Finding the best Android games isn’t always easy, which is why I’ve spent the better part of a decade compiling hundreds of lists across the web, all to help mobile gamers find what they are looking for. To continue this effort we’ve put together a list that will be constantly updated every few weeks with new entries as the Android gaming ecosystem evolves.
So if you’re sick of digging for good games on the Play Store and coming up empty-handed, today’s roundup is a good place to start. From platformers to RPGs to racing games, from free to paid, this is our list of the best Android games you can play.
Stardew Valley
ConcernedApe did the impossible, he created a better version of Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons, all on his own, and the results speak for themself. Stardew Valley is a phenomenon, a trendsetter, and for a good reason, it is one of the best farming and life sims ever made. Not only are there hundreds of hours of gameplay included within, but the writing is also top-notch, support is superb, plus you can easily resize the UI to fit whatever screen you play on, and there’s controller support out of the box. Sure, the multiplayer content is still missing, but beyond this one issue, the Android port is fantastic. Hands-down, Stardew Valley is the obvious choice if you’re looking for a friendly farming sim to dive into.
Monetization: $4.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Bridge Constructor Portal
Headup offers more than a few Bridge Constructor games on Android, but Bridge Constructor Portal is easily the most popular of the group, all thanks to the slick Portal theme. Yes, you’ll still be tasked with building bridges, but within this release, you’ll also have to account for a few Portal mechanics in order to build successfully. Not only is this a great mashup of two very different genres, but it’s super fun too. It’s easily the best Bridge Constructor game on the Play Store, which is precisely why it’s in our best-of-all-time game roundup.
Monetization: $4.99 / no ads / IAPs $1.99 apiece
Alto’s Adventure
The Play Store is rife with auto-runners and endless-runners, and there are definitely a few good ones, but Alto’s Adventure is easily one of the best. Sure, there’s a sequel available, but the original is where perfection lays. It’s an incredibly simple setup, snowboard as far as you can while completing goals. Once you finish a goal, you earn currency, and that currency can be used to unlock new riders. And some of these riders offer better handling and speed, which means the more you unlock, the more currency you’ll earn, snowballing until you complete the game. The graphics are gorgeous, the controls are spot-on, and the gameplay loop is addictive. Best of all, you can pay to remove the annoying ads, which is the best way to play, totally unencumbered.
Monetization: free / contains ads / IAPs from $0.99 – $9.99
Rush Rally Origins
Brownmonster Limited has had a few hits on its hands with the Rush Rally racing series, and the latest entry in the series is one of the best yet. Rush Rally Origins is a top-down racer, much like Reckless Racing 3 (another excellent top-down racer), and it offers touchscreen controls as well as controller support. Things start off challenging, but as you race, you’ll earn upgrades that help, and then you’ll be able to take on more and more demanding races. The game even supports 60FPS play, which is great if you own a high-end device. For me, Rush Rally Origins is one of the best racers on the platform, and it’s easily the best top-down racers out there, a niche genre that’s getting harder and harder to find.
Monetization: $4.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Disgaea 1 Complete
If you’re big into turn-based strategy RPGs, your Final Fantasy Tactics, your X-Coms, then you’ve probably heard of the Disgaea titles. This is a series from Nippon Ichi Software that offers an anime-like story with matching art. The first game is known for offering the best story in the series, and what most people don’t know is that the mobile port is actually the best version available, all thanks to the addition of an auto-play mechanic not to be found in any other version. Despite what you’re thinking, auto-play really adds a lot to Disgaea 1 since later games saw the addition of tons of quality of life features the first title never saw. To say this is one of the grindiest games ever made is an understatement, but it’s a good grind that isn’t monetized aggressively. After all, this is a premium release packing controller support, a reworked UI for touchscreen play, and a speed boost for battles that ties in great with the auto-battle system.
Monetization: $32.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Sky: Children of the Light
Thatgamecompany is probably best known for games like Journey, Flower, and Flow, all titles that offer similar relaxed themes while offering casual gameplay. The studio took a chance to create a free-to-play game for mobile, and even though this game contains in-app purchases, they are only for cosmetics, leaving everyone free to enjoy the title unencumbered. More or less, Sky: Children of the Light is similar to Journey, where you’ll traverse 3D landscapes in an effort to piece together the game’s story while collecting items helpful for advancing. What’s unique about this release is that it’s online, and you can easily play with others as you explore fantastic worlds. Much like Genshin Impact, Sky: Children of the Light raised the bar as a highly-polished F2P game on mobile. Sky: Children of the Light has proven to be a great exploration game, so don’t miss out.
