Best Android games in 2024: Top picks across every category (2024)

Google doesn't make it easy to discover quality games on the Play Store, but that's where AP comes in. We've spent a decade writing about all the awesome Android games we find and have leaned on our expertise to build the ultimate best-of list, all hand-picked titles broken up into genres for easy navigation.

So, whether you're looking for the best racing game or the perfect strategy title to wind down with after work, we have you covered. Since this list is constantly updated, you can expect to find new games listed all the time, such as Exploding Kittens 2 and Minesweeper, two fresh titles added in the latest update.

Jump to your favorite game genre

Action

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 made. Konami brought the title to mobile in 2020 as a surprise release, and the port is fantastic. It runs great, and controllers are supported, so you can play this like you did on the PS1, with tactile and responsive controls, which are necessary to beat this challenging game.

Sure, the touch controls work in a pinch, but you won't finish the game using them, which is why controller support is 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.

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 the touch controls are good enough to get you through the first few stages. Still, this is a challenging game, and death is a constant, but you'll slowly progress as you unlock new weapons during your runs.

What's nice is that the game supports high framerates, which are stable, making for a smooth experience. There's even extra DLC available when you finally beat the primary campaign, which means you'll find tons of content that should last 30 hours or more.

Hitman: Blood Money — Reprisal

Feral Interactive has been releasing ports of popular AAA games on mobile for some time, from X-Com to Alien Isolation. Hitman: Blood Money is one such port, and it's an excellent one that is faithful to the original while offering enough tweaks to make it mobile-friendly. The result is a game that plays well on a touchscreen or with a controller, where you'll sneak and assassinate your way through many hand-crafted levels. If you're a fan of the original or enjoy quality stealth games packed with action, Hitman: Blood Money is something you should be playing on Android.

Adventure

Thimbleweed Park

When you think of adventure games, your mind may go to point-and-click adventures. Seeing that Android offers one of the best modern point-and-click games, we had to add Thimbleweed Park to the list. This creation is from the same people behind Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion, ensuring it hits the same tone as the greats. It's the X-Files theme that seals the deal.

In the game, you fulfill the role of similar characters to Scully and Mulder as you investigate a dead body at a local amusement park. The story is great, and so is the classic point-and-click gameplay, where you solve puzzles by hunting down clues. If you're looking for a fantastic adventure game, start with Thimbleweed Park.

Genshin Impact

Genshin Impact is an adventure game that might not appeal to everyone, thanks to its gacha design. Still, there's 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 and visuals in this Zelda-like adventure are superb. There are still very few mobile games that can compare. The writing is also better than expected, and the game's characters are detailed and interesting. Still, the monetization is greedy, and you're 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.

It's a love-it-or-hate-it kind of thing, which ultimately comes 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.

Pokémon Go

Source: Niantic,freepnglogos

When Pokémon Go dropped in the summer of 2016, it was a phenomenon. You couldn't walk through a city without running into groups capturing Pokémon. It was wild, but Niantic squandered a lot of player goodwill with a buggy game that seemingly took forever to update to the more stable title we know today. Still, many people play to collect Pokémon, and while the monetization is greedy, it seems the player base doesn't mind. To this day, Pokémon Go is the most well-known augmented reality game, even with Niantic releasing new branded AR games at an even clip.

There's no doubt Pokémon has staying power. Pokémon video games sell like hotcakes. Even though the game is often poorly managed, to the point that many reviews complain about lag, kids and adults still love it. While we wouldn't call the collection gameplay the best, it is unique and addictive, which appears to be a winning strategy for Niantic.

Arcade

Vampire Survivors

After making waves on the Steam Deck, Vampire Survivors found its way to mobile, coincidentally on the night of the Game Awards. The game is free to play, with optional advertisements to earn bonuses after runs. The name of the game is survival, and since the only thing you can control is your character's direction, you'll strafe to your heart's content to see how long you can last.

