Best Android games: 1-8
While
the 'free-to-play' market has taken a bit of a beating of late due to
gamers falling out of love with the use of in-app payments, the world of
mobile gaming is still an exciting one.
Whether you want games
that will last the length of a commute, or want to be lost in a port of
GTA where you spend hours mowing down pedestrians and making money out
of murder, there is a game on here for you.
The list is a mixture
of free and paid for games, and also that one in between - some in-app
payments aren't really that bad. Honest! If by the end you think we have
missed something special off of the list, let us know and we will see
if it is worthy of inclusion further down the line.
1. Dots
Proving
the notion that simpler is better on mobile, Dots is stupidly, almost
patronisingly simple, with players just drawing lines between coloured
dots. Link them up and, as coloured things tend to do in games, they
disappear, So more fall in. And it carries on like this, getting more
and more compulsive as you chase bigger and better dot combos.
2. The Simpsons Tapped Out
EA's
game based on the inhabitants of Springfield is surprising in a few
ways. It's free, which is quite the thing, plus, although what many
would deride as a 'freemium' game, it's more than possible to keep it
going in the background, pottering away, slowly unlocking all of its
content for free. Free-to-play done right, for once.
3. Angry Birds Space
Developer
Rovio has done quite a lot of aggressive whoring of the Angry Birds
franchise, but this space-based fork of the simplistic physics game
series is really worth a try. For one, it introduces some new play
concepts, with the planet-based levels requiring different tactics, plus
the puzzles generally need a bit more of a thoughtful approach than the
chuck-it-and-see of the originals.
4. Badland
Has
a bit of an 'indie' vibe about it this one, with Badland offering a
weird, dark and gloomy world, in which you fly about in control of a…
blob thing. Your blob gets bigger and smaller, splits into loads of mini
clones, and generally baffles you about what might lie around the next
corner. We like a bit of a surprise, and this is full of them.
5. Stick Cricket
Stick
Cricket is a fantastically simple little game that reduces cricket to
its core values - you just smash every ball as hard as you can. There's
no worrying about field positioning, just a bat and a ball coming at you
very quickly. Initially it seems impossible to do anything other than
make a complete mess of things and having your little man smashed
upside-down, but it soon clicks.
6. Cestos
Cestos is sort
of a futuristic recreation of curling, where players chuck marbles at
each other to try and smash everyone else's balls/gems down the drain
and out of the zone. The best part is this all happens online against
real humans, so as long as there's a few other bored people out there at
the same time you'll have a real, devious, cheating, quitting person to
play against. Great.
7. PewPew
The
developer calls this a "multidirectional shoot them up" presumably
because describing it as a "Geometry Wars clone" might have got him in a
bit of legal trouble. Regardless of its origin, it's a superb shooter
with some bizarre game modes and controls that work exceptionally well
on touch devices.
8. Super Bit dash
One
of the best examples of the new wave of retro-inspired platformers,
Super Bit Dash is a scrolling platformer where you don't control the
scroll -- but you do have a say in the jumping. It's a case of learning
the levels and playing them again and again and again, until you have
the required muscle memory to smash through without thinking about it.
Best Android games: 9-21
9. Plague Inc
A
really enjoyable and tough strategy game, in which you play some sort
of evil god intent on crushing all of mankind. You do this by developing
viruses, which spread through the air, water or human contact,
gradually wiping out countries, continents and, if the wind's literally
blowing in the right direction, everyone.
10. Whale Trail Frenzy
No
one dies of disease in Whale Trail. It's a sweet flying sim, which sees
you float about in the clouds having a lovely time, collecting things,
boosting and generally being quite happy about it. The cheery vibe is
broken a bit when adverts and in-app purchase requests pop up, but it's
happy enough before the money men turn up.
11. Pitfall!
We
had low expectations of Activision's odd decision to rework its ancient
platform game as an endless runner, but it turned out surprisingly
nice. Key to its winning nature comes from the variety of the levels,
which sees the adventuring hero endlessly minecarting, endlessly
motorbiking and endlessly whipping, in a thoroughly enjoyable little
game.