Monetization: free / no ads / IAPs from $0.99 – $49.99
Baba Is You
If you’re looking for something challenging that will make you think and have yet to play Baba Is You, you’re missing out. Not only is this a super popular indie game on PC and consoles, but it was also ported to Android, with touch controls in tow, and it plays great. This is a puzzle game, but it requires out-of-the-box thinking where words play an important role, as touching the words on the screen tends to result in new functionality for your character, which can then be applied to the stage to solve its puzzle. It’s like someone took a Sokoban game and twisted it into something totally new. Baba Is You is one of the best puzzle games on Android, hands-down.
Monetization: $6.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Pokémon UNITE
For the hardcore MOBA players, there’s League of Legends: Wild Rift, but if you’re only looking to dip your toe into the genre or simply require something a little more simple, Pokémon UNITE is one of the few highly-accessible MOBAs out there. Sure, the game is themed around Pokémon, and it’s clearly designed to appeal to children, but even if you find such things a little childish, there’s a lot of fun to be had with Pokémon UNITE. You can easily play for free, and while the game is technically pay-to-win thanks to cash shop items that offer an advantage, it hardly matters if you’re looking to play casually.
Monetization: free / no ads / IAPs from $0.99 – $99.99
Mini Metro
Mini Metro is described as a simulation game since this is a title all about directing where subways trains go, but there is also a puzzle aspect in figuring out the proper track routes. The minimal design is very striking, and the game runs fine on just about any device because of this. It plays great on tablets and phones alike. More or less, if you’d like to spend your time figuring out how to run trains with the limited resources provided, there’s no better option than Mini Metro. The game’s a stunner to look at, and it’s a hoot to play, thanks to the fact it’s reasonably challenging.
Monetization: $6.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Dead Cells
When it comes to roguelike Metroidvanias, Dead Cells is a name that’s often thrown around, and that’s because it’s a title that defines the genre. Thanks to the inclusion of controller support, the controls are spot-on, and even the touch controls are good enough to get you through the first few stages. Of course, this is a challenging game, and death is a constant, but you’ll still slowly progress as you unlock new weapons during your runs. What’s really nice is that the game supports high framerates, and those framerates are stable, making for a smooth experience. There’s even some extra DLC available when you finally beat the primary campaign, which means there’s tons of content here that should last most players 30 hours or more.
Monetization: $8.99 / no ads / IAPs $3.99 apiece
GRID Autosport
Hands-down, GRID Autosport is one of the best racing games on Android. Heck, it’s an excellent racing game on PC and consoles, and thanks to Feral Interactive, it’s available on mobile too. The port is superb. The game supports physical controllers, and the touch controls work well, plus there’s tons of content here, where the main story should last most players 33+ hours. The only thing missing is online play, though it is in testing. There’s even a free version available where you can test three courses in the game, and if you like what you see, you can purchase this premium version outright or buy the modes you enjoy in the free version piecemeal. If you’re looking for a racer that fits in between arcade racing and the more hardcore sim stuff, then this is the racing game for you.
Monetization: $9.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Monument Valley
Monument Valley is one of those games I’m sure most people are familiar with it. It’s a gorgeous game that was all the rage when it launched back in 2014, singlehandedly changing the landscape of mobile gaming. Before Monument Valley came out, polished mobile games weren’t really mainstream yet. Sure, there were a few, but Monument Valley elevated the platform once people saw that excellent touch controls, quality gameplay design, and impressive graphics were possible in a single mobile package that didn’t break the bank. To this day, this environmental puzzler is fairly monetized, only offering an in-app purchase for extra content. Many game developers were inspired by what Monument Valley brought to the table, and even though there are many impersonators out there, the original is still the best.
Monetization: $3.99 / no ads / IAPs $1.99 apiece
Titan Quest: Legendary Edition
Don’t confuse Titan Quest: Legendary Edition with the older Titan Quest listing, as this is the version that contains all of the DLC in a single package. I.E., it’s the complete game at a single price point. If you’re unfamiliar, this is a classic action RPG that still holds up. It’s the closest thing we have to a legit Diablo game, set in the ancient worlds of Greece, Egypt, Babylon, and China. Controller support is included, plus the touch controls are good enough to get you through the game, which should last most players around 50+ hours just to make it through the primary campaign, and since all DLC is included, this title could easily stretch well past 100+ hours.
Monetization: $19.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Bad North: Jotunn Edition
Strategy games might be super popular on Android, but it can be tough to find titles that are both polished and fairly monetized. Thankfully Bad North was ported to Android from PC and consoles, bringing its premium real-time strategy gameplay to mobile, and let me tell you; the touch controls are superb. This is also a roguelike, so advancement is slow as you upgrade your troops. Thankfully levels are procedurally generated, so things don’t grow stale since each stage is totally different from the last. You could do much worse for the asking price, and since this is a quality port, performance is never an issue. Bad North is one of the best real-time strategy games on Android, hands-down. Don’t miss out.
