Android devices used to lag behind iOS when it came to games but that’s rarely a problem now. Yes, some games do hit iOS first but Android versions are now the norm rather than the exception and you’d have to be a seriously dedicated mobile gamer to get through even a fraction of what’s on offer on Android today.
Whether you have a tablet or smartphone, and whether you like to play in five minute bursts or four marathons there’s something for you here. You’ll find some of the best games of 2015 at the top of the article and some of our long-term favourites nearer the bottom.
There aren’t many free to play games here, as we prefer to buy games, play them, finish them and move onto something else, rather than get stuck grinding the same gameplay over and over for months (we’re looking at you Clash of Clans). If you’ve only played free games in the past then try splashing out a few quid, you’ll be amazed at the variety and quality on offer in Google Play if you’re willing to spend a little money.
RECENT GEMS
This War of Mine - £3.49
For many there’s more than enough war reported in the news, making this exploration of the grim reality of being caught up in a conflict rather daring. This is true survival horror, with you managing a small band that must get by day-to-day while caught in a vicious warzone.
Food and medical supplies are in short supply and you have to work out how to get your band through each day. You must go out at night and scavenge for supplies in order to survive but such trips are hazardous, both to the body and spirit, as looting from others can leave your character depressed and useless. It’s brilliantly designed but its theme means it's not for everyone.
Lara Croft GO - currently just 79p
Lara may be exclusive to Microsoft on consoles (for now) ion Rise of the Tomb Raider, but on mobile devices anyone can go tomb raiding thanks to this excellent take on the character. This isometric puzzle-action game is true to the original games, with you pushing and pulling objects to solve puzzles while fending off animal enemies.
The graphics are beautifully realised, simplistic yet stylised. You move Lara around by tapping and swiping the screen. It’s a brilliant game and there’s already extra levels for it, which the developer has released for free. Right now it’s only 79p but it’s worth buying even at full price.
Angry Birds 2 - Free
Yes we’re sick of the little blighters too, but putting the characters aside there was a reason that the original game was so successful and this true sequel improves on the formula in numerous ways. There are multi-stage levels to master, levels which change in layout every time you start them afresh and spell cards to play in order to enhance your abilities. Most crucially you get to choose which bird will fly next, letting you develop different strategies for each level. It’s well worth a go, just try and ignore the over-exposed avians.
PAC-MAN 256 - Free
This is Crossy Road developer’s other game, which is saying something given that it’s hitched to one of the biggest brands in gaming history. Essentially it’s PAC MAN with a twist as you must constantly progress up the isometric screen as the level is eaten away behind you. There’s ghosts of course and a wide variety of power ups, plus the maze itself will sometimes become your undoing unless you keep one step ahead. Great fun in short bursts and free-to-play.
Sorcery 1, 2 & 3 - £3.00 each
Sorcery is a classic Eighties gamebook series, arguably the jewel in the crown of the Fighting Fantasy books, a multi-part epic fantasy adventure with dark and mysterious overtones, we love it. And now it's better than ever, thanks to this masterful conversion by interactive storyteller Inkle. The game plays out through the usual book passages, but combat has been redesigned entirely and there's a map so you can follow your progress across the land. The first book is great, but the second is brilliant, and if fantasy isn't your thing then also check out 80 Days, a similarly-structured steampunk take on Around the World.
Hearthstone - Free with in-app purchases
Hearthstone is a head-to-head card game enjoyed by millions around the world, based around the popular World of Warcraft game. You need have no experience of that game, or of its spiritual forefather Magic the Gathering, to play Hearthstone though as its mechanics are slick and streamlined. 'Minutes to learn but a lifetime to master' has never been more true. You can spend real cash buying more cards, but the free basic card sets are enough to quickly earn you enough gold and dust to get the key cards for any one of the nine character classes. A brilliant game and one that could keep you entertained forever. Read our full Hearthstone review.
OLDIES BUT GOODIES
Broken Age - £3.88
Broken Age comes from Double Fine, the much-lauded developer of adventure games run by Tim Schafer, the legendary creator of Full Throttle and Grim Fandango. This is the company’s latest effort and it blends imaginative storytelling with a split narrative between two characters; alongside traditional point-and-click gameplay. Yes, the first act came out back in 2014 but the second one was earlier this year and so this has jumped back into our minds. It’s not the best game ever made, but if the writing and art style appeal, you’ll love it.
XCOM: Enemy Within - £3.98
Quite simply the best, accessible strategy game of recent years. Yes, we know you've defended the earth from alien invasions many, many times before, but here you have to capture alien subjects, research new weapons, keep your allies onside to fund your personal army and then direct them in the field in a series of tense turn-based battles. It's brilliant stuff with a real, developing story to play through as you find out more about the invaders. This 'Enemy Within' version of the original 'Enemy Unknown' comes complete with loads of extra, including mechanised suits and genetic enhancements for your men. A brilliant game, and one you can take at your own pace. Read our full XCOM: Enemy Unknown review.
Plants vs Zombies - Free
Forget its capable but free-to-play sequel, this first outing is now free (or confusingly 50p depending on which version you buy) and has all the PvZ action you need. Essentially a tower defence game, you must defend your home from the shuffling dead, who approach in rows. You do this by planting kick-ass plants in your lawn, who then lay down a hail of peas and other projectiles. It's fast-paced action where you have to think on your feet, the game scales up nicely, adding new environmental challenges, new enemies and new plants. It's great fun from beginning to end, and there is a definite end too, which we like. Read our full Plants vs Zombies review.
The Room and The Room 2 - 69p and £2
The Room (and its sequel) does something simply brilliant, it presents you with a puzzle box and lets you get on with discovering its mysteries. What's really impressive is how physical, how tactile the box itself feels as you spin it around, push hidden buttons, twist cogs and slide open secret nooks. Everything is beautifully rendered and you can take our time exploring its intricacies and discovering the secret hidden deep inside. An incredible bargain at just 69p.
Desert Golfing - £1.19
Desert Golfing is a very simple game. The ball appears on the left, there's a hole on the right and you set power and angle using your finger to try and get the ball in the hole. The screen then shifts over to reveal the next hole and you repeat the process. Forever. The courses are randomly generated, we've seen one piece of scenery, a cactus, in nearly 600 holes, it just goes on and on and on. There's a score for the total number of shots and it keeps count of the number of holes completed, but there's nothing else, no par, no awards, and no way to start again bar uninstalling the game. It's incredibly minimal, but the height on the shots, the physics of the ball bouncing and sticking to the sand is so good you won't care.
World of Goo - £2.99
World of Goo is a brilliantly innovative puzzle game, in which you have to build structures, such as bridges, in order to traverse its levels. Your only building blocks are blobs of stretchy, sticky goo, which you drop down to create some pretty cool and clever structures. The physics are excellent, there are special types of goo as you progress, and the challenges are brain teasing at times. Amazingly though there's actually a rather bizarre and surreal, yet touching, story behind all this and the art is nothing short of brilliant. A must play title. Read our full World of Goo review.
Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition - £6.99
Baldur's Gate took the Dungeons and Dragons pen and paper game and evolved it into a tightly paced, incredibly vivid PC game that looks just as good on an Android tablet as it did on our CRT monitors back in 1998. You could buy what is arguably one of the greatest RPGs of all time by itself, but really the Baldur's Gate saga comes into its own in the sequel, Shadows of Amn. You can then import your character from the first game and pick up where you left off in the Sword Coast. Read our full Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition review.