12. Bad Piggies
Angry
Birds maker Rovio proves it's not a one-trick bird-pony with this, a
bizarre and quirky physics game. You have a toolbox at your disposal,
used to build a flying and/or driving machine, which then has to trundle
its way through a level. It's silly, but at least attempts to shove out
some new ideas.
13. Pocket Planes
An
extremely clever and enjoyable miniature strategy game that has you
taking control of a small airline and attempting to ramp up customer
numbers. It starts out with a few simple freight runs before you expand
the fleet, open up new routes and generally get a bit panicked about how
many people are depending on you for their holidays.
14. Radiant Defense
The
tower defense genre is heaving on Android, thanks to the poke and press
play mechanics being ideally suited to touchscreen play. Radiant
Defense is a great example of the simplified strategy concept,
presenting its war action in a futuristic neon style that looks awesome
on any phone with the grunt to do it justice.
15. Pocket League Story 2
Kariosoft's
made a big thing for itself by using its management style of game
across various scenarios, with this sporting event being one of the
best. You take control of a club, then stress about signings, money,
tactics and more. It's slightly robbed of some fun via a desire to use
in-app purchases to squeeze money out of players, ironically mirroring
the state of the game it takes inspiration from.
16. New Star Soccer
A
great football management game that has a bit of a sense of humour
about itself. There's some turn-based play, but it's more about bringing
together the off-pitch lifestyles of players with the crucial money
matters of the football universe. Like Pocket League Story there are
some in-app cash demands, so prepare to be badgered for payments after
you've progressed some way through.
17. Star Wars: Tiny Death Star
An
absolutely gorgeous pixel-art recreation of the Star Wars universe, in
which players embrace the dark side and go to work creating Death Stars
to please the man in black. A massive challenge, made even more massive
should you choose to play it without resorting to taking the shortcut of
paying real money for in-game cash.
18. Sonic Dash
There
is some arguing as to whether this is "free" as it's rammed with in-app
purchases, but there's no dispute as to its quality. Sonic's latest
mobile game is, appropriately, an endless runner, with the hedgehog
jumping left and right to avoid obstacles placed around its familiar
green worlds.
19. Cut the Rope: Time Travel
The weird
little physics game is one of Android's most popular franchises, with
this update introducing a few new tricks and weapons. It's the same sort
of experience as its earlier chapters, though, with players swinging
ropes to throw sweeties around its colourful screens. Masses of levels
and a mid-to-high fun level.
20. Wingsuit - Proximity Project
A
hard game for people who want to emulate BASE jumping nutcases, the aim
here is to not die or injure yourself while flying around dangerous
environments wearing just a wingsuit. Don't expect to have much fun,
though, as the developer warns on the app's listing: "If you're looking
for something easy, I suggest Angry Birds."
Best Android games: 21-33
21. Beach Buggy Blitz
Offers
something approaching big console quality on Android, in a game rammed
with pretty worlds, loads of vehicles, power-ups, upgrades and more,
plus the graphics engine can adapt to more powerful hardware and throws
in more effects if you're using something with a serious number of
cores. There is some level of in-app purchasing on offer, but it's mild
and easily avoidable.
22. Deadly Bullet
Has
a plot involving something to do with the future, but it's best
skipped. The game's a top-down shooter, but instead of controlling the
nutcase with the gun you get to "be" the bullet, which you control using
left and right turns. This slow-mo bullet then winds its way around
town, exploding power-ups and the bad future people.
23. Voxel Rush
A
very pretty and minimalist racer, where the usual beach/mountain/lava
environments have been binned in favour of bold slabs of colour. It's
stylish, motion controlled, ready for multiplayer action and integrates
Google Play Game support for solo achievements and leaderboards.
