The best new Android games for May 2022

The best new Android game for May 2022

Diablo Immortal

Android Police coverage: Diablo Immortal finally arrives on Android after a grueling four-year development cycle

It’s taken four years for Blizzard to get Diablo Immortal out the door, and after such a disaster of an announcement, it’s amazing that the studio decided to stick it out. Sure, NetEase is still attached, which is very apparent with the game’s monetization. Still, Blizzard has thankfully built an ARPG for mobile that’s fun for free and paying players alike, and that comes down to the amount of content that’s in the game that doesn’t require a dime from the player, with a polish that easily compares to AAA console/PC games.

So if you’re looking to dive some dungeons while hacking and slashing your way to victory, with plenty of Diablo lore spread around to keep fans happy, you’ll want to give Diablo Immortal a try. It plays just like any other Diablo title, and controller support is included, along with a PC port complete with cross-play. Yes, you can pay for convenience items that help boost your drops. And yes, these drops are what you’ll use to power up your weapons. While you can earn all of this through gameplay, you can also purchase these advantages. The game is, by definition, pay-to-win, especially since PvP is included. Still, the story-based experience holds its own. As long as you aren’t looking to compete in end-game content or PvP, you should be good to enjoy this ARPG for free for a long while.

Streets of Rage 4

Android Police coverage: Streets of Rage 4 is now available on Android — here’s what to expect from the brawler

Hands down, Streets of Rage 4 is the best brawler on the platform. As a matter of fact, it’s the best brawler released in recent years, thanks to its spot-on controls, incredible 2D graphics (with sprites and HD art included), engaging characters (with old favorites and new characters to choose from), and outstanding music. It’s a perfect modern recreation of the classic beat ’em ups, and the Android port easily holds its own.

While the $8 price tag is nothing to sneeze at, the mobile title is the cheapest version. The game’s DLC is also available, though it’s an added cost of $4. However, that $12 purchase gets you the new survival mode, which adds tons of replayability to the game. It is definitely worth it; plus, you get a couple of extra characters too. So, for once, Android has a fully-featured port that stacks up to every other platform at a fraction of the cost. Not bad. Not bad at all.

Apex Legends Mobile

Android Police coverage: Apex Legends Mobile is here, warts and all

Apex Legends Mobile is a mobile adaptation of the full game, and it gets pretty close to offering a similar experience. Yes, the graphics are cut down, and the controls feel slightly off. But, if you play the console or PC version, you should feel right at home on mobile. Keep in mind that cross-play only exists between Android and iOS.

The game is free-to-play, and it contains all of the familiar cash-shop items, like a battle pass and an assortment of cosmetics. This can all be ignored if you’re looking to jump into a few battles with a group of friends, which is precisely where this game shines — casual group play. Controller support is included, so you have your choice between touch controls and a physical controller. However, you are currently limited to first-party Xbox and PlayStation controllers for some reason. Still, if you’re looking to jump into quick matches in the latest battle royale to land on mobile, Apex Legends Mobile is a fine choice.

Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion

Android Police coverage: Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is an adorable Zelda-like, now available on Android

There are a few Zelda-likes on Android, but Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is easily a standout within this genre, thanks to its pleasing graphics and raucous humor. The general theme will see you avoiding your taxes by tearing up all of the paperwork you can find. You’ll delve into absurd dungeons in search of these documents. It’s a cute game that delivers on enjoyable gameplay, and it’s a premium release to boot that’s free to try.

You can unlock the full title for $5.49, and the main story should last most players around 2 hours. What’s nice is that the game performs great and supports high framerates and physical controllers. So whether you want to play on your phone’s touchscreen or your tablet with a controller, both are possible. This Android port is pretty dang accessible for such a low price.

Dragon Quest Builders

Android Police coverage: Dragon Quest Builders lands on Android as a surprise release

Square Enix still thinks it’s wise to remove features like controller support from its premium mobile releases, which puts a damper on ports like Dragon Quest Builders. Square has limited where the game is playable, relegating the title to phones if you wish to play comfortably since the only way to interact with the mobile port is through its new touch controls. These touch controls work well enough on phones, but you’ll run into trouble on large screens as the on-screen button spacing is too far apart. This is what makes the $22 asking price much harder to swallow; it doesn’t match the features (more like lack thereof) provided.

