25+ Best Android Games to Play in 2024: Top Mobile Experiences

As phones gain more power year after year, technological advancements are bridging the gap between the best Android games and those on PC. With a staggering number of titles to pick from, few platforms offer the same level of choice paralysis at a reasonable price of zero.

From roguelikes and deck-builders to Gacha adventures and strategy games, Google’s Play Store caters to all tastes. While some of the best free Android games started as PC games, others were made with smartphones in mind right from day one.

Here are our top free and paid recommendations for games made for quick bursts as well as longer experiences.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. 25 Best Android Games to Play in 2024
2. More of the Best Android Games to Play in 2024
3. The Bottom Line
4. FAQs
5. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. 25 Best Android Games to Play in 2024
2. More of the Best Android Games to Play in 2024
3. The Bottom Line
Show Full Guide
4. FAQs
5. References

25 Best Android Games to Play in 2024

25. Pokémon Go

A cultural phenomenon that hit its stride a few years ago, Pokémon Go sent players of all ages outside to catch monsters and compete against your local gym. While it doesn’t command the attention it used to, the game is still supported with events and raids for legendary Pokémon.

The game being location-based might turn some players away. But considering how well its AR elements blend with its monster collection and combat, it’s a good thing that Niantic leaned into what worked well for the studio. It remains a decent way to spend your time, and as always, it makes for a great excuse to head outdoors with friends. It’s a contender for the best Pokémon games, too.

24. Mini Metro

Mini Metro tasks you with designing subways that adhere to limitations on passenger flow and resource constraints. Don’t let its minimalist visuals trick you, though. This game can get pretty challenging, especially when delays and overcrowding issues pop up. It’s one of the best puzzle games on Android and well worth its cheap price of entry.

It demands a good amount of logical thinking and handling the logistics of subway routes in growing cities is a great setting for puzzle-solving. While it can get frustrating, it’s a simple idea that has been executed very well. Puzzles also feel satisfying to pull off when they mess with your head for a while. It’s a dollar well spent.

23. Marvel Snap

Marvel Snap is one of the most popular Android card games out there, thanks to its short sessions and card variety. It absorbed the right lessons from its peers and while its learning curve is short, it can take a while to master its card mechanics. Characters’ special effects are excellent, from Odin’s lightning bolts to iconic lines like “Hulk smash!” It’s clear that a lot of love has gone into bringing these familiar heroes and villains with their quirks intact.

The game’s monetization is pretty fair, and spending money is largely restricted to cosmetic upgrades. While time-gated missions and limited-time offers can feel scummy, they don’t get in the way of Marvel Snap’s polished gameplay. In turn, this design also gives you a reason to return to the game and work towards unlocking more upgrades. Overall, it’s a good time sink that is worth trying, even if you aren’t into strategy games.

22. Asphalt Legends Unite

No list of the best multiplayer Android games is complete without an Asphalt entry. While some previous entries in the franchise were paid titles, the new Legends Unite is free-to-play. The progression system here won’t surprise you if you’ve been playing games that get frequent updates. As you win races, you’ll gather Blueprints to unlock the cars you want. And there are plenty of cars on offer from a variety of big-name manufacturers.

While some in-game mechanics like Asphalt Tokens to auto-complete races and iffy matchmaking can wind down your excitement, its single-player component is pretty good. It’s a stunning title as well, with flashy animations, detailed environments, and car models with seamless reflections. While it’s no Forza or Need for Speed, performing mid-air spins and knocking enemies off-course in Asphalt Legends Unite is an enjoyable experience.

21. Hearthstone

Hearthstone manages to capture the magic of traditional card games with its clever design and card variety. By picking from a variety of heroes, you get to determine what kind of strategy you want to focus on. Minions and spells round out the combat options at your disposal, augmented by special abilities that can help you tip the scales against an AI or human opponent.

The game benefits from years of updates, which means you’ll quickly find a ton of content to dive into. Its campaigns feature bosses to take down and unique cards as rewards. Hearthstone also has multiplayer support, letting you engage in tense battles that are fairly short. It’s a great app to try if you’re looking for one of the best online Android games.

