The best Android games | Pocket Tactics

Wondering what the best Android games are? Whether strategy, roguelikes, deck-builders, Gachas, MOBAs, or point-and-click, the range of great games available on the platform is mind-boggling. You could spend a good hundred days playing only Android games, and after, a friend would still pop out of the woodwork to recommend another one that you missed.

Variety is the spice of life, and the best Android games, in all their versatility, have a lot to offer you, including some of the best free Android games you can grab today. Also, as technology improves, there are fewer limitations in terms of what our phones can run. So, we’ve created a list of our ultimate picks; be they games that started on PC, but are wonderfully suited for mobile, or the homegrown, which began right here on this platform. Whether you’re a fan of crafting in Crashlands, exploring the wide world of Genshin Impact, or side-shooting romps like Azur Lane, we’ve got something for everyone.

Whether at home, at a friend’s house, or out and about, our list of the best Android games will keep you flush with excellent content. We’ll keep this updated, too, so it’s well worth bookmarking this so you can refer back to it often. And if you’re looking for some specific genres, you can check out our picks for the best mobile RPGs or the best mobile roguelikes.

We also ranked our mobile games of the year for 2021, make sure you check it out! Now, let’s get into our list of the best Android games you can pick up right now.

The best Android games:

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Raid: Shadow Legends

If you’re new to the world of Android games, and want to know what the fuss is about over all of these gacha games, Raid: Shadow Legends is a great place to start. It’s a gorgeous RPG with plenty of heroes to collect, bosses to battle, and loot to gather.

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Play Raid: Shadow Legends for free.

Puzzles & Survival

Are you tired of cookie-cutter zombie games? Well, Puzzles & Survival will give you an experience which is very different to the ones you’ll get from other games featuring the walking dead. Here, the gameplay is focused on shifting tiles around in order to progress through the ruins of a post-zombie apocalypse world.

Matching up tiles of the same colours will allow you to attack the zombies, and if you manage to get combos as tiles disappear and the ones above them fall, you’ll make an even more powerful attack. There are multiple characters to unlock, and playing through the different stages helps you level them up, so they can get more powerful and you can traverse more dangerous territories. It can be a really addictive game.

Play Puzzles & Survival for free.

Magic: The Gathering Arena

It turns out that one of the best card games around is also one of the best Android games around. Who knew? Magic: The Gathering Arena takes the iconic trading card game and adjusts it to suit the digital medium. If you’ve always wanted to get into MTG, this might actually be one of the best ways for you to do so, considering the tutorials it provides.

If you’re a fan of mobile multiplayer games, you’ll enjoy being able to play against players all over the world. Plus, if it’s the collecting aspect of TCGs that you like, then you’ll be pleased to hear that the game allows you to build your own collection, and even your own decks.

Play Magic: The Gathering Arena for free.

Play For Free!

Genshin Impact

This free-to-play Zelda-inspired open-world RPG has quite honestly taken the world by storm, earning $100 million in its first two weeks of release, and now has the biggest Discord server ever. Genshin Impact sees you awake in the magical world of Teyvat, setting out on an adventure to find your lost godly sibling.

The game lets you explore a massive world, and face off against fearsome monsters in RTS hack-and-slash combat. Alongside amazing visuals and a beautiful soundtrack, it’s no wonder that many consider Genshin to be one of the most ambitious mobile games ever. See our Genshin Impact review for more thoughts!

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Play Genshin Impact for free.

Play for free

Rise of Cultures

This free-to-play city-building strategy game from Innogames is the latest of a few stand-out games in a similar mould. However, what makes Rise of Cultures stand out for Android gamers in particular, is that unlike the developer’s previous offerings, it isn’t exclusive to Apple devices.

So, what is Rise of Cultures? Well, it’s a game that’s all about creating a civilisation and watching it grow over time. You start with a small settlement, then you build more constructions while upgrading and enhancing the buildings you already have – before long, you’ll have progressed through several historic eras. As a nice bonus, you can even integrate real-world architectural icons into your cities.

Play Rise of Cultures for free.

Sunrise Village

Are you a fan of relaxing games? Are you looking for a free game that can become a part of your daily de-stressing routine? Then it sounds like you’re going to love Sunrise Village. This is a game that sees you starting a new life in the titular village, and then spending your time tending to and expanding a farm.

Your objective is to gather as many resources as you can, so that you can buy more items, and build more buildings. Over time, your farm will grow and grow, and while the game is certainly a simple one, it’s just the right kind of simplicity that will feel so rewarding once you see how much you’ve achieved.

