Top Android Games

Monument Valley 2

Like the original, Monument Valley 2 makes use of forced perspective to create truly mind-bending puzzles. This time you control two characters: a woman and her child. Monument Valley 2 follows the pair as the offspring is taught about the mysteries of the valley. And how very mysterious it is. This game is simple to control. Just tap where you want your character to move, and they'll go there if at all possible. Often you need to manipulate the level in some way by making use of slider, levers, and buttons. As you twist and contort, objects will appear to line up differently. In Monument Valley 2, any platforms that appear to be connected are actually connected. It's like playing an MC Escher artwork. The stunningly beautiful visuals are a big part of the appeal. The game has a simple geometric style with bright colors and imaginative vistas. the puzzles aren't the most challenging, but they're super-fun. It's well worth the $4.99 asking price.

Card Thief

Another card game? Yes, but Card Thief is unlike any card game you've played before. Picture this: you have a thief card on a game board with 11 other cards, most of which are enemy guards. You must move stealthily from one spot to the next, approaching from the shadows to take out guards and swipe the loot. Get caught, and it's game over. Neat, right? Card Thief takes some time to master as many of the cards have their own properties and special considerations. For example, some guards have torches that illuminate nearby squares, stripping away more of your stealth points. You have to clear all the cards in the deck before the exit appears, and then you have to actually make it out with your loot. The game lets you equip a handful of special powers to help, but they won't work miracles. You still have to be very careful where you step. Card Thief has a whimsical visual style, and the cards have cute (sometimes informative) animations. it's sort of "cartoon gothic." Card Thief is free with a $2.99 in-app purchase to remove ads and loot unlock timers. It's well worth the price.

Crashlands

Crashland was released in 2016 and it’s already among the best Android games ever made. It features an intergalactic trucker that ends up crash landed on an alien planet. Your job is to find out what’s going on, build yourself a base, collect various items (and craft them), and save the world from a nefarious plot. It has an RPG element for character development, tons of items that you can collect and craft, and the game makes itself easier by doing things like auto-sorting your inventory. It’s a ton of fun and contains dozens of hours of content. The best part? There are no in-app purchases to get in the way.

Iron Marines

There is a dearth of good real-time strategy games on Android, but Iron Marines manages to make the genre viable on the small screen. Actually, it's not only viable—Iron Marines is downright fun. Iron Marines comes from the developer of the Kingdom Rush series of tower defense games, so the look and feel will be familiar to fans of those. Iron Marines successfully simplifies the base-building and unit management mechanics of an RTS for mobile without making the game too easy. There's a bit of tower building around your base, but this is mainly a military strategy game. Combat is in real time, and you can select individual units or an entire group at once. In addition to regular ground units, you have orbital strike abilities and a hero character. There are currently two chapters that take place in very different environments. More areas will be added later as well. The game costs $4.99, and there are some small in-app purchases available. However, the balance is fair, and gameplay is not negatively impacted by the IAPs.

South Park: Phone Destroyer

Most free-to-play games are terrible in one way or another... or in multiple ways at the same time. South Park: Phone Destroyer isn't bad, though. it's actually pretty excellent in spite of the plethora of in-app purchases. This is an action game with all your favorite South Park characters taking on various roles in the biggest game of cowboys vs. indians you've ever seen. The game eventually branches out to include fantasy, sci-fi, and other versions of characters. South Park: Phone Destroyer is a collectible card game at its heart. You get cards for characters, and then play them in short combat-oriented levels to take out the opposing team's units. You have cards like Sheriff Cartman, Astronaut Butters, Posieden Stan, and so on. Beating a level gets you some loot, possibly including in-game currency, new cards, and upgrade items. The difficulty isn't over-the-top, so you're not constantly pushed to spend money. There are also PvP battles that can earn you free items and upgrades. Phone Destroyer looks like the cartoon, and there's even some original animation and voice acting for the game. It has the same vibe as the show, and the writing is excellent. This is one of the most compelling free-to-play games out there—it's a million times better than Clash of Whatever.

Monument Valley returns

Monument Valley returns to the list with the release of Monument Valley 2. Both games are still very excellent. In fact, they both have virtually identical game play mechanics and graphics. The player adventures through Escher-style puzzles where levels are movable to complete the path using illusions. The premise is still charming and the Monument Valley franchise continues to stand as a couple of the best mobile games ever. The first one runs for $3.99 with an optional $1.99 in-app purchase for the Forgotten Shores DLC. The second game runs for $4.99 right now.

Neon Chrome

Most Android games only cost a few dollars, and I'll say up front that Neon Chrome is not one of them. It costs a whopping $10, but it's absolutely worth that amount of money. This top-down, dual-stick shooter is the best shooter I've ever seen on a mobile device. There are around 20 levels of action, including some wild boss battles. The best part: Neon Chrome has infinite replayability because the levels are different every time. Neon Chrome has a roguelike element, so you have to start all over when you die. However, the resources gathered while playing can unlock new abilities for your next run. There are also many different weapons and classes in the game that suit varying play styles. If you want to sneak up on enemies and pin them down, there are loadouts perfectly suited to that. Want to run in, guns blazing? You can do that too. This game has a delicious "outrun" visual style with lots of homages to 1980s cyberpunk. The graphics are impressive, and it runs well. That $10 price tag unlocks the whole game—no in-app purchases to be found. If you are looking for a game you'll actually want to play even if you've got a computer or console around, grab Neon Chrome.