With such a bountiful choice of great games for Android phones in the Google Play Store, how do you decide which Android apps to download? If you’re anything like us, you know only too well that feeling of download regret. But don’t worry — we’re here to make it a thing of the past with our handpicked list of the best Android games available. Most are free, some cost a few bucks, and many are great to play online with friends when you can’t get together in person — but all of them will keep you entertained at home or when you’re out and about. You’ll need internet connectivity for many of these games, but we’ve also gathered together some of the best Android games to play offline.
There are many different kinds of games in the Play Store, so we’ve aimed to pick a good mix of categories, including first-person shooters (FPS), role-playing games (RPG), platformers, racing games, puzzlers, strategy games, and more. At least one game on this list should suit you. If you’re looking for the best iPhone games, we’ve found those, too — but if you’re gaming on an Android tablet or Android phone, then you’re sure to find something to enjoy here.Dead by Daylight Mobile
It’s the Witching month, and with Halloween right around the corner, what better game to dive into than a multiplayer horror? Team up with your friends for this 4v1 adventure where you choose to play as a survivor or a killer hunting survivors. The best bit? You can play as a killer from one of your favorite horror movies, like Michael Myers, Leatherface, or even the Demogorgon from Stranger Things. Or team up with your buddies as a survivor and select from a range of horror movie icons like Halloween‘s Laurie Strode or Stranger Things‘ Steve. With randomly generated maps and plenty of jump-scares, Dead by Daylight Mobile is free to play and offers virtually endless fun.
Night School Studios, the developers behind Oxenfree, has just been bought out by Netflix, with rumors of a sequel in the works. If you haven’t played the original yet, there’s no time like the present. This supernatural ’80s horror game has a cool synth-pop soundtrack and has rightfully been compared to Stranger Things. You play as Alex, who’s traveling to an overnight party on a spooky island with her stepbrother Jonas and friends. When they accidentally open a ghostly rift, Alex must deal with the terrifying creatures unleashed and solve the mysteries within. Every decision you make and every conversation you have changes your relationships and the story. This is definitely a game for those who love story-driven gameplay, and it’s one that will stay with you long after the conclusion.
Google PlayDandara: Trials of Fear ($6)
This Metroidvania game may be a few years old now, but it’s definitely worth playing. You’re the hero, Dandara, and you must explore the world of Salt, an empire on the brink of collapse, fighting oppression for freedom. Along the way, defy gravity, explore boundlessly, and solve puzzles as you uncover the mysteries and secrets of this gorgeous, immersive world with its hand-drawn pixel art and original soundtrack. Dandara: Trials of Fear is well worth the price of entry, as there’s plenty here to keep you occupied for hours.
Google PlayTicket to Earth ($lima)
Ticket to Earth is free for Google Play Pass holders, but for those who aren’t signed up, you get 20-plus hours of gameplay set in a colorful, comic-book-style world for $5. Part story-driven RPG, part turn-based strategy, part tile puzzle game, you play as a team of four different characters, each with their own abilities and passive skills. Battle your way through New Providence, a space colony on the brink of collapse, and enjoy fast and furious, turn-based combat. The gameplay is pretty challenging and takes place on a grid of colored tiles, where the color corresponds to your character’s ability. Plot your moves strategically, in straight lines or diagonally, and charge up abilities as you go for explosive battles. With over 120 unique missions and no in-app purchases, you won’t regret this purchase.
Google PlayBridge Constructor Portal ($lima)
Bridge Constructor Portal lets you unleash your inner engineer by merging the Portal and Bridge Constructor games. The bridge is a lie! Well, it’s not — it’s just not built yet. Your job as an employee in the Aperture Science test lab is to build bridges, ramp slides, and much more in 60 test chambers and help the Bendies reach their destination safely. Use a variety of Portal gadgets like repulsion gel and portals to bypass hazards and obstacles including acid pools, laser barriers, and more. The touchscreen controls can be a bit finicky, but once you get the hang of it Bridge Constructor Portal becomes quite addictive.
Google PlayDead Trigger dua
Dead Trigger 2 is billed as a “nonstop FPS Action Zombie Shooter” game, and it’s one of the most popular zombie shooters in the Play Store, with over 110 million downloads. If you haven’t played it yet, there’s no time like the present. Hunt down the hordes of undead in 10 regions and across 33 different battlefields, and take them out with more than 70 types of weapons, from rifles, shotguns, and rocket launchers to machetes, chainsaws, and wrenches. You could even chuck a lethal chicken at them if you like. Cutting-edge graphics, i-yankees.com/ engrossing missions, weekly tournaments, and the ability to build a personal hideout and plan your strategy ensure Dead Trigger dua‘s good for hours upon hours of gameplay. You can play using touch controls or the impian jje-boutique.com joystick too, depending on your preferences.
Google PlayThe Escapists: Prison Escape ($6)
This prison escape sandbox game is hours of strategic fun — if you’re into that sort of thing. You’ve done the crime, now you’re doing the time. Speaking of which, the time has come to plan your escape. Swipe useful objects from guards, craft tools to aid your escape, and get to know your fellow inmates to create your own gang. Whatever you do, stay two steps ahead of the guards at all times, keep your head down, hide your contraband, and don’t forget to attend roll-call! This is an addictive, tense game that’s easy enough to get stuck in but provides a real challenge once you get going. There are over six themed prisons to escape and dozens of crafting combos to try out along the way. If you enjoy The Escapists, you can also pick up The Escapists 2 for $7.
Google PlayCritical Ops: Multiplayer FPS
This 3D multiplayer FPS is designed exclusively for mobile, and it’s about one of the best FPS games around on Android right now. With gorgeously crafted maps, stunning environments, and challenging game modes, you can go solo or battle as part of your dream team alongside your friends. Host tournaments and private matches, or play in one of three modes: Team Deathmatch; Defuse, where one team plants and defends a bomb while the other team tries to defuse it; or Gun Game, which pits two teams against each other while individual players work their way through every single weapon in the game. Choose to fight as a member of The Breach or Coalition, and enjoy a fair-to-play environment thanks to no in-app purchases. Critical Ops is updated regularly with new features and game modes, so you’ll never get bored — and it’s totally free to play.
Old enough to remember the original Tamagotchi? Even if you’re not, chances are you or your friends have owned a virtual pet at some point. And, to start with, that’s very much the feeling you get when you play Bird Alone for the first time. Play with the saddest bird in the world, feed it, talk to it. It’ll let you know once it’s had enough interaction. Fair enough, you might be thinking, but is this really a game? That’s when the story really starts. Your bird will ask you daily questions — expect deep stuff like, “What’s the meaning of life?” alongside more everyday questions like, “What’s your favorite color?” — and also give you a variety of activities you can do together, like writing a poem, drawing a picture, or even just giving your new best friend a belly rub. As you play through the game, you start to wonder: Maybe this bird isn’t so lonely after all, now it has you. We won’t give away any spoilers — the game is fairly short, and the less you know going in, the better — but we will say this: Bird Alone is seriously touching and unique, and it’ll stick with you long after you complete it.