Monetization: $3.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Genshin Impact
Genshin Impact is an adventure game that might not appeal to everyone, thanks to its gacha design, but there is no denying that miHoYo Limited raised the bar exponentially when it comes to the polish and content of free-to-play mobile games. The graphics in this Zelda-like adventure are superb. There are still very few mobile games that can compare a year later. The writing is also better than expected, and the game’s characters are detailed and interesting. Still, the monetization is greedy, and you will be bombarded with all manner of sales and other annoying in-game notifications. There’s also a lack of end-game content, and you’ll run into plenty of false walls along the way, purposefully slowing down your progress. As I said, it’s a love it or hate it kind of thing, which will ultimately come down to how willing you are to put up with grindy gameplay that’s monetized poorly. Still, Genshin is a great-looking game that’s perfect for stress-testing new hardware, and there’s some fun to be had if you play casually, especially since there’s cross-save support across all supported platforms.
Monetization: free / no ads / IAPs from $0.99 – $99.99
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Star Wars: KOTOR is a classic RPG from BioWare, and this mobile port comes from Aspyr Media, a quality port house that knocked it out of the park with this release. Not only is this RPG one of the best Star Wars games ever made, but it’s also a solid RPG even if you disregard the theme. Sure, the graphics are pretty dated, but the story is as good as ever, and the controls are spot-on, too, especially since controller support is included. There’s a 30-hour campaign, and if you’re eager for more, Aspyr also released a port of the sequel, which you can find here.
Monetization: $9.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Civilization VI
The Civilization games are well regarded as some of the best 4X strategy titles out there, and it was quite a surprise to see VI come to Android, but it sure was a welcome one. This is the whole game (there’s a 60-turn demo, and if you like what you see, you can unlock the full title through an in-app purchase), and you can even purchase all of the DLC found on consoles and PC, though I would suggest waiting for a sale, as the expansions can be pricey. Still, the base game is a blast, though you’ll have to keep in mind that a beefy device is definitely recommended, as the deeper you get in the game, the more memory you will need. Some bugs are present, which is something to be mindful of. But even then, the ability to play the full version of Civilization VI on tablets or Chromebooks is simply too good to pass up, bugs and all.
Monetization: free / no ads / IAPs from $0.99 – $19.99
Castlevania: SotN
The term Metroidvania was coined to describe Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. This is a classic PS1 game from Konami, a direct sequel to Rondo of Blood, and it’s still heralded as one of the best Castlevania games ever made. Konami brought the title to mobile in 2020 as a surprise release, and the port is fantastic. Not only does it run great, but controllers are supported, which means you can play this just like you did on the PS1, with tactile and responsive controls, which are indeed necessary to beat this challenging game. Sure, the touch controls work in a pinch, but you’re not going to finish the game using them, which is why controller support is so important. Hands-down, this is an excellent port of a fantastic game, and the price is totally on point. For once, Konami did something right.
Monetization: $2.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Minecraft
Minecraft is a game that does not need an introduction. Mojang’s open-world voxel sandbox content that should be familiar to most. You can build like legos in a free-play mode, or you can jump into survival mode to grind your days away. Multiplayer content is a huge part of the game, and while the store is packed with all kinds of content to buy, at least the primary gameplay loop remains consistent. Controllers are supported out of the box, and the touchscreen controls are plenty serviceable. All around, this is a solid port of a great game that offers hundreds of hours of gameplay. For the asking price, you can’t really go wrong.
Monetization: $7.49 / no ads / IAPs from $0.99 – $49.99
Call of Duty: Mobile
What would a best-of Android game roundup be without one of the popular free-to-play shooters on the list? Seeing that Fortnite is no longer available on the Play Store, Call of Duty is the obvious choice for today’s roundup. Sure, PUBG is still cruising along, but there’s no denying Call of Duty: Mobile is the cool kid in the group. It’s newer, and, well, it’s freaking Call of Duty. Classic maps are included for those feeling nostalgic, along with a battle royale mode that mirrors the gameplay found in every other battle royale. Monetization is greedy but primarily cosmetic, though cheating is an issue. But what competitive mobile game doesn’t struggle with this problem? More or less, Call of Duty: Mobile does an okay job bringing the primary characteristics of the popular shooter from consoles to mobile, though all of the familiar issues that plague the majority of F2P mobile games are present.
Monetization: free / contains ads / IAPs from $0.99 – $99.99
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