You don't have to pay to fall in love with these Android games! - Android

You can play these great games without spending a dime.

Have some time to kill and only your trusty Android phone to keep you company? Take a gander at some of the most exciting, engaging, and free games you can download from the Google Play Store. We have a healthy mix, including shooters, puzzle games, racing, and lots more.

If you're itching for something more, may I suggest checking out our list of the best Android games?

The games

• Call of Duty: Mobile
• PUBG Mobile
• Fortnite
• Modern Strike Online: PRO FPS
• Mindustry
• Stranger Things: The Game
• Ancestor
• Pokémon Go
• Vainglory
• Asphalt 9: Legends
• Alto's Odyssey
• Clash Royale
• Sky Force Reloaded
• Anima
• Hearthstone
• Gwent
• Legends of Runeterra
• Transmission
• Data Wing
• Chessplode
• Eternium
• Brawlhalla
• Animal Crossing Pocket Camp
• Genshin Impact

Call of Duty: Mobile

Call of Duty: Mobile is a free-to-play game buoyed by a premium Battle Pass system and in-app purchases. The good news is you don't need to spend any money to enjoy the best of Call of Duty action on your phone. The even better news is that the gameplay is top-notch and will feel familiar to veterans of the series while remaining accessible for more casual players.

Choose between 5-on-5 battles on your favorite CoD maps or dive into a 100-player Battle Royale mode in a first- or third-person perspective. CoD Mobile is perfect for a quick game on the bus, metro, or waiting somewhere. The 5v5 matches go by pretty quickly since they have a lower point threshold than the full Modern Warfare experience. Controller support comes standard, even if it feels like cheating sometimes,

Not only is this one of the best freebies on the Play Store, but it's the best shooter for Android. From the different control schemes to the ease of play, CoD Mobile is a surprisingly good Activision product. I haven't spent a dime in the hours I've played, and you don't have to, either.

Call of Duty: Mobile

Free w/ IAPs at Google Play Store

The quintessential shooter experience on Android, Call of Duty: Mobile is easily accessible to all while providing a lot of fun for CoD and FPS veterans.

PUBG Mobile

PUBG Mobile's main attraction is its massive PvP Battle Royale mode, which pits 100 players against each other on a massive island loaded with weapons, ammo, tactical gear, and vehicles. Thanks to Tencent Games continuing to add new content to the game, there are multiple maps and more arcade-style modes to choose from for shorter sessions.

Like many similar games, there's a tiered progression ladder with a free game pass and a premium one that offers more cosmetic rewards. Every 6-8 weeks, the game pass resets. It's a fairly typical monetization method popularized by Fortnite, so it's no surprise to see it here. If you loved PUBG on PC, then be sure to check out PUBG Mobile for that battle royale experience.

PUBG Mobile

Free w/ IAPs at Google Play Store

PUBG, thought by many to be the game that made the battle royale genre popular, is available on Android. It gets regular updates and sports a battle pass.

Fortnite

Unlike the previous two shooters, Fortnite on Android is the full package deal. It's not a mobile version of a pre-existing game — Fortnite packs in the same action you'll find on your PC or console. You even get to keep and work on your saved battle pass progress.

Fortnite is one of the most popular games in the world, but it's been on Android for a little while. However, a legal spat has seen the game kicked off the Play Store, meaning that you will have to sideload it to play. Samsung users can install it via the Galaxy Store. The link to download the Epic Games will be below.

Many have tried to copy Fortnite's formula, some to varying degrees of success, but it's hard to unseat the king, even after so many years. Fortnite is packed to the brim with microtransactions, from the battle pass to cosmetics. That's exactly how it is on other platforms. Since this is the full version of the game, you'll get to see every update and addition when they go live (except on iOS and Mac). So have at it.

Fortnite

Free w/ IAPs at Epic Games Store

Fortnite has been booted off the Play Store, but you can still sideload the king of battle royales if you want to play on your phone.

Modern Strike Online: PRO FPS

Modern Strike Online offers a pure online FPS experience packed with many great quick match options. You earn experience as you play, which levels you up to unlock new game modes. There are six in total, including most of the standard fare you'd expect — free-for-all, team deathmatch, seek and destroy, and a hardcore mode.

In-game currency can be bought via in-app purchases or earned via daily rewards, crates, and generally kicking ass, which can then be spent on new weapons, armor, and accessories for your character. There's a decent amount of customization available for kitting, with over 30 types of weapons available to rent or buy.

If Call of Duty: Mobile isn't to your liking, but you're still wanting some awesome shooting action, then be sure to check out Modern Strike Online.

Modern Strike Online: PRO FPS

Free w/ IAPs at Google Play Store

This is another great shooter. Modern Strike Online packs a ton of content, customization, and excellent progression for a free title.

Mindustry

Mindustry is an incredible open-ended sandbox tower defense game that will blow you away with the level of depth and customization available to the player. Not only do you need to build up your defenses, but you must also maintain your supply chain for delivering resources to your base and turrets.

The campaign mode tasks you with mining resources while defending against waves of highly aggressive enemies, and there's also full support for custom multiplayer matches and a map editor. It wasn't long until I started developing some rudimentary strategies that worked for a while, but soon the AI enemies figured out my tactics, managed to bypass my defenses, and wrecked my base.

The whole game is free-to-play with no ads or in-app purchases.

Mindustry

Free at Google Play Store

A completely free game with no strings attached, Mindustry is a massively fun tower defense game that requires a ton of strategy to conquer.

Brawl Stars

Developed by Supercell — famous, or perhaps infamous, for Clash of Clans — Brawl Stars is a fast-paced arena brawler unlike most other games