Luckily, if you don’t mind touch controls, then this port is worth a look. It still offers the same enjoyable building gameplay the console and PC versions are known for. Yes, it’s chapter-based, so it isn’t open-world like the second game, but there’s enough fun to be had as you move from chapter to chapter rebuilding block villages and diving into dungeons.

Catalyst Black

Android Police coverage: Catalyst Black is a polished competitive shooter from the team behind Vainglory

This is the latest release from the developers behind Vainglory. Catalyst Black was built using the same in-house engine, which is why things look familiar. Though this is no MOBA, it’s a top-down hero shooter. The developer has taken the shotgun approach, tossing tons of mechanics into this release, with many modes to explore. Still, ultimately things boil down to running and gunning while utilizing your skills properly. There are no lanes, and there are no mid-level upgrades you have to purchase, so this is more for you shooter lovers out there.

Catalyst Black is free-to-play, and you can pay for items that help you advance quicker. So, the game is pay-to-win, and this grows more and more apparent the further you progress as you uncover just how much of a grind it is to level up your gear for end-game. Those who play for free will be left behind, splitting the player base. Thankfully, the drop-in gameplay is pretty accessible, and it’s not like the end-game can’t be ignored just to run a few matches with friends. This is a fantastic run and gun-style hero shooter, and it’s incredibly easy to join friends. Just keep in mind the game is designed to be pay-to-win.

Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds

Android Police coverage: Ni No Kuni: Cross Worlds goes global, bringing its Studio Ghibli design to an MMORPG world

Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds is a game that wants to be Genshin Impact, offering a high production value thanks to an incredible art design by Studio Ghibli. For sure, Level 5 has knocked this out of the park as far as the game’s graphical design goes. Sadly all of the game’s mechanics have been pulled from the typical MMORPG formula mobile games love to shove in your face, like an excessive forced tutorial and endless notifications. Plus, it has all kinds of junk spread across your screen, from pointless buttons to all sorts of areas for alerts. The pièce de résistance? The whole thing is autoplay, from questing to battling.

If you’re simply in it for the story, you’re free to explore the tale as the game plays itself. If you’re a huge Ghibli fan, you can play for free to experience a new story in the Ni no Kuni universe. And really, if you treat the release like a gorgeous idle game, then you can tap your way through without much of an investment, all while taking in the beautiful art and music. Still, this is a gacha game with heavy monetization, so expect some grind and plenty of roadblocks along your journey.

Relic Hunters: Rebels

Android Police coverage: Relic Hunters brings its looter-shooter gameplay to Netflix Games

Netflix has been launching quality mobile games on its fledgling gaming service for a few months now, and this month there were quite a few releases, starting with Relic Hunters: Rebels. This top-down shooter offers roguelike mechanics, and since it’s on Netflix, there are no in-app purchases or ads. You’re free to enjoy the game as long as you have access to a Netflix account.

You will have to use the touch controls, as there is only partial controller support. This means you have to play with the touch controls, but at least they work well enough. More or less, this is a premium release that offers casual run and gunplay styled after the console and PC games in the series. So think of Relic Hunters: Rebels as a bite-sized offering in the series that suits mobile, and you’ll have a fine time.

Townsmen

Android Police coverage: Netflix Games launches Townsmen and Dragon Up, as another expected game goes MIA

Like Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass, Netflix is learning that building a library of games is challenging. To pad its numbers, some of these games are simply re-releases of older titles with their monetization removed, and Townsmen is one such game. That doesn’t mean this is a bad game; it just means we’ve seen it before. Townsmen is a standard mobile city-building game, now without any greedy monetization to ruin the flow. So if you have a Netflix account, you can check out the new version of Townsmen.

Dragon Up

Android Police coverage: Netflix Games launches Townsmen and Dragon Up, as another expected game goes MIA

This is another pre-existing mobile game that’s now found its way to Netflix. Unlike Townsmen, the original Dragon Up listing was taken down from the Play Store to return under Netflix as the publisher, with all of the in-app purchases removed, making for a premium experience. Dragon Up is an idle collection game, so it’s very casual. You’ll tap on the screen to kick things off, then manage your earnings to gain dragons and unlock new habitats. It’s a simple setup that’s fun enough if you enjoy idle games, and now that the awful monetization is gone, it’s much easier to enjoy.