Play Sunrise Village for free.

June’s Journey

Have you ever wanted to step into an Agatha Christie novel? Well, June’s Journey is a free-to-play video game which essentially allows you to do just that. In it, you play as June Parker, a woman who is investigating the mysterious murder of her sister and her sister’s husband.

The gameplay is based around finding hidden objects in different scenes, and as you uncover the things which give June clues about what actually happened, you’re then able to progress further into the story, as well as develop a country estate where she lives. Unlike some other phone games, there’s been a great deal of effort made to tell a compelling story with June’s Journey, making it well worth a download.

EPIC SEVEN

Looking to scratch that gacha itch? Well, Epic Seven will do that, and it’ll give you an epic anime storyline at the same time. In this free-to-play game, you build up your own selection of heroes, then take them through various turn-based RPG battles as they progress through the game’s story.

If you love anime, you’ll really enjoy this game’s beautifully animated cutscenes. Its cast of characters will also make quite an impact on you, with great efforts having been made to give them each a distinctive personality. As the gacha mechanics will give everyone different selections of heroes, it’ll help make your own journey through the game very personal to you.

Final Fantasy IX

This classic Final Fantasy title runs like a dream on Android. If you’re looking for a game with turn-based combat, an enthralling story, and some fun minigames, look no further than Final Fantasy IX (or any other Final Fantasy on mobile might I add). This version benefits from high speed and no encounter modes and the ability to autosave.

Crashlands

Craft, battle, and quest your way through the outlandish and vibrant world of Crashlands. You are stranded on an alien planet, and must hustle to retrieve your packages, as you become enmeshed in a nefarious plot of world domination. Learn recipes from the local sentient life, make new friends, discover ancient secrets and deadly bosses, and build your own home-away-from-home. If you love crafting and want to explore a huge world full of even bigger problems, this is the game for you.

Among Us

This social-deduction-based indie game has risen to astonishing popularity in recent months after it caught the attention of the gaming community via popular Twitch streamers. And with the developer recently reporting 200 million downloads, it doesn’t look like it will slow down anytime soon. In Among Us, players must complete tasks to fix their ship, while also uprooting a murderer in their ranks before they are all wiped out. It’s enjoyable, and best of all, it’s free on mobile.

PUBG Mobile

The original battle royale is on mobile, but PUBG Mobile is a strange one. A lot of people enjoyed the original PC game, because of a certain level of what I shall call, jank. People liked the glitches and weird unexpected stuff that happened.

By comparison, PUBG Mobile actually plays very well, with regular PUBG Mobile updates adding fresh new content to the game, including the fresh, futuristic New Eden map. Undoubtedly one of the best Android games if you’re hankering for a battle royale – and best of all, it’s free to play.

Candy Crush Soda Saga

If you like match-three puzzlers and are looking for a fun, free experience, then we can’t recommend Candy Crush Soda Saga enough. It’s the King of the genre on mobile, providing hundreds of levels of satisfyingly crisp gameplay.

There are a load of great games like Soda Saga, make sure you check out our list of the best Candy Crush games to get your fix. Or head on over to our Candy Crush download guide to learn how to get this game on your device.

Pokémon Go

While not an RPG in the strictest sense of the word, Pokémon Go does see you explore an open world in a more classic sense. This free, location-based game has you out and about in the actual world, catching Pokémon, and competing with other players to become leaders of your local gym.

Many of you may have lost contact with the game after its surge in popularity a few years back, but it’s still supported with fairly regular Pokémon Go events and Pokémon Go raids. It may be location-based, but it’s still one of the best Android games around.

Bad North

In more Viking-based, mobile shenanigans, Bad North is one of the best strategy games on mobile. Adapting the classic tower defence formula, you and your units must defend islands from a fleet of rampaging raiders.

The game features a wonderful simplicity, both in terms of visual aesthetic, and in terms of how you play. But as the islands get bigger, and the units multiply, things really start to heat up, and you find yourself having to put out fires left-right-and-centre – quite literally. Not only one of the best strategy games, but one of the best Android games too – see our Bad North review if you don’t believe us!

Monument Valley

Undoubtedly one of the best games on mobile, Monument valley is a smart and beautiful puzzle game, which sees you navigating your way through shifting architecture. The concept is simple; you are presented with a structure, and your character has to make their way from the entrance to the exit.