For what primarily plays as a top-down shooter, the roguelike aspects, where you incrementally improve your equipment to ensure your runs grow longer and longer. The late game will be demanding on lower-end phones, so don't let the simple graphics fool you. A lot goes on end-game when you're surrounded by thousands of enemies. Vampire Survivors is an incredibly addictive game, so don't miss out. This one was well worth the wait.

Kombinera

This may be hard to believe, but Atari has returned to form with Kombinera, a new game from the company that offers old-school gameplay paired with a modern aesthetic that calls back to simpler times. The goal is to combine your character with color balls in the correct order to avoid each level's obstacles, so it's a puzzle game with some platforming mechanics.

Nothing groundbreaking, and yet the game is a joy to play, specifically because of its simplicity. But don't be fooled. This is a challenging title. If you love puzzles and platforming, Kombinera is an arcade-style game worth checking out.

Minecraft

Minecraft doesn't need an introduction. Mojang's open-world voxel sandbox content should be familiar to most. You can build like Legos in a free-play mode or jump into survival mode to grind your days away. Multiplayer content is a huge part of the game. 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. This is a solid port of a great game that offers hundreds of hours of gameplay. For the asking price, you can't go wrong.

Card games

Exploding Kittens 2

Source: Marmalade Game Studio

There are plenty of card games on the Play Store, but Exploding Kittens 2 is easily one of the top choices. That's because it's based on a proven physical card game. You can play solo, but playing with friends is where the game comes alive. Since this game is designed around social play, you can customize your avatar and toss around emojis while playing online. If you're looking for a social game anyone can get into, and that offers exploding kittens, this is the game to play.

Dicey Dungeons

Terry Cavanagh is probably best known for Super Hexagon and VVVVVV. Still, his quirky card game Dicey Dungeons is also a strong contender, thanks to its enjoyable roguelike collectible card gameplay. It is often compared to Slay the Spire, as this is a solo experience designed for fun instead of emptying wallets, like many competitive card games. This means you're free to enjoy your purchase however you wish. Best of all, since this is a premium release, you get the full game for $5, and the developer included the game's new DLC as part of this fee, which is a nice touch.

Slay the Spire

Source: Humble Games

What can we say? Card game fanatics love Slay the Spire. You see the name every time people ask for Android game recommendations for a good reason. Unlike many mobile card games, this is a solo experience. It plays like a roguelike, where you build a deck to set out on your adventure to see how far you can get. Many have spent hundreds of hours in this game. It's endless if you're into theory crafting.

If you're sick of wasting time and money grinding through pointless pay-to-win card games, perhaps it's time to try Slay the Spire.

Puzzle

Minesweeper

Source: Netflix

When it comes to classic games, few are as classic as Minesweeper. Anyone who grew up using Windows computers in the 90s should be familiar with the puzzle game, and it has stood the test of time thanks to how addictive this classic can be. This is a Netflix release, which means you need a subscription to play. If you subscribe, you can play without any added costs. This means no in-app purchases, no ads, just pure tired-and-true gameplay to be enjoyed at your leisure, now with fancy art that makes for a more lively experience than the original.

Railbound

The creator behind Golf Peaks launched a new game in 2022 called Railbound. Much like the dev's previous work, the game offers tons of polish, slick art, and, most importantly, fantastic gameplay. The goal is to lay down tracks to reach home. Since this is a puzzle game, some trial and error is required as you lay down tracks to solve each chapter. But this makes the game enjoyable. You have to feel out each solution and work for your reward. If you're a big fan of the dev's previous work, check out Railbound, as it's utterly fantastic.

Baba Is You

If you're looking for something challenging that makes you think and have yet to play, check out Baba Is You. This is a super popular indie game on PC and consoles. It was ported to Android, with touch controls in tow, and it plays great. It's a puzzle game that requires out-of-the-box thinking, where words play an important role. Touching the words on the screen results in new functionality for your character, which can be applied to the stage to solve its puzzle.

