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The best mobile games of 2016. We're right, you're wrong

Unless you agree with us, in which case, you're right, too.

Michelle Starr Science editor
Michelle Starr is CNET's science editor, and she hopes to get you as enthralled with the wonders of the universe as she is. When she's not daydreaming about flying through space, she's daydreaming about bats.
Michelle Starr
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Bulbware

It's the end of the year, time to relax, and you may have a brand new mobile device. With the current app marketplaces, though, it can be hard to know where to start. This is why we're here to help you spend your gift cards, with our top picks of the iOS and Android marketplaces this year.

It's not all Pokemon Go, Disney Crossy Road and Mario Run. We have some deeper strategy titles to delve into, such as The Banner Saga 2 and Rome Total War, some brilliant racers, such as Riptide GP: Renegade and Hyperburner, and a bunch of deeply addicting arcade titles that you can zone out to in bite-sized chunks.

We haven't included any games with aggressive or manipulative in-app purchases. If you don't see your favourite in the gallery below, tell us all about it in the comments.

Best mobile games of 2016

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