20. Into the Breach

Into the Breach lets you direct hulking mechs against giant monsters in a grid with XCOM-like tactical combat. Every turn gives you a chance to find an opening in a foe’s defenses or to protect your own. But keeping your troops alive isn’t the only objective you’ll handle. If you’re into tactical decision-making, then this can be considered one of the best strategy games on Android.

You’ll be tasked with protecting structures like civilian buildings or energy reactors, meaning that you’ll have to juggle multiple priorities. Excellent level design keeps this routine from being too straightforward. Stages themselves are fairly short, so you can play them at your own leisure. But they do get difficult over time. You’ll find yourself restarting levels often, especially after the first region. Despite its challenging difficulty, it’s a strategy game that’s hard to put down.

19. TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge

Arcade brawler action is back on the menu with TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge. With unique level design and enemies to beat, you’ll be knocking out combos left and right as some iconic characters. It also has co-op support, so you can bring a friend along as you weave through enemy attacks and counter threats; it’s one of the best Android controller games.

While its story is fairly simple, taking down Shredder and Krang’s mercenaries is engaging, thanks to the enemy variety on offer. As you progress in the game, you gain access to new combos and even combine super moves for some delicious destruction. Its bosses are pretty neat too. It’s a solid mobile port that should be on every brawler fan’s wishlist.

18. Titan Quest

Among the best offline Android games you can purchase, Titan Quest is a household name when it comes to the action RPG genre. Tasked with destroying the Titans, you’ll get to go on a globe-trotting adventure that spans Ancient Greece, Egypt, and China. You’ll face all sorts of threats on your path, and that’s where the game’s hack-and-slash combat takes center stage.

From unique weapon types to skill trees and equipment, its systems are pretty polished for a game that was originally released in 2006. Its touch support is intuitive, and you’ll have a blast tearing down monsters and finding new gear. Diablo Immortal is another great ARPG choice on smartphones, but there’s a timeless charm to Titan Quest’s level design that makes me recommend it over Diablo’s familiar brand of combat. It’s also free from microtransactions.

17. The Room

The Room is a mesmerizing cross between puzzles and an escape room. By performing actions like opening items and turning keys, you’ll slowly work your way through the game. These demand intelligent decisions and can take a while to figure out. Its Victorian-era art and clever level design helps it stand out from a sea of similar titles.  While some stages can seem challenging at first glance, this makes success feel well-earned.

The first game in the series, The Room, was followed by multiple puzzle game sequels. Room Two and The Room Three arrived in 2013 and 2015, respectively. The Room: Old Sins was released in 2018. The franchise even got a VR spinoff in 2020. While the sequels improved on the original, the first game is still worth playing today.

16. Monopoly Go

Monopoly Go isn’t exactly the capitalist role-playing game you remember from your childhood. The board game’s mechanics have been completely overhauled, with new rules that let you play it in short bursts whenever you get a spare minute. Just like the original, you’ll be purchasing properties and boosting their value to charge rent and bankrupt your opponents.

New additions like Bank Heists let you steal money from friends in-game. While collecting daily bonuses and making constant progress isn’t necessary, you’ll find yourself drawn to the timeless pursuit of making your numbers go up at the cost of your friends’ sanity. It ranks as one of the best Android board games to play in 2024.

15. Gwent

If you’ve played The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, you’ll know how addictive Gwent can be. Even when NPCs clung to sanity by a thread, they always had time for a round of this card game. Gwent on Android is a rebalanced version, complete with a new story to explore with characters that chart out territory that isn’t covered by the games.

Cards grant unique powers and synergize with faction abilities to reward quick thinking and clever tactics. While the game is free, you can purchase units with real-world money or in-game currency earned from missions to spice things up. Gwent is more than just a Witcher spin-off; it’s one of the best card games on Android.

14. Mario Kart Tour

If you’re a fan of the Mario Kart games on Nintendo’s devices, you should give Mario Kart Tour a spin. While it does scale down some elements from Mario Kart 8, the mobile variant has a lot to offer. Its redesigned tracks are great, and the game’s one-handed controls make it pretty intuitive to control your kart. It translates the formula well and is easily one of the best racing games on Android to this day.