It's like someone twisted a Sokoban game into something new. Baba Is You is one of the best puzzle games on Android, hands down.

Racing

Data Wing

Free-to-play isn't a term that appeals to most people. Most mobile games are F2P and filled with horrible monetization. In the strictest sense of the term, Data Wing is a truly free-to-play game. It's completely free to play, without advertisements and in-app purchases. Even better, the game is an absolute joy to play, where you race around minimal (yet challenging) maps to the tunes of some dreamy chillwave.

This free racer looks and sounds great, plays great, and is completely free, so it shouldn't be missed.

Wreckfest

A port to Android, this is the full game, couch racing and all. It's one of the most inventive, challenging, and fun racing games to launch in years, and it's available on Android at a low price, which means this is easily one of the best racing games on Android that you can play. This is a demanding game, but if you have a high-end phone, you're missing out if you aren't already playing.

GRID Autosport

GRID Autosport is one of the best racing games on Android. It's an excellent racing game on PC and consoles, and thanks to Feral Interactive, it's available on mobile. The port is superb. The game supports physical controllers, and the touch controls work well. Plus, there's a ton of content and the main story should last most players 33+ hours.

The only thing missing is online play, though it is in testing. There's a free version where you can test three courses in the game. 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 between arcade racing and the more hardcore sim stuff, this is the racing game for you.

RPG

Chrono Trigger

This is a classic JRPG that many consider one of the best of all time, thanks to its fantastic story, accessible turn-based gameplay, and incredible pixel art. While Square Enix has been known to let its mobile offerings linger in broken states, the company has brought some significant updates to the game, like fullscreen support and gamepad compatibility.

This adds up to one of Square's better ports on mobile, offering all the features you'd expect to go along with the fantastic gameplay. If you've yet to play this classic, now's a great time to jump in on Android.

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. This RPG is one of the best Star Wars games ever made, and it's a solid RPG, even if you disregard the theme.

The graphics are dated, but the story is as good as ever. The controls are spot-on, too, especially since controller support is included. There's a 30-hour campaign. If you're eager for more, Aspyr released a port of the sequel.

Titan Quest: Legendary Edition

Don't confuse Titan Quest: Legendary Edition with the older Titan Quest listing, as this version contains all the DLC in a single package. 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 to make it through the primary campaign. Since all the DLC is included, this title could easily stretch well past 100 hours.

Simulation

Terra Nil

Source: Play Store

Netflix Games has been busy bringing all types of quality games to Android, including the excellent city builder Terra Nil. Unlike most city-building games, this title flips the script. It will be your job to turn a barren wasteland into a thriving natural ecosystem. You'll be encouraged to terraform the inhospitable into a natural paradise. This won't come easy, but perfection never does, which is why Terra Nil is the perfect game for those looking to sink their teeth into a game with depth and challenge.

This is a Netflix Games release, so an account with the streaming service is required to play. If you're already subscribed for TV shows and movies, make sure you don't miss out on this enjoyable sim.

Mini Metro

Mini Metro is described as a simulation game since this title is about directing where subway trains go. However, there is also a puzzle aspect in figuring out the proper track routes. The minimal design is striking, and the game runs fine on about any device because of this. It plays great on tablets and phones alike.

If you like to spend 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 a hoot to play, thanks to it being reasonably challenging.

This War of Mine

There are plenty of survival games, but few compare to This War of Mine, thanks to its dark yet detailed graphics, not to mention the disturbing story centered around a civil war. Your job is to go out into the world to hunt for supplies and survivors, all to build up your camp. Crafting, trading, and treating survivors requires a balance, or else things could go south, which is where the fun is to be found, ensuring your camp's needs without accidentally killing everyone.

This is an emotional game with adult themes, so it may not be for everyone, as it can be a little depressing. Still, the detail of the world and the solid survival gameplay make for a memorable experience that's easily worth the asking price.