24. Nightbird Trigger X
What
the developer calls a "point shooting game," Nightbird Trigger X is a
one-button pony where your little man has to shoot a point in the screen
to progress. But there's stuff in the way. Annoying moving stuff, that
means you score less and take longer if you can't find the target with
your first bullet. Simple, but free and a little bit original.
25. Toca Kitchen
£1.99 ($2.99, $AU3.68)
If
you want your kids to play something free from the looming menace of
in-app purchases, give the awesome Toca Boca apps a spin. Toca Kitchen's
a super little virtual playset, giving kids safe access to knives,
blenders and microwaves, with which they prepare meals for a series of
fussy in-game characters. Super-cute and a blast for even the youngest
kids.
26. Spaceteam
This
is bonkers. Spaceteam uses the Android hardware to the max to build a
properly innovative multiplayer-only game, where between two and four
players come together to shout exciting space terminology at each other
while battling the control panel of an exploding ship. It's very silly,
like something that only came out on the Wii in Japan.
27. Toast Time
£0.69 ($2.99, $AU1.28)
If
it needs pigeon-holing, Toast Time is best described as a combat
platform game. Thing is, you're only a toaster, and your weapon is…
toast. So it's sort of a toast-based physics simulation as well, with
the kickback from the toast knocking the toaster around the screen and
requiring constant compensation. Because there's a clock that needs
protecting and… it's best you play it. It's good.
28. Ridiculous Fishing
£1.99 ($2.99, $AU3.68)
Quite
possibly one of the best uses of the mobile phone accelerometer tech
there's ever been, this, with motion control sending your fishing line
down to the depths of the sea while you avoid fish. Then, on the way up,
it's how you catch them. That's when it goes ridiculous, as the
fisherman chucks them up in the air -- and you shoot them to bank the
money. Silly, but a must play.
29. Super Hexagon
£1.99 ($2.99, $AU3.68)
Another
mobile classic. Super Hexagon has two controls -- rotate left and
rotate right. That's all you need to navigate the endless maze that
spins out of the screen, in one of the mobile world's hardest, coolest,
best-sounding and most moreish games. We order you to buy it. You
literally have to.
30. ChuChu Rocket!
£0.90 ($0.99, $AU2.00)
A
lot of the old console games we remember and occasionally cry about
don't translate well to mobile. On-screen buttons kill a lot of the fun
of playing precise, skill-based titles, but Sega's ChuChu is more about
strategy and brainpower than sheer speed, making it one of the finest
retro titles on Google Play.
31. Minecraft Pocket Edition
£4.99 ($6.99, $AU9.25)
The
build 'em up phenomenon works brilliantly well on Android, thanks to
the creator of the desktop original taking the time to do it justice.
It's a slimmed down interface you see here with on-screen buttons, but
the basics are all in and the Survival and Creative modes are ready for
play -- as is multiplayer mode over Wi-Fi.
32. Heroes of Loot
£1.72 ($1.99, $AU3.30)
The
entire back catalogue of solo indie creator OrangePixel is worth
exploring, but his latest is the best yet. It's a stylish 2D dungeon
explorer, with masses of quests, classes and secret areas to unlock.
Plus it supports a wide range of Bluetooth controllers, for easier play
if you've got a compatible lump of buttoned plastic.
33. Flight Control
£0.60 ($0.99, $AU1.20)
An
exciting new genre all of its own when it appeared, Flight Control
created the world of the top-down air traffic control simulator.
Literally three million times more exciting than it sounds, it's played
by swiping 2D aeroplanes into runway landing slots, avoiding collisions
and scoring for successful landings. Perfectly suited to touchscreen
play.
Best Android games: 34-50
34. Pac-Man Championship Edition
£2.60 ($3.99, $AU5.00)
Not
just the same old Pac-Man that's been emulated, re-released and cloned
for the last 30 years. Pac-Man CE is a fresh reworking of the maze game,
with jazzy graphics, scrolling mazes and pumping sounds updating the
concept for the kids of today. And the dads of today. Anyone after a
really smart puzzle game, in fact.
