The times they are starting to change a bit, just about enough that it’s looking like we might be able to hang out more often with people for the first time in a while. And you know what’s going to help with that? Local multiplayer Android games.
So we’ve written this here list. It’s made up of what we think are the best local multiplayer games for Android. Some of them are same-device, some of them are WiFi-based, and at least one of them involves shouting nonsense.
You can click on the names of the games below to download them from the Play Store. And if you’ve got your own suggestions, we’d love to hear them – so make sure you add them to the comments section.
Best Android Local Multiplayer Games
On with the games!
Minecraft
While Minecraft Bedrock Edition might not have all the modable features of is Java sibling, you can still take a trip back to the era of LAN parties and connect all your devices over a local area network.
The Jackbox Party Pack Series
The daddy of party games, this series of party games has a ton of quick, easy-to-learn, and silly mini-games to strike up with your pals. Answer quizzes, have internet comment fights, try to be the funniest, and make your drawings fight. There’s several packs so you can pick your favourite. We don’t know what the ‘Naughty Pack’ is, and at this point, we’re afraid to ask.
Fotonica
A fast-paced, slightly bonkers auto-runner that you can play on the same device with a dear sweet friend. It’s palm-sweatingly good, and even better when you throw a friend into the mix.
The Escapists 2: Pocket Breakout
A strategic game that’s all about getting out of a series of prisons. You can play on your own, but more importantly for this list, you can assemble a team of your friends, and have them go ‘I’m in’ in real time, which is a key part of the experience.
Badland
The floaty physics platforming is alright when you’re playing on your own, but stick some friends around the same device and it takes on a brand new shape that’s hard to beat. You’re able to both co-op through the single player campaign, or turn on each other and shove everyone else into traps.
Tsuro – The Game of the Path
A game about placing tiles and creating a path for your dragon to follow. It’s simple enough that anyone can pick it up and have a go, and it’s a great way to get everyone involved in some gaming fun. You can get up to eight players playing on one device, so it’s a good one if you’ve got a lot of people and one copy of the app.
Terraria
What’s better than exploring a massive open world, fighting monsters, digging stuff up and using it to build a settlement? Why, doing it with your friends of course. You can all play on the same WiFi and have a jolly old time.
7 Wonders: Duel
A slick, digital version of the super-popular card game. You can play it on your own against the AI, you can play it online, or you can play it pass and play with the person sitting next to you right now.
It’s perhaps a little more slimmed down than the board version, but not any less ruthless.
Bombsquad
A collection of bomb-based mini-games that you can play with up to seven other people across WiFi. There’s even an additional app your friends can download to use as a controller on their own devices. Slick.
Wingspan
Bird is the word in this ornithological card game. Wingspan lets you play with up to five budding bird watchers on one device, so it’s perfect for a board game night without the board.
Spaceteam
We’re 90% sure that you’ve already played Spaceteam, but if you haven’t, you really should. It’s a fantastic sci-fi adventure that involves an awful lot of shouting and button pressing.
In short, you are all manning the controls of a space ship. You each have your own control panel, and jobs to do. What you need to do might be a mystery to you however, until someone else shouts it at you across the room. Failing to push the right buttons and engage the correct gadgets may result in everything exploding. Give it a go, you’ll love it.
BOKURA
This game of teamwork doesn’t just have multiplayer, it’s essential to the experience. Communicate with your buddy and try to complete the levels as a team. You and your buddy get an insight into different sides of the same world, so
DUAL!
Oh, hey, it’s a game of Pong that you play on two different devices. It sounds ridiculous, and it basically is, but it’s also an awful lot of fun. It’s like playing tennis, without the grunting.
Among Us
Among Us is an awful lot of fun when you play it online, but it’s even more fun when you play it in the same room as the people who could well be trying to con you. Or the people you’re trying to con. You get the idea.
Kingdom Two Crowns
There can only be one monarch… well, unless you’re playing co-op. Play locally with split screen and work together to keep your 2D plane kingdom safe from the forces of evil. The game has controller support, so we’d recommend connecting a couple of Bluetooth controllers for the best experience.
Vampire Survivors
We never pass up a chance to gush about Vampire Survivors, and on top of doing so much right, you can also local co-op with controllers. (And maybe link up to a bigger screen if you want a real retro-feeling session.)
Click here for more lists about the best games for Android
