I’d like to get into android gaming if there is anything good out there. I am open for any genre but I have a few requirements
Has to be either free or have a free way to get it
Has to not be riddled with spyware (hard ask I know lol)
No mandatory accounts
Offline if possible
Preferably controller support out of the box
Is this too much to ask? Any recommendations?
Should I just look at what other old console games I can get?
Free and without bullshit is a tough ask, you’re not gonna find many games like that. I do have a few recommendations though:
- Mindustry
- Shattered Pixel Dungeon
- Endless Sky
- Pathos
You could also download Retroarch and some roms, it would require some setup but once done it works like a charm.
Has to be either free or have a free way to get it
There are good games out there, but outside of a few exceptions you can’t get a good mobile game for free. If you have netflix, the netflix games selection has some good games, I’d especially recommend Into the Breach. If you have google play pass, there are a lot of good games there was well. As far as truly free good games go, Shattered Pixel Dungeon and Hoplite are the only ones that comes to mind.
If you’re willing to spend some money to get something worth your time, I’d recommend Slice & Dice (has a free demo), Reventure, Super Hexagon, VVVVV, Dicey Dungeons, Dead Cells (plays surprisingly well on mobile, play pass includes all DLC), Krumit’s Tale, King of Dragon’s Pass, and Star Traders Frontiers.
Dolphin (Wii and Gamecube emulator) sounds like something for you.
MineTest should also fit your criteria.
I believe there are a few games on F-Droid, I haven’t tried any of them tho. Other than that, I believe the best games for you would be Wii games or an older console. Possibly also switch (with yuzu if you find an apk), but that requires a beefy phone.
I have those emulators, was just wondering if anything native is good
There are comparatively few worthwhile native games. Emulation is the ticket. I would focus on portable consoles - from GameBoy (mostly GBA) to PSP - since the design of titles for these systems is better suited to smaller screens and shorter play sessions.
Yea, I emulate a lot, GBC has some good games
BTW, you know and good 3d shooters for console? ( up to GameCube, ps2 and 3ds)
I want to get into PSP too, any recommendations?
The PSP is not a great platform for first person shooters in particular due to the lack of a second analog stick. There are a handful of quality third person titles though, chief among them the two GTA Stories spin-offs set in Liberty City and Vice City. These are proper classic 3D GTAs, just as sophisticated as San Andreas, but set in modified versions of the cities from the two predecessors. Both assume that you have played and completed GTA 3 and Vice City. These spin-offs were also available for PS2, but the PSP versions should run better and can be made to support a second analog stick in PPSSPP:
https://github.com/Freakler/ppsspp-GTARemastered?tab=readme-ov-file
While you’re at it, you should also check out the isometric GTA Chinatown Wars, a unique and extremely well made title that straddles the line between 2D and 3D GTAs, but with game design that is as modern as GTA IV’s (but far more arcadey). It has been ported to Android, however, the PSP version is superior, having better graphics, more features (including multiplayer) and more missions.
One genre that truly excelled on Sony’s little system was racing games. Here’s a list of highly recommended titles of all subgenres, from arcade to simulation, that I compiled a while ago: https://beehaw.org/comment/2784912
Note that Gran Turismo can be patched to support analog throttle and brakes: https://github.com/Kethen/RemasteredControls_GTpsp
Now, on to the PS2 shooters:
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Scarface: The World is Yours. Perhaps the best clone of classic GTAs, to the point that it’s the superior game in many respects. From the developers of The Simpsons Hit & Run, but decidedly less family-friendly. Brilliant graphics for the platform, outstanding voice acting, writing and direction. Watch the movie first, if you haven’t already! This very late licensed title boasts a fantastic combat system that is all about targeting specific body parts with perhaps the single best lock-on system in gaming history while hitting a button for swearing in order to fill up your “balls” meter, which, once full, allows you to switch to a first person mode with invulnerability and unlimited ammo. Combat is mad, bloody, unhinged fun. It’s not just presentation, narration and combat that are good in this game: There’s are really well made empire building mechanic, a negotiation minigame that somehow never gets old, some clever risk/reward incentives for players that remind me of roguelikes, a good (if not quite as good as GTA) open world, a catchy '80s soundtrack. Lots to love about this game.
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Black: Criterion (otherwise known for the Burnout series) tried their luck with a first person shooter. It shouldn’t have worked, but they somehow pulled it off - and it’s just as wild and explosive as the racing game series. Every single weapon, from the lowliest pistol, is loud, punchy, powerful and sends the hapless enemies flying. There’s a marvelous destruction system that feels like black magic on hardware as old as the PS2. The story is nothing special, level design and scripting are average (but levels are at least fairly large and quite open at times), it’s not particularly long nor deep and there are difficulty spikes, but overall, this is still one of the most enjoyable first person shooters on the system and one that holds up remarkably well.
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XIII: Based on a popular Belgian series of graphic novels, this highly stylized first person shooter has become a cult classic over the years. If you like conspiracy stories, cell-shaded graphics and a seamless blend of stealth and explosive action, then you will enjoy this game. Best feature: The kill cam, which consists of comic book style freeze frame inserts. So satisfying! Check out the comic book as well, while you’re at it. Just keep in mind that it’s far less stylized and far more adult than the game.
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Timesplitters: I haven’t personally played this series yet, but since it’s by former Rare developers, the same people responsible for Goldeneye and Perfect Dark, and extremely highly regarded, you should probably not pass it up. Note that the second and third game are also on Gamecube and will likely run better in Dolphin than the PS2 versions do in AetherSX2.