Moonlighter

Android Police coverage: Netflix Games launches Townsmen and Dragon Up, as another expected game goes MIA

Thanks to performance issues, the Netflix version of Moonlighter was quickly pulled from the Play Store on release day, but it soon came back once the problem was fixed. This is an action RPG, somewhat similar to a Zelda game, and you’ll dive into dungeons searching for loot that you can sell in your shop. Plus, there are roguelike elements to keep things fresh.

Like the rest of the Netflix tile in today’s list, an account is required to play, but this does mean each game is premium, without any ads or in-app purchases to ruin the experience. Of course, if you happen to live in Canada, Moonlighter should already be available as a non-Netflix release, which is also a premium release.

Exploding Kittens

Netflix announced that Exploding Kittens would land on Android on May 31st, and it indeed did. Sure, the game was already available on the Play Store, but now that there’s a new version under Netflix, you can expect an experience free of in-app purchases (granted, there weren’t that many, to begin with). For those unfamiliar with the title, this is a card game. It’s a digital adaptation of a popular party game that plays out like a round of Russian roulette, where whoever pulls an exploding kitten from the deck is out until there’s one player remaining.

The setup is simple enough for just about anyone to grasp, which makes this a great party game. Best of all, Netflix plans to produce an Exploding Kittens TV show, which means the Netflix version of the game will see exclusive content that will more than likely tie into the upcoming show. So if you’re an Exploding Kittens fan, the Netflix version of the mobile game is probably the version you should stick with.

Gunfire Reborn

Gunfire Reborn is an indie shooting roguelike that has been available on PC and consoles since 2021, ported to Android, offering the same FPS action. Controller support is included, but only for PlayStation and Xbox controllers. Still, it’s nice to see some controllers supported at release, as this FPS plays great with proper thumbsticks. Sure, the on-screen controls are good enough to play, but bring a controller along if you want to excel.

This is a premium release, and you can snag a copy for $7. While there is an in-app purchase listed on the Play Store, it doesn’t appear to be utilized yet, but it is there when the developer launches extra characters. So if you’re looking for an enjoyable FPS that works with controllers, and offers RPG roguelike play, you should check out Gunfire Reborn.

This Is the President

Another port to mobile, This Is the President is a story-based management game, similar to a point and click adventure, with management mechanics on top. You’ll spend your time ratifying an amendment to ensure your past crimes won’t be prosecuted. It’s a strange setup for a somewhat refreshing game, though the mechanics never allow the story to reach its full potential.

Still, as a mobile release, This Is the President holds up much better than on PC, where the competition is much larger. So, if you’re a fan of puzzle-based adventure games or dig management sims, you’ll probably get a kick out of This Is the President.

Rotaeno

Rhythm games are fairly popular on mobile, thanks to simple interfaces where you simply tap buttons on the screen, timed with a song’s beat. Rotaeno turns this simple setup on its head with a rotation mechanic (the clue is in the name). As music plays and the beats you need to hit stream across your screen, these rows of beats will rotate, which means you need to counteract this rotation by physically turning your phone as you play. At first, this can be intimidating, but it starts to click with practice.

Like most mobile rhythm games, Rotaeno is free-to-play, and it does contain in-app purchases, but at least these purchases don’t get as lofty as the competition. Still, the goal is to sell you more music, but at least this is an honest business model. So if you’d like to check out the latest rhythm to hit the Play Store, a game that brings something new to the genre, then there’s no hard installing Rotaeno to see what it’s all about.

The King of Fighters ’95

Like Netflix, SNK has been releasing games at a breakneck pace, so we have a handful of titles from the company that launched over the last month. The King of Fighters ’95 is easily one of the top standouts. This is a classic fighting game, up there with the Street Fighter series. Of course, since this is a classic game, it’s displayed in 4:3 with pillarboxed visuals on the side. Controller support is included, though it’s somewhat hidden behind an icon and has to be toggled.

Honestly, you’ll want to play this with a controller, as it will be a tough game to beat with the touch controls. The King of Fighters ’95 is a premium release on Android, available for $4, so there are no ads or in-app purchases to ruin the experience.

