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The best Android games in 2024

A definitive list of the best Android games you can pick up from Google Play, including some of the best free Android games in the store.

Best Android games - Honkai Star Rail's Fu Xuan with a stern look on her face

What are the best Android games? Whether you’re into strategy, roguelikes, deck-builders, gachas, MOBAs, or point-and-clicks, 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.

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. You’ll find many of the best mobile games of all time here and any new mobile games that catch our attention too.

Here are the best Android games in 2024:

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.

We have a few guides to help you get started, make sure you check out our Raid: Shadow Legends tier list and Raid promo codes to pick up some freebies.

Play Raid: Shadow Legends for free.

Harvest Land

Harvest Land invites you to set up a brand new village, in which you can build a bunch of cute homes and handy facilities, tame adorable animals, fight beasties to protect your land, trade with your real friends and other players, and watch your new home prosper. And, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can also go out and explore some beautiful islands and maybe even uncover some intriguing secrets.

There’s plenty to do, including cultivating crops, raising sweet animals such as chickens, pigs, and cows, and constructing useful structures such as sawmills, mines, and more – all from the palm of your hand. It’s sweet, simple, and a lot of fun on the go. If you like using relaxing games to de-stress after a long, hard day, this is one to try.

Play Harvest Land for free.

Animals & Coins Adventures

Animals & Coins Adventures is a fun-filled adventure with treasure islands to raid, kingdoms to explore, and cards to collect. The aim of this game is to collect coins and build massive bridges as an adorable animal. The premise is simple, but oh-so fun.

You can also play Animals & Coins Adventures with your friends, whether you want to steal from them or work together is up to you though!

Play Animals & Coins Adventures for free.

Genshin Impact

This free-to-play 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.

We recommend you check out our guides if you’re thinking of diving in, we have Genshin Impact codes, a Genshin Impact tier list, and a Genshin Impact update guide.

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!

Play Genshin Impact for free.

Supremacy 1914

Fancy the life of an armchair general? In Supremacy 1914, you’ll take control of one of the nations involved in the First World War and it’s one of the best mobile war games we’ve ever seen. The course of history is left in your hands. Whether you decide to invest in enhancing your country’s economy or bolstering its military forces, every decision you make will impact the outcome of the war.

This is a long-term grand strategy MMO and a single game could last for multiple weeks or even months. With each nation offering a unique set of strengths and weaknesses, the country you choose will have a big impact on how you play, and with so many options open to you, you’ll soon find yourself getting deeply invested in this sprawling war. History buffs will also appreciate the attention to detail in giving each nation the resources and munitions it would have had at the time.

Play Supremacy 1914 for free.

Conflict of Nations: World War III

While Supremacy 1914 takes the First World War and turns it into a grand strategy MMO, Conflict of Nations applies that formula to a hypothetical World War III, and sure enough it’s one of the best mobile strategy games. Set in a near future where global tensions have escalated, you choose a nation from a list of countless others and then… Well, that’s up to you. As you can imagine, there are plenty of options available to you as the leader of a nation.

A game of Conflict of Nations can last for months, and with so many other players all doing their best to bring glory to their respective nations, you’ll find yourself looking forward to checking in each day so that you can find out about all the latest developments… and plan your next moves. If you have a mind for tactical thinking, this is where you can put it to the test.

Play Conflict of Nations for free.

Honkai Star Rail

Honkai Star Rail is another entry from Hoyoverse. It has fun turn-based combat, fascinating characters, and gorgeous areas for you to explore. As you explore numerous regions, the developer does frequent updates so it’s hard to run out of things to do.

We recommend you check out our Honkai Star Rail tier listHonkai Star Rail codes, and Honkai Star Rail banner guide to learn more about the game.

Play Honkai Star Rail for free.

Epic Seven

Love both anime games and gacha? Well, Epic Seven gives you all the tantalizing gacha game joys along with an epic and emotional anime storyline. 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 the beautifully animated cutscenes that this game has. 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 gameplay will give everyone different selections of heroes, it’ll help make your own journey through the game very personal to you.

Play Epic Seven for free.

AFK Journey

The sequel to the much-beloved AFK Arena (which is also in this list, lower down) does a lot more with its setting than its predecessor ever did. Now there’s a sprawling world for you to explore, filled with interesting secrets and NPC just waiting to give you side quests.

