Free

I played Gathering Sky for approximately 60 seconds before deciding it was one of my favorite mobile games ever. More of a relaxing ludographic experience than what you’d probably conceptualize as a “mobile game,” Gathering Sky lasts just under an hour total. It puts a flock of ever-flying birds at the command of your pointer finger, guiding them around obstacles and towards whooshing air currents that speed along their journey. What takes it into the above-and-beyond territory is the soundtrack, a dynamic violin-heavy offering from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. It’s jaw-droppingly lovely to accompany your swoops with swells from the orchestra, and the programming is so seamless that you hardly actively notice its brilliance at all. Rather, the experience immerses you in your dives and soaring glories, surprising you with small lovely discoveries around every corner. Guide a flock of birds on a playful journey across the sky. Dance in the winds of a fa...