Aero Fighters 2

If you’re looking for a top-down shooter to play, Aero Fighters 2 is a new release from SNK that offers the classic gameplay of the sequel. This is a typical arcade shooter, so it’s pretty challenging. The touch controls do work well with this style of game, so you won’t have to bring a controller along to play this one. The good news is that controllers are supported. It’s a great way to play a classic shooter like this since the game was created to offer a challenge to kids with pockets full of quarters.

World Heroes

This is another fighting game from SNK, the first title in a series of four dating back to 1992. While it’s a lesser-known series than something like The King of Fighters, it’s still a solid contender worthy of your time if you enjoy classic 90s fighting games. Like the rest of SNK’s recent ACA releases, this title supports physical controllers. It’s recommended to use one as the game is challenging, and the touch controls just aren’t good enough to master the game. Still, if you have a controller lying around, this is an enjoyable fighting game that many gamers may have missed when it was in arcades.

Blue’s Journey

Now for a brief reprieve from classic fighting games and shooters, Blue’s Journey is a side-scrolling platforming game from SNK. This is a title that was available on the home console Neo Geo as well as arcades and even saw a port to Neo Geo CD. To say this was a standout platformer during Neo Geo’s prime would be correct; it’s a fan-favorite platformer that offers excellent pixel graphics that still looks great to this day. The game has aged well, and thanks to the included controller support, it’s a joy to play. Heck, even the touch controls are fine enough! Remember, the game will be challenging, so a controller may help with the difficulty to ensure your inputs are precise.

Voodoo Detective

Point and click adventure games are a fantastic genre to explore on mobile, thanks to mechanics that lend themselves well to touchscreen play. Pointing and clicking have never been easier now that we can use our fingers instead of a mouse. Thanks to its simple controls, enjoyably amusing story, and colorful graphics, the latest point and click title to land on Android is easily worth a look. The game is supposedly inspired by Monkey Island, a classic point and click from the LucasArts era. So if you’re a fan, you should probably give Voodoo Detective a look, especially if you enjoy stories that revolve around voodoo culture.

Skeletal Avenger

Roguelikes are all the rage anymore, which means devs get to avoid level design; a lazy path, though this has resulted in some great games. Even though you might not have heard of Skeletal Avenger, it’s easily a worthy hack and slash to grind your days away. Best of all, it’s a premium release you can pick up for $6, and there are no ads or in-app purchases included. The game has been available on Steam for the last year and is still showing positive reviews, so if you were wondering if it has longevity, it sure does.

Knotwords

Ever since Wordle landed earlier this year as a breakout word game success, to the point The New York Times purchased the game from its creator, it would seem everyone dashed to create their own word game. This has resulted in even more noteworthy titles, such as the release of Knotwords on the Play Store. This is more a logic puzzler than a strict word game, where the goal is to arrange all letters so that every word is valid. It’s much more challenging than you’d think, but that’s why the game’s so fun.

So if you’ve been looking to fill a Wordle hole in your heart with something new, Knotwords is easily worth a look. Plus, it’s a free download, and you can unlock the full game for $11.99 through a single in-app purchase if you like what you see.

Sokobond

Sokobond combines classic Sokoban tile-shuffling gameplay with molecular mind bends, creating something pretty original while still feeling familiar enough that you’re not lost. That’s to say, chemistry knowledge isn’t required; anyone can tackle this title, and you just might learn something as you play. There are over 100 levels to explore, with an inviting minimal design to it all, not to mention a beautiful soundtrack. So don’t miss out, especially if you enjoy Sokoban games.

Dislyte

Last but not least for the month of May, is Dislyte, the latest Genshin-like to land on the Play Store, offering incredible graphics. Sadly the gameplay falters as it’s a typical free-to-play RPG, where you’ll collect a team of heroes while building them up to take on team-based content that resembles every other team-based RPG on the Play Store. So even though this title offers a fancy coat of paint that’s up there with games like Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds, much like Ni no Kuni, the rest is familiar gacha RPG territory designed to suck up money. Whether or not you can ignore this monetization is another matter, so if you don’t mind F2P gacha games, then you can go into this one knowing it at least offers a slick theme.