35. Game Dev Story
£1.60 ($2.50, $AU3.00)
The
"Story" that started Kairosoft's domination of the simplistic business
world sim, Game Dev Story sees you take charge of a software house and
attempt to create a smash game. The sweet pixel-art characters then
battle with the complexities of design and the stresses of arbitrary
internet reviews from people who haven't even played it (ahem), in the
pursuit of a money-making smash.
36. Raiden Legacy
£4.49 ($4.99, $AU10.00)
Quite
possibly the greatest 2D shoot 'em up of all time, the Android
conversion of Radien is every bit as impressive as the original. A
choice of control schemes, display and difficulty settings make it a
little more manageable on touchscreens, plus, seeing as this is the
Legacy edition, you get Raiden, Raiden Fighters, Raiden Fighters 2 and
Raiden Fighters Jet.
37. Division Cell
£1.12 ($1.84, $AU2.15)
This
is how we like them. Weird, interesting looking and rock hard, Division
Cell is about organising shapes, creating harmony where there was once
chaos. Then telling everyone about what you just did on Facebook and
Twitter. Having well over 100 fun and innovative levels means you get
your money's worth here.
38. Football Manager Handheld 2014
£6.99 ($9.99, $AU12.00)
Explodes
through the usual Android game price ceiling by charging £6.99, but, in
this case, it's worth it. The full app offers a superb, stats-heavy
mobile take on the classic management series, hardly skimping on any
minute detail in the transition to mobile. Manage transfers, the media,
match days and more in one of the sporting gamers' must-get titles.
39. Canabalt HD
£1.99 ($2.99, $AU3.68)
The
newer, slightly posher version of the original game, the one that
pretty much invented the "endless runner" genre that now clogs up the
gaming sections of the app stores of the world. You are a man. You run
along rooftops to a techno soundtrack. That's about it, only it's much
more enjoyable than it sounds.
40. Another World
£1.80 ($1.99, $AU3.49)
The
classic 2D puzzle platformer that wowed the simpler folk of the 1990s
with the very occasional bit of 3D, has arrived in perfect form on
Android. This 20th anniversary edition has the original graphics plus
the option of an HD refresh, but what's really about is getting to play
one of gaming's most loved classics. On your phone. For a couple of
quid. Madness.
41. GTA Vice City
£2.99 ($4.99, $AU5.53)
Seem
to remember people thought this was quite good. For the price of a pint
(if you're somewhere northern) you can own one of the largest and most
highly-rated video games of all time, to pop in and out of on your
mobile phone. On-screen controls are never going to suit a game like
this, but they are at least fully customisable -- so you can get it how
you like it.
42. Terraria
£3.14 ($4.99, $AU5.70)
Sort
of a Minecraft… platform… puzzle 'em up, Terraria players dig and mine
and fight their way through randomly generated worlds. Resources make
weapons and houses, weapons and houses mean you stay alive, plus there's
Wi-Fi multiplayer support that has it nearing parity with the version
sold on desktops.
43. Sonic The Hedgehog 2
£1.99 ($2.99, $AU3.68)
Not
the easiest thing to play using on-screen buttons, but the fact this
exists at all is a marvel. It's also a glorious conversion, with Sega
finally taking the time to do the best Sonic justice. It's been
remastered into widescreen and supports a wide range of Bluetooth
controllers so, even if you don't yet own one, you'll be able to enjoy
it fully when you eventually do.
44. Osmos HD
£1.87 ($2.99, $AU3.45)
A
lovely little ambient puzzle thing, in which you play a cell thing and
make it your business to absorb others. The residue you fire out makes
you smaller, though, so efficient use of your biological systems is a
must. It's a chillout experience more than a game, with the surreal
concept joined by some equally relaxing ambient music. A charmer.
45. Assassin's Creed Pirates
£1.99 (sale) ($2.99, $AU3.68)
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