The Android platform is the largest mobile platform in the world, with more devices supported than any other. It also has the largest official app store and, for gamers, that’s great news. There is a huge choice of games available on the platform and the biggest decision is which ones to play.
That will depend on whether you are looking for freebies or are happy to pay for a game. Not many people want to fork out their hard-earned money on a game when they may not like it or it may not even be worth the price tag – and there are some pricey games on offer too. Adverts play a large part in how people choose their games, along with recommendations from others, so, to save you time, we’ve looked through the games available on the Android Play store and found some that we think you might be interested in.
Top Ten Android Games for 2020
There are all kinds of games in the store, some that have a proper storyline that you can get stuck into for hours, others that are ideal for just killing a few minutes here and there. We’ve found 10 games, five paid and five free, that we think you might enjoy.
PAID
Battle Chasers: Nightwar – $9.99
The RPG genre has gotten very popular in recent years and there are plenty of cool games to play. Sometimes, though, you find that you can’t beat the older games and Battle Chasers: Nightwar is one of those. More than 20 years old, the game still delivers. With fantastic graphics, this turn-based game is a series of battle campaigns, each one lasting at least 30 hours. That gives you plenty of time to use tactics and strategy to come out on top as the champion. However, it is a very demanding game as far as hardware goes so it will really only suit those with the higher-end devices.
Mini Motorways and Mini Metro – $0.99
Two games, both released by Dinosaur Polo Club, and both a whole heap of addictive fun. You are a road manager and it’s your job to get people from one part of the city to another. It has fantastic visuals and the games are played in short bursts, making it ideal to fill in a few minutes here and there without getting too involved. The best bit is, once you have bought the games, you don’t need to play anything else, no in-app purchases, or anything. Simply pay and play for as long as you want.
Evoland 1 and 2 – $0.99 and $7.99
These are incredibly unique games, both involving different game mechanics, There’s a variety of RPG, puzzles, classic fighter, top-down shooter, platformer, and card trading, pretty much something for everyone. Every time the game mechanics changes to a new one, the graphics also change to suit it. The game is basically a walk through the history of classic gaming and, as you progress through, you will unlock new technologies and much better graphics. There are no in-app purchases – once you’ve paid for the game, that’s it – both offer support for external controllers and you can have hours of fun playing them both.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night – $2.99
Another game with no additional in-app purchases, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is a relatively recent release onto the Play Store. A 2D platform game, you have to explore Count Dracula’s castle, meeting unique characters and fighting enemies along the way. The gameplay is non-linear, which means you should explore as much as you can; you never know what you might find hidden. The main story takes around 8 or 9 hours to finish, depending on how successful you are, making it a game to get your teeth into, settle in and enjoy.
This War of Mine – $14.99
Not the cheapest game, This War of Mine has, however, won a few Best Game awards. It is a game of survival and your job is to lead a bunch of civilians to safety in a city ripped apart by war. You have to make some tough decisions along the way, always keeping in mind that the goal is survival. The graphics are pretty good and there is plenty of content too. You begin the game at night or day and every play brings something else to contend with. It may be pricey but it is well worth it and, if you subscribe to Google Play Pass, the game is free.
FREE
Hearthstone
With card-based strategy games proving popular, Hearthstone is well worth a look. It is one of the largest games of the genre and uses World of Warcraft Characters in a stunning display of graphics, perfect for the mobile device. Like all games of this genre, you build up your card deck, summon characters, and sling some spells, battling to take control of the battleground. There are in-app purchases but you can easily play for hours, for free. Available for download on the Panda Helper app.
Pokémon Go
Pokémon GO became an instant hit when it was released in 2016 and has since beaten just about every game as the most popular in the world. An augmented reality game, you can wander around the real world, finding and catching Pokémon, training them up for battle. There are lots of little side missions to complete, PokeStops where you can stock up on items, and much more. Regular updates bring new Pokémon to catch, new AR features, and lots more. Available for download on TutuApp.
PUBG/PUBG Lite
This is another game that exploded in popularity when it was released and has now seen well over 10 million downloads. It is an FPS game (first-person shooter), with simple controls, great graphics, and very simple game premise. 100 people are dropped onto an island and all you have to do is be the last one standing. How you do it is what the game is about. There are weapons, vehicles, and useful gear scattered over the island; find them and loot from players you takedown. Be aware that the game zone shrinks over time, shortening the game time considerably. It’s fast, it’s furious and you need to have your wits about you to win. You can download this app from the vShare app.
Vainglory
One of the best MOBA games available (multiplayer online battle arena), Vainglory has a huge character cast and provides you with a standard MOBA gameplaying experience. You and a pair of teammates must defend and attack three lanes and advance to victory, it’s that simple. It offers great performance and more than 20 characters to unlock. You can play humans or bots, the choice is yours. The added bonus with Vainglory is that there is none of the stuff that normally comes with a freemium game and no energy bar so you can play as long as you like.
Grand Mountain Adventure: Snowboard Premiere
Last in our selection of games is Grand Mountain Adventure: Snowboard Premiere. It is undoubtedly one of the very best winter sports game for the Android platform. Originally released as a test, the developers have gone on to add loads of features over the years, including twin-tip skis, snowboarding, additional mountains, loads of new tricks, and a leader board to help you compare your scores with other players. The first mountain is free, giving you plenty of time to determine if this is the game for you. If it is and you want to go on, you can unlock the rest of the game for a one-off fee of $4.99.
There you have it, 10 of the best games for the Android platform right now, some free some paid. And some of the paid games are free if you are a Google Play Pass Member.
What is Google Play Pass?
Google Play Pass is a paradise for serious gamers. For a monthly subscription, you get access to hundreds of games, many of them premium, at no extra cost, with no in-app purchases and none of the irritating ads.
You may be lucky to get a free trial to Play Pass, as Google offers them quite frequently. At the time of writing the trial is for one month and, after that, it is $4.99 per month. That may seem expensive and, indeed it is if you only play games on an infrequent basis. For those that play all the time, it’s worth the cost.
The paid games on offer would normally cost from $0.99 to $9.99; anything that costs more than that is not included. Plus, you get to unlock the in-app purchases, bonuses, and features that would otherwise cost you extra. And, if you are the manager of a family group, you can share the games with up to six members of the group.
Gaming on Android is becoming more popular as each year passes and these games represent just a tiny drop in the vast Play Store ocean. Take a look through them and see what you think. We’ve tried to cover most tastes and genres but there’s no doubting that some game genres are simply more popular than others.
Share this and let us know if you think there are other, better games out there.