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Deus Ex: The classic immersive sim does qualify as a shooter if you choose to play it that way, but you’re far better off playing it slowly and meticulously as a stealth title. The PS2 port is very interesting. In some ways, it’s compromised, with slightly simplified graphics and levels having been broken up into smaller chunks due to memory constraints, but on the other hand, there is added detail to the environments and animations received a motion capture overhaul. There’s also a completely different UI. If you haven’t played this absolutely legendary title with sheer endless depth, complexity and replayability, then definitely give it a go.
Gamecube/Wii:
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Metroid Prime Trilogy: Sci-fi 3D Metroid goodness. I have to admit that I haven’t found the time and patience to really sink my teeth into these games yet, having only perfunctory experience with them, but there’s no denying that these are outstanding games, with strong, inventive mechanics, complex level design and excellent presentation.
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Resident Evil 4: The best console version of the original classic. The PS2 port was severely compromised, as was the original PC port. Note that on PC, you can install the RE4HD project, which is perhaps the most impressive fan remaster of all time. The developers of this mod even traveled to the locations that the original developers used for reference photos in order to capture material for enhanced textures and geometry. There are texture packs for Dolphin, which are however, to the best of my knowledge, nowhere near as in-depth. Still a decent way of experiencing this title though.
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Gun: Neversoft’s attempt at a third person open world Western game. A solid effort. Compared to Red Dead Redemption on Xbox 360 / PS3, it feels like amateur hour, but it’s still fine, with good combat, limited exploration and a solid story. The open world is unfortunately not very open, hampered by invisible walls and fairly bland design.
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James Bond: From Russia With Love: An unusual licensed title, based on 1960s James Bond with Sean Connery, dripping with atmosphere, charm and spectacle. There isn’t much depth here, but it looks great, plays fluently and is solid fun all around. If you like the idea of racing a classic Aston Martin through dense European streets in one level and fighting bad guys while being suspended from a jet pack in another as Sean Connery does his best to charm some hapless bond girl, then check this game out.
Cool :3
Wait, with re2 how do I use both discs in an emulator?
Not sure why you’re asking me, but just play the first disc first and then the second one.
Oh oki, thx
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Look in to F-droid, I tried few games it is hit or miss some are really good and some meh.
AAAAXY, super retro mega wars, minetest, lots of puzzle games - just a few that I tried and were decent or really good.
I enjoy Vector Pinball quite a bit. Have also been playing Chip Defense, Gridle and Lexica.
I’m into that, wait, those games have controller support? :o
Not most games on f-droid, no. But still worth looking into, imo.
Pathos NetHack (The OG Roguelike’s very newbie friendly fork and UI)
Rogue Saga (A simple, bare bones Roguelike, nice for a casual run)
Orna (If old school Final Fantasy were Pokemon Go, and didn’t have predatory monetization schemes) Heroes of Aethric is its non-GPS sibling.
Most of my free android games came from when Amazon did its Amazon Underground thing years ago, so you’re kinda SoL on that, sorry.
You can find a very nice list of games that fit your requirements here:
These all sound like emulator-ideal criteria to me!
There’s a lot of non-free versions of that which are super reasonable and meet all of your other criteria nicely. Stardew Valley, Slay the Spire. Games that are full games for a one time low cost.
Vampire Survivors.
The android version is free with optional benefits for watching ads. If you buy any of the paid DLC (~$2 per DLC?) you are given a menu option to disable the “watch an ad for free shit?” prompts, but they’re hardly in the way if you don’t want to pay a cent. Playable offline, controller supported and is tbh a massive game.
Simon Tatham’s Puzzles is a fantastic set of FOSS puzzle games. They look ugly, but they have easy intuitive controls with good instructions for many different puzzle games. (40, I guess?)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Alper.SwordOfXolan
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.shatteredpixel.shatteredpixeldungeon
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobge.Oddmar
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wlxd.retrorpg.android
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nitrome.icebreaker
And my personal favourites…
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=amiralpix.game.wild.road
That next to last link does not work for me. Not sure if it is a regional thing, though
Dead for me, too.
Free: Geometry Dash. Hill Climb Racing. Cookie Clicker. Minetest. Pojav Launcher. (Paid, but worth it: Stardew Valley)
How’s modding support of Stardew Valley on Android these days? Haven’t tried it on this platform in a while.
Never tried mods. The base game is enough for me!
There’s such a vibrant modding scene, you’re missing out on a lot. It’s almost like playing a Bethesda RPG without mods. So many quality of life mods and content expansions, chief among them Stardew Valley Expanded, which feels like a professionally made DLC that seamlessly integrates itself into the game, to the point that you often aren’t sure whether what you’re seeing is from the original game or made by these modders.
https://www.nexusmods.com/stardewvalley/mods/3753
Looking around, it might be a bit tricky to install on Android, but people have done it.
I’ve seen some other people play SDVE, but I haven’t even completed the base game yet, so that’s for after, if ever.
Chip Defense
A tower defense game with a microprocessor theme.
You can play a few maps of each level of Auralux 2 without buying it. I recently recommended it and got confirmation that it’s available on Android. Better than nothing.
I want to add OpenTTD and Battle for Polytopia to the list.
OpenTTD is a free as free can be transport simulation. You have to get used to the controls, but I had some fun with it on my android tablet. Although I prefer to play it on PC.
Battle for Polytopia is a Civilization style game with awesome Voxel graphic for mobile devices. One game in standard mode lasts about an hour. It is free2play in a way that you get the game and the first 3 civilizations for free and can buy additional ones for a small fee. Offline playing is possible and I’ve never seen any ads in it.Oh, and of course try Gwent.
This is a CCG in the world of The Witcher - known from the books, the games and of course the Netflix series too.
It’s free to play, and very generous to free players. No ads, no pay2win, and you gain ressources to craft your cards very fast.
If you want to see some gameplay: I am streaming it every wednesday on Twitch.