantage. On the other hand, Squad Busters has listened to community feedback and has made several changes to improve the game, removing battle items and mega units that gave an unfair advantage to certain players. Therefore, Squad Busters is moving in the right direction and is a great game for those wanting fast-paced and action-packed fun.

5 Hay Day

Family Friendly Farming Game

Hay Day characters standing in front of a farm; a ginger man with a beard holding a cat next to a pink pig holding a cake, a brown cow mooing and a white horse while another farmer stands on a wooden crate behind him with a brown dog on his head.
  • Released: June 21, 2012 (iOS)
  • Platforms: iOS, Android

Since its release in 2012, Hay Day has become the go-to farming game for mobile users. While each Supercell game is different, Hay Day is a complete change of pace for players, offering a relaxing experience free from fast-paced thinking, explosive battles, and mind-provoking strategy. Instead, Hay Day focuses on the simplicity of farming, allowing players to grow crops, rear animals, and manufacture goods all while expanding their farm, selling goods to the community, and exploring new places.

The satisfaction of unlocking a new building, raising new animals, and growing a farm in Hay Day is unrivaled in the world of mobile farming games. Plus, it’s perfect to play with family and friends, as players can join a neighborhood, allowing them to visit each other’s farms and trade resources to help each other out. It may not receive as many updates as other Supercell games, but there are still new events, buildings, and animals being added to keep the game exciting. Overall, Hay Day is perfect for those looking for a less intense game to play.

4 Boom Beach

Beach-Based Strategy Game

Zooka, Warrior, Medic and Heavy from Boom Beach running along a beach with blue sky and white clouds behind them
  • Released: March 26, 2014
  • Platforms: iOS, Android

Boom Beach was released globally in 2014 and has since become a staple of mobile strategy games. Players start on their own individual island which develops as they unlock, build, and upgrade their defenses and other buildings. They then expand their control across the sea, taking over resource settlements, battling other players, and taking down the evil Blackguard to earn loot and gain new territory. As they progress, new troops are unlocked, new buildings are built, and more of the map is explored. Plus, players can join a Task Force, where they work together with others to destroy Blackguard Power Bases.

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The military and island theme brings with it unique features, such as the gunboat and landing crafts, which are key to any attack. Plus, the addition of the warship is an interesting mode that changes how players battle. However, the single builder means that players can only upgrade one building at a time unless they pay for another builder with real money, and even that isn’t permanent. This feature makes progression feel rather slow. Furthermore, Boom Beach doesn’t receive as many updates as other Supercell games, and therefore, new features that freshen up the experience aren’t regularly added.

3 Clash Royale

Unlock Cards, Battle Opponents, And Progress Up The Arenas

clash royale cards
Clash Royale
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Released
March 2, 2016
Developer(s)
Supercell
Platform(s)
Android, iOS

Clash Royale is a real-time multiplayer card game that was hugely popular when it was released in 2016, offering a new experience within the Clash universe. Borrowing troops and spells from Clash of Clans, Clash Royale’s new format gave players a unique battle experience. Players build a deck consisting of eight different cards and battle it out in the arena to destroy the opponent’s towers while protecting their own. As players progress up the arenas, new cards become available, which can be unlocked through chests that are earned in battle. Plus, every card has several levels to it and can be upgraded if the player has the required number of cards and gold to do so, creating an almost endless progression system.

To this day, Clash Royale continues to thrive by regularly adding new cards, new arenas, and new game modes that keep players hooked. However, with so many new additions, powerful cards, and evolutions of existing cards, players have raised concerns about the pay-to-win aspect of Clash Royale. These complaints aren’t unfounded, and there is an absurd amount of offers for real money in the shop to speed up progression and to purchase the newest cards. Despite this, everything Clash Royale releases can be earned for free, it just takes time to get. Furthermore, the game continues to release events that increase progression, and there are often free offers that give players free cards and even free evolutions.

2 Brawl Stars

Battle With Brawlers In Various Modes

Shelly, Colt and Poco from Brawl Stars running away from a green explosion in the desert behind them
Brawl Stars
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Released
December 12, 2018
Developer(s)
Supercell
Platform(s)
iOS, Android

Launched globally in 2018, Brawl Stars quickly made a name for itself among the very best mobile games out there. In Brawl Stars, players control a brawler of their choosing, battling against other players in various 3v3 game modes and battle royale. Each brawler has a unique set of abilities, offering lots of options that fit any playstyle. Furthermore, each brawler can be upgraded to level 11, unlocking gears, gadgets, star powers, and hypercharges along the way that players can buy with gold. Each of these items makes the brawlers more powerful in a variety of ways.

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Offering a vast array of unlockable brawlers and numerous game modes, there’s always something for players to be excited about in Brawl Stars. A lot of this is because of the regular, monthly updates, which introduce a new season, and with it, a new brawler, lots of new skins, and a new event, which may even be a cross-over. For example, the current season is SpongeBob SquarePants themed, and it includes new game modes and SpongeBob-themed items and skins. Brawl Stars is also brilliant at offering tonnes of free rewards that significantly boost progression for new, returning, and long-time players through community challenges. The generosity of the game is one of the reasons it has kept a strong player base and is how it attracts old and new players to the game.

1 Clash of Clans

The Ultimate Mobile Strategy Game

The Barbarian King and Archer Queen from Clash of Clans reaching towards each other
Clash of Clans
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Released
August 2, 2012
Developer(s)
Supercell
Platform(s)
Android, iOS

Almost everyone with a smartphone has played, or at least heard of, Clash of Clans. The hugely popular mobile strategy game is one of Supercell’s longest-running games, and yet it remains relevant with regular updates. Players start out with a small village which they can grow into a formidable base as they upgrade their Town Hall, unlocking new buildings, Heroes, troops, and spells, each with numerous levels. To grow their base, players attack other villages, stealing loot to fund their own upgrades. A key part of the game is joining a clan, where players can interact with others and donate troops, spells, and siege machines. They can also participate in Clan Wars, Clan War Leagues, Clan Games, and Clan Capital.

Much like Brawl Stars, Clash of Clans releases a new themed season every month, bringing with it new skins, events, and challenges. Larger events and updates are also regularly released, bringing new features, building levels, units, and sometimes even an additional Town Hall level. The constant updates mean that players always have something new to look forward to and something to work towards. One criticism is the slow progression due to long upgrades and research times, but players can earn magic items through a variety of ways that speed things up. Carefully designing a base, selecting an army, and strategically executing an attack are all satisfying things players can do in Clash of Clans.

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