This app was mentioned in 5 comments, with an average of 1.40 upvotes
Sounds like one of the many Labyrinth games on Android, such as this one.
Edit: more examples.
you had to tilt the device to move the ball into a hole. there are holes that kill you and holes that just slow you down and there is only one hole that marks the end of the level. it was kind of like this game but with many more obstacles, bigger levels and more ways to die: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=se.illusionlabs.labyrinth.full and i remember the whole game had a kind of creepy vibe and if you died/won on a level it played a unique sound effect with an art. i remember if you died by falling in water you would get a splash sound effect and an image where the ball is under the water, or if you died by going in fire then it would make a sizzling sound effect and show a picture of the ball being in fire. oh and if im correct, on some levels you even had a time limit.
> I've seen apps that have used this effect at least since Android was first released.
I remember playing this game on my G1 and being amazed at the effect
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=se.illusionlabs.labyrinth.full&hl=en_US
Isn't it actually called "Labyrinth"? Is this it: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=se.illusionlabs.labyrinth.full
I think they use the trick on that Android app called Labyrinth. There is a slight movement to the edge's of the game and it could do this effect even on a cheap $50 smartphone.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=se.illusionlabs.labyrinth.full&hl=en