Sessions are also shorter, meaning you can make meaningful progress in minutes. Bonus races are a nice touch, especially since they show you new mechanics and let you racers and karts you haven’t unlocked yet. It also has multiplayer support, so you can race against your friends. Mario Kart Tour might not be the most feature-packed racing game on mobiles, but it’s a joyride nonetheless.

13. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords

Star Wars fans, take note. Two decades after its original release, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II’s mobile port stands tall among the best RPG games for Android and for good reason. Thanks to a strong story that revolves around the Sith nearly destroying the Jedi, you’ll meet plenty of iconic heroes and villains on your journey. It’s a full-blown RPG, which means that you get to make choices like using your powers for the light or dark side.

Real-time combat and occasional puzzles help with pacing and you’ll appreciate the detours in a campaign that can take well over 30 hours. While its dated graphics and stiff animations can put some players off, the game’s environments and character models do look pretty clean. Despite the high asking price, the game handily earns our recommendation. What could be better than one of the best Star Wars games taken on the go?

12. Dead Cells

Dead Cells is a punishing action-platformer, one that kicked off a wave of metroidvania roguelikes in the indie scene. With upgrades that asks you to walk a delicate line between risk and reward, its progression system influenced several titles after it. You’ll need these tools to take down the game’s merciless bosses if you want to progress to the next region.

If you’re wondering how to perform these moves on a touchscreen, don’t worry. While it does have touchscreen support, it’s fortunately among the best Android games with controller support. This lets you work towards more powerful abilities in the game’s dying world of pixel sprites without mistiming your inputs. It’s easily worth the price as it’ll keep you engaged for hours and hours without any monetization antics.

11. Slay the Spire

Slay the Spire is a masterful blend of roguelike mechanics and the rule-based combat of a card game. The game challenges you with climbing a tower packed with foes, treasure, and merchants. Every run treats you to a new layout and a mix of cards you can utilize in combat. Long before the Android port showed up, players loved the game’s intuitive combat and “one more run” loop.

While you start with basic attack and defend cards, you’ll quickly earn special cards with devastating effects. Even if you’ve never dabbled in the roguelike genre, Slay the Spire’s simple cards are a great place to start. It might be on the steep side of mobile game pricing but it’s a small price to pay for one of the best strategy games on Android.

10. Wildfrost

Another roguelike deckbuilder, Wildfrost captured our attention with ice-themed card types and abilities that demand you to think multiple moves ahead. Foes have their own abilities too, forcing you to adapt to their actions. While the first few runs can seem simple, things get challenging over time.

Like most roguelikes, your progress helps you get upgrades that will help you on your next run. It’s among the best roguelike games for Android and is well worth the price of entry. You can also try it out for free to experience its polished visuals and approach to combat.

9. PUBG Mobile

PUBG Mobile is a technical achievement that brings the iconic battle royale over to smartphones. While its control scheme can take some time to get used to, the game retains its core pillars of scavenging, a shrinking arena, and tight combat to be the last person standing. Constant updates and a variety of game modes mean that even casual fans can play it to earn cosmetics and progress on the battle pass.

It’s got several massive maps to explore and get acquainted with. From buildings that have gear scattered about to vehicles ready for the taking, it’s evident that the developers meticulously designed their arenas with shootouts in mind. While Fortnite got to smartphones first, there’s no denying that PUBG Mobile is a worthy choice for one of the best Android battle royale games.

8. Call of Duty: Mobile

As one of the biggest FPS juggernauts in gaming, it was only a matter of time before Call of Duty made the leap to smartphones. After a rough start, Call of Duty: Mobile is now a great FPS title that brings most of the original’s mechanics to your Android device. Hop on and you’ll get to climb your way up the ranked leaderboard against players from all over the world.

From slick shooting that rewards split-second reflexes to killstreaks that can knock out half an enemy team, there’s plenty to look forward to. And with seasonal content that brings in new modes, guns, and skins, you’ll always have something to grind towards. It’s our choice for the best FPS game on Android to date.

7. Roblox

Roblox’s strength lies in its massive community of creators. By giving them the tools to create minigames, the game ensures a healthy online player count across its worlds. From sports and fashion to shooters and even horror, there’s a Roblox game out there for everyone. You’ll find a wide selection of minigames across every genre you can think of in this best Android game for kids.