But a lot can happen in between those two doors. Monument Valley plays with space and architecture in such a smart way, using optical illusion and point-and-click play, as you discover your often surprising route through space. You wouldn’t have thought architectural puzzles would have such mass appeal, but Monument Valley has earned its place as one of the best Android games.

Mario Kart Tour

That’s right, Mario Kart on mobile – and it’s free! Just as with Call of Duty: Mobile, simply the act of bringing a classic game to the mobile platform should be enough to impress. But Mario Kart Tour also brings your favourite characters, plenty of modes to play in, and regular content updates, meaning that they’ll always be more racing to do. Racing is a competitive genre, but Mario Kart Tour is one of the best Android games out there.

Alto’s Odyssey

Endless runners aren’t racing games in the classic sense, but you are still racing against something. In Alto’s Odyssey, it’s yourself. In the game, you move through each gorgeous generated map, completing a series of goals, which then allow you to move on to the next level. But Alto also features an endless mode, where you can just ride forever through an ever-changing map, which with beautiful architecture, and changing weather conditions, is a truly relaxing experience that you can play for free.

Downwell

Imagine the intentional monochrome dreariness of Binding of Isaac, crossed with the descent and escalation of Spelunky, and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what Downwell is. In this dungeon descending roguelike, you play as a young boy, exploring a well for untold riches, his only companion, a set of gun boots. Pretty convenient for well-based exploration I’d say!

AFK Arena

With a beautiful art style inspired by Celtic mythology and a cast of characters with fun abilities, AFK Arena is not your typical RPG. Simply sit back and enjoy the ride as your heroes work hard to level so you don’t have to, only pitching in when it’s time to have some fun, enacting strategies in battles or exploring, and it’s free-to-play. We also have plenty of guides for AFK, including an extensive AFK Arena tier list and an AFK Arena codes guide.

Black Desert Mobile

If you’ve played the PC version, Black Desert Mobile is all the more impressive, especially considering its free-to-play at its base. How it manages to cram pretty much the whole experience onto your phone is impressive on its own, and that’s without mentioning the bevvy of additional improvements that allow it to play more comfortably on the small screen.

Brawlhalla

If you’re looking for a fantastic, free mobile fighting game, you could do a lot worse than Brawlhalla. This port of the PC game sees you duking it out with up to eight other players online in a variety of modes, whether casual bouts, or ranked matches. Best of all, it’s free, and there are 50 distinctive characters to try your hand with. For more details, see our Brawlhalla characters list!

Asphalt 9: Legends

Undoubtedly one of the best racing games on mobile, Asphalt 9: Legends lets you collect cars and burn rubber on a variety of tracks throughout the world, for free. Its high-quality visuals as you race against opponents, smashing into their cars in slow motion, make it super exciting. The game also has a choice between auto-driving, where you only control the lane taken and boosting, and manual driving, just like the usual racing game experience. Asphalt 9 really does feel like a console-quality racing game on mobile.

Call of Duty: Mobile

Distilling the classic COD experience onto Android and iOS, Call of Duty: Mobile is a fantastic first-person shooter, and you can play it for free. The game caters to all kinds of players, letting you choose an auto-fire mode or manually aim and shoot.

TiMi Studios also keeps it updated with plenty of seasonal content, including new modes, weapons, skins, and characters. It’s a formula that has made Call of Duty: Mobile one of the most popular shooters on mobile, ranked among the likes of PUBG Mobile, and Garena Free Fire.

Stardew Valley

The popular Harvest Moon-esque farming RPG Stardew Valley is a fantastic game to play on Android. It sees you move to the country to take over your grandfather’s failing farm, grow crops, raise animals, and become part of the local community. You can even get married, explore the open world, fight monsters, or simply find a secluded spot to go fishing. If you’re looking for some relaxing simple life vibes, this is definitely a good option.

If you’re new to Stardew, feel free to browse our Stardew Valley fish, Stardew Valley coop, and Stardew Valley silo guides.

Chrono Trigger

Chrono Trigger is a timeless RPG classic that houses some amazing quality of life improvements on Android. The game is developed by the Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii, Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, and the creators of Final Fantasy. A must-play for any RPG fan out there.

We got the chance to play this game’s sequel, check out our Chrono Cross remaster review to read our thoughts.

And that’s our list of the best Android games. We hope you find something fun to play. Do you need a bit of extra privacy in order to truly enjoy yourself on your phone? Check out our guide on the best VPN for Android.

If you prefer Apple, why not browse our lists of the best iPhone games or the best iPad games?