Sports

Perfect Grind

Source: Perfect Grind

Noodlecake has quite a few quality games under its belt, from Alto's Adventure to Lumino City, a publisher known for its quality. So, it's no surprise that one of the studio's latest releases is an incredibly enthralling skateboarding game named Perfect Grind. There's tons of customization to unlock for your character and board. Since this is a mobile release, the entire thing is designed around touch controls. These controls feel great, offering everyone the ability to pull off some slick moves. If you're big into skateboarding games and have been looking for a new fix, Perfect Grind is a superb option. Don't miss out.

Grand Mountain Adventure

Winter sports games used to be all the rage on consoles. Even though the genre isn't as popular as it once was, Toppluva AB created a heck of a winter sports game on mobile with the release of Grand Mountain Adventure. First and foremost, the graphics are totally fitting of the genre, with snow that looks absolutely fantastic. Still, skiing and snowboarding are the real draws, and both are a total blast.

You will need to get used to the camera, as it is in front of the playable character. However, within a few minutes, everything clicks, and then it's off to the slopes to see if you can spot a Yeti. There are seven open-world mountains to explore and hundreds of challenges to take part in, making for a game that should easily last over 20 hours. The game is free to try, and if you like what you see, you can unlock the rest of the content through in-app purchases.

Ok Golf

Ok Golf is a low-poly golf game that offers pleasing graphics, chill music, and enjoyable gameplay suitable for most phones and tablets. The controls are simple, thanks to their slingshot-like mechanic. Since there are no clubs to mess with, shooting your ball takes center stage. So, yes, this is slightly more casual than a simulation golf game, but that's why the game is accessible. Almost anyone can pick it up and play.

This is a premium release that retails for $3, meaning there are no in-app purchases or advertisements. What you see is what you get. What you get is a fun little golf game that's great in short bursts as well as longer sessions. If you've yet to play Ok Golf, it's highly recommended you finally give it a shot.

Strategy

Into the Breach

Source: Google Play

As far as strategy games go, especially turn-based strategy games like X-Com and Final Fantasy Tactics, Into the Breach has found wild success despite its indie underpinnings. This is no AAA game, as the pixel graphics are pretty simple. It's this simplicity where the game shines. There's no fat to cut away. You get a good game that's challenging and fun, hence its success.

However, there is one caveat. This is a mobile game from Netflix, as it published the title on its Netflix Games platform. Even though Into the Breach is listed on the Play Store, you need an active Netflix account to play. If you pay for a Netflix subscription, you've gained access to one of the best strategy games on the platform. Don't miss out!

Bad North: Jotunn Edition

Strategy games might be super popular on Android, but it can be tough to find titles that are polished and fairly monetized. Bad North was ported to Android from PC and consoles, bringing its premium real-time strategy gameplay to mobile. And the touch controls are superb. This is also a roguelike, so advancement is slow as you upgrade your troops. Levels are procedurally generated, so things don't grow stale, since each stage is different from the last.

You could do 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. Don't miss out.

Civilization VI

The Civilization games are well regarded as some of the best 4X strategy titles, and it was 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. You can also purchase all the DLC found on consoles and PC, though we suggest waiting for a sale, as the expansions can be pricey.

Still, the base game is a blast. Though a beefy device is recommended, as the deeper you get in the game, the more memory you need. Some bugs are present, but even then, the ability to play the full version of Civilization VI on tablets or Chromebooks is too good to pass up, bugs and all.

What's the game that's first on your list to play?

Even though the Play Store is filled with gambling games that target children, this doesn't mean there aren't quality titles worth playing. From excellent ports to new mobile releases, if you know where to look, you'll find plenty of fun games that won't empty your wallet. This is why we gathered the best of the best in one place. The only question you have to ask yourself is which game you would like to start with, so don't forget to bring along your favorite Android controller to dig in properly.

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