‘But what about the ‘AFK’ aspect of the game?’ I hear you ask. Well, don’t worry, this is still very much an idle game. It’s essentially a best-of-both-worlds kind of deal with the option to play and enjoy it as you please. Check out our AFK codes list if you want to get a headstart in the new game, and our AFK tier list for some tips on which characters to use.

Play AFK Journey for free.

Art from one of the best Anrdoid games, Legend of Mushroom,, showing a mushroom warrior smiling and charging into battle

Legend of Mushroom

Sit back, relax, and have some fungi fun in Legend of Mushroom, an adorable blend of AFK, RPG, and gacha game. Select your mushroom hero and deck them out with the best gear and pets, then charge into battle as you strive to evolve into a fully-fledged human.

The gameplay loop is pretty simple, but there are also plenty of things for you to do, including using your magic lamp to get stronger equipment, challenging other players in the arena, mining for research points and items, and taking part in fun events – there’s so mush-room for growth and plenty of fun to be had, even if you go the free-to-play route. And, to help you along the way, we’ve got a handy Legend of Mushroom tier list, along with a list of all the new Legend of Mushroom codes.

Best android games: Final Fantasy IX. Image shows two characters having a sword fight

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 or no-encounter modes and the ability to autosave – but even before the updates, it was already one of the best Final Fantasy games.

Best Android games: Among Us. Image shows a bunch of Crewmates dressed as different indie characters in a promotional image made for the game.

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. With new Among Us maps added all the time (and even Among Us characters, if you count all the new cosmetics), it’s a game that it’s easy to keep coming back to.

Best gacha games: PUBG. Image shows a man in a chair.

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.

Best Android games: Candy Crush Soda Saga. Image shows a game in progress.

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.

Best Android games: Pokémon GO. Image shows Groudon, Rayquaza, and Kyogre.

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.

Best Android games: Bad North. Image shows an island in the rain.

Bad North

In more Viking-based, mobile shenanigans, Bad North is one of the best strategy games on mobile. Adapting the classic tower defense 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-center – 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!

Best Android games: Monument Valley. Image shows an island at sea.

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 between those two doors. Monument Valley plays with space and architecture smartly, 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. Check out our Monument Valley interview to learn more about the future of the series.

Best Android games: Alto's Odyssey, Image shows a beautiful tower silhouetted in the darkness.

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.

This is one of the best offline games, and in today’s increasingly online world, that’s something to be celebrated. You don’t need to worry about matching with players who are too powerful, waiting for weekly updates to install, or missing out on limited-time events – it’s a complete experience to be enjoyed as is. That’s very rare for a free game.

Best Android games: Downwell. Image shows someone descending into a well in this black and white mobile game.

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! It’s from the same creative mind behind Poinpy, so if you loved that, you’ll probably love this too.

Best Android games: AFK Arena. Image shows two fantastical characters.

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.

Best Android games: Call of Duty Mobile. Image shows a group of soldiers.

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.

Best Android games: Stardew Valley. Image shows a pixelated farmhouse with a cow, chicken, and farmer taking a break

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.

Best Android games: Chrono Trigger. Image shows a group of Chrono Trigger characters standing around the game logo.

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 on Nintendo Switch, check out our Chrono Cross remaster review to read our thoughts. Then head over to our Chrono Trigger Switch port speculation piece, too.

Best Android games - a screenshot from Final Fantasy Ever Crisis of Aerith and Cloud sitting on a playground

Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis

FFEC is a free-to-play gacha game that goes through the story from the entire Final Fantasy 7 compilation. At the moment you can complete the first few chapters of The First Soldier, Crisis Core, and Final Fantasy 7, while also completing solo and co-op quests that have you taking down tough enemies.

If you need some help in this game, we recommend you check out our Final Fantasy Ever Crisis tier listFinal Fantasy Ever Crisis codes, and Final Fantasy Ever Crisis chocobo expeditions guide. We also have a Final Fantasy Ever Crisis review so you can learn more about the title.

Best Android games - Three Wuthering Waves characters having a drink next to a cherry blossom tree

Wuthering Waves

If you’re a fan of Genshin Impact and want something similar to sink even more of your time into then Wuthering Waves is a great choice. This gacha title is an open-world action RPG with gorgeous anime characters and a rich story that you can expect numerous updates for in the future.

To help you get acclimatized to this game, we have a Wuthering Waves tier list and Wuthering Waves code list so you can pick up some of the best characters with some free currency.

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?