The best new games we played in December 2017

2017 certainly went out with a bang as far as mobile games go. We were treated to a little bit of everything last month, including a bunch of Game of the Year contenders. That's no small feat for 31 days' time. That's why our roundup this month has 12 entries. Let's take a look at the best new games of December.  Bridge Constructor Portal

The Bridge Constructor series got a Portal-themed makeover last month. This time around, you're building bridges in Aperture Labs, guided by your trusty AI advisor, GlaDOS. 

Read our review. Arena of Valor Arena of Valor has been a massive success in East Asia, and the game finally arrived in North America this month. This well-designed MOBA features all of the trappings of League of Legends, but in a streamlined pocket-sized shell. 
Read our review. Life is Strange

The popular time traveling adventure made its way to iOS last month. Find out what happened to your missing classmate while learning how to master your newly discovered time-rewinding abilities. 

Read our review. Inside

Inside is a gloomy platformer adventure that revels in the finer details. Full of puzzles and strange locales, Inside feels almost like a dream.

Read our review. Card City Nights 2 Card City Nights 2 breathes new life into the CCG genre. It's a single-player sci-fi game that's not afraid to try new things. It's a game about strategically positioning your cards, and it's accessible for any experience level. 
Read our review. Gorogoa

Gorogoa is a gorgeous hand-drawn puzzle game in which you arrange objects within frames to advance the story. Scenes shift and change in unexpected ways, and the game will challenge you and reward you in equal turn. 

Read our review. Portal Knights Portal Knights is a fully-fledged sandbox game not unlike Minecraft (but without the tired voxel graphics, thank goodness). You're given free reign of a fantasy world, where you can craft, fight monsters, and build a base of your own design. 
Read our review. GRID Autosport GRID Autosport is a stunning racing title that racing fans will be able to get behind without hesitaton. The game looks fantastic, and the mechanics behind the wheel are impeccable. 
Read our review. Reigns: Her Majesty Reigns made its grand return, placing you in the throne of a ruling monarch. Reigning as a queen is a lot different, and the game reflects that in its witty, spot-on writing. Govern your kingdom by swiping left and right to agree to or deny the requests of your underlings. 
Read our review. 7 Wonders

This is a fine mobile re-imagining of the classic board game. Compete with others to create the most powerful civilization in the world, choosing from history's greatest empires. 

Read our review. Far From Noise 

This bizarre little narrative adventure game sees the main protagonist teetering precariously in her car on the edge of a cliff. The story advances through a series of introspective dialogue options that will in turn move and surprise you.  Read our review. Game Dev Tycoon

Hire and manage your own game development studio, while overseeing every game your team creates, choosing genre, setting, and contents of your own video game creations. Every detail is covered, making this a super absorbing sim about the video games we know and love. 

Read our review.
What was your favorite game from the past month? Let us know in the comments below.