And with multiplayer support, you can bring your friends along to show off how much work you’ve put into these minigames. They’re all free experiences and you can spend real-world money to gain an edge over other players with better gear or outfits. Moderation concerns aside, it’s a great game to play with friends.

6. Minecraft

After over a decade of support, Minecraft continues to win hearts with its approach to exploration and creation. Its blocky world offers countless possibilities that range from recreating real-world locations to engaging with its survival and crafting mechanics. You can explore these worlds with a friend too. Longtime fans can dive back in to spend a night in a little pit to avoid skeletons.

Its price is more than justified and it sits among the best open world games for Android years after its release. Mojang Studios continues to bring new animals, tools, and things to do to Minecraft’s blocky worlds. If you have a penchant for creativity, you owe it to yourself to try Minecraft.

5. Monument Valley 2

As a sequel to one of the most well-received puzzle games of all time, Monument Valley 2 has big shoes to fill. British studio Ustwo Games strikes a home run again with its emphasis on clever architectural puzzles set in stunning environments. Its optical illusions have inspired several games on consoles and PCs.

The game received a free expansion in 2021 with even more content. Its short levels mean that you can play it pretty much anywhere. As one of the best premium Android games around, Monument Valley 2’s slick puzzles handily earn a glowing recommendation.

4. Genshin Impact

Set in the sprawling world of Teyvat, Genshin Impact’s evolving story can challenge the best Android mobile games in the RPG genre. Thanks to frequent updates, you’ll have a great time exploring the various regions of the game and interacting with all kinds of interesting characters. Its engaging real-time combat will have you working towards unlocking more allies to use against bosses and monsters.

The game also features stunning visuals that push the boundaries of what mobile games look like. Developer miHoYo raised the bar when it comes to free games with Genshin Impact, and it remains a compelling experience years after its launch. For more information, we recommend checking out our feature on the Genshin Impact 5.0 update and the best Genshin Impact characters.

3. Among Us

When the pandemic kept us in our homes, Among Us quickly captured our attention. This simple social deduction game tasks you with finding imposters among your crew aboard a spaceship. A game that’s as fun to watch as it is to play, it’s no surprise we consider it one of the best Android games of all time.

No two rounds are the same and as you go about your tasks of clearing minigames on the spaceship, communication is essential to keep the imposters from executing your friends. And if you’re an imposter, you’ll be using the same channels to deceive crewmates and plant false ideas. It’s hilarious in action and is well worth your time.

2. Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley is among the best paid Android games when it comes to farming sims. In addition to growing crops and raising animals, interact with your neighbours to trade resources, make friends, and even fall in love. Customization is a big draw, with hundreds of character outfits and home decor options to pick from.

The game also lets you go on expeditions where you’ll face all kinds of threats in underground cave networks. Unlike some mobile ports, Stardew Valley has great touch controls and you’ll quickly find yourself immersed in its world of 2D sprites. It’s a long game but that’s a part of its enduring appeal.

1. Vampire Survivors

Vampire Survivors surged in popularity on Steam thanks to its deceptively simple combat and approach to upgrades. With roguelike upgrades that range from new characters to helpful perks, the game cemented its “one more run” loop in ways few games have. And since all you do is move around as projectiles take down foes, it’s pretty easy to pick up.

It’s a riot with friends, especially if they pick different heroes to complement each other. You’ll be fighting for your life as you sidestep deadly foes and dish out damage. But death is only a short delay, one that will prepare you for your next run. As one of the best survival games for Android, its value is undeniable for a free-to-play title.

More of the Best Android Games to Play in 2024

The Bottom Line

With so many of the best Android games being free, you can try out a range of experiences. While premium titles tend to ask for money upfront, you’ll be able to enjoy them without being disrupted by advertisements and intrusive microtransactions.

Our best Android games list covers a variety of genres, so feel free to experiment before settling on a few favorites. Today’s phones offer great visuals, interesting ways of interaction, and compelling stories. They’re even better with friends, be it in a cooperative or competitive game. Hop over to the Play Store and try these games out right away.

FAQs