Fancy a round of darts without having to put up a board, or a game of pool or pinball without having to track down a table? Check out the titles we love where you can play classic games right from your device, and some will even let you challenge opponents from all around the world.

It’s everyone’s favourite solo card game, and this version is as classic as it gets. You can customise in-game settings, including how many cards to draw at a time and how they look. It’s your choice if you want the game to automatically offer hints when you get stuck – don’t worry, there’s still a manual hint button available if you can’t crack something.

Next level: Don’t be afraid to think outside the box to complete a round. Completed cards can be taken out of their completed piles on the top left if you need them back in play, and consider shuffling cards between columns if it means you can free up what you need to move them off the board.

With exotic tables from around the world and a massive collection of weird and wacky pool cues, 8 Ball Pool isn’t afraid to dress up the beloved parlour game. The classic elements are all still here: line up your shots and select how hard you want to hit the cue ball – with any luck you’ll be sinking those stripes and solids in no time. Keep things interesting by joining special events, which mix things up by changing table surfaces and more.

Next level: Got the basics? Try applying spin to the cue ball you’re hoping to pocket. To use the feature, tap the cue ball icon on the top right of the screen, then drag the red icon to where you want to hit the ball. Drag it to the bottom, and you’ll apply backspin – helpful if you don’t want the cue to follow an object ball into the pocket. Or try spinning the cue ball to the left or right to find the perfect place for your next shot.

At the risk of breaking the first two rules of Darts Club, we just have to talk about this excellent darts game. A swipe up is all you need to send your darts flying towards the board. Win matches to unlock higher quality components for your darts, and soon you’ll be facing opponents in increasingly grander venues.

Next level: Practice makes perfect! Once you’ve upgraded your components and built the dart of your dreams, try the practice mode using the button on the top right to get a feel for how it handles. Remember, every dart has different stats for power, stability, sensitivity and aim, so it pays to get familiar before seeking out opponents.

For those in the know, Williams Electronics and Bally Manufacturing were two of the premiere manufacturers of pinball machines back in the day. Williams Pinball collects some of their most iconic tables together in digital form, including the history-themed Medieval Madness, ’50s sci-fi love-letter Attack from Mars and Indiana Jones: The Pinball Adventure. So pull that plunger and start flipping those flippers.

Next level: It always feels a little bit like cheating, but nudging is a totally legitimate – essential, even – move to have in your pinball arsenal. If you want to nudge the ball into the right area of the playfield simply swipe across the top of the screen in the desired direction.

Arguably the most classic game of all, this 500-year-old gem has never been more accessible to newcomers and returning fans alike. Chess, the app from longstanding chess staple chess.com, is a fantastic way to play on the go. It’s full-featured without being full of distractions, and with millions of other players around the world, you’ll never struggle to find a game.

Next level: Chess is filled with ways to improve your game. Start by trying to solve one of more than half a million chess puzzles (aka pre-set positions where you have to work out the best series of moves to achieve your goal). And if you don’t know your Queen’s Gambit from your King’s Indian, hop into the Learn tab to find hundreds of chess lessons.

In this take on Mahjong solitaire you’re tasked with finding matching pairs of symbols to clear them off the board. However, you can only use a tile once it’s “open”, meaning it’s not covered by a tile on top of it, and doesn’t have tiles to its left and right. To proceed you’ll have to get tactical with your matches, eliminating tiles from the tops and sides to expose the rest.

Next level: If the Chinese-style symbols feel a little unfamiliar, you can change to designs based on a deck of cards via the paint palette icon on the top right of the main menu. And if the announcer’s voice isn’t to your liking, it can be disabled in the settings menu without having to give up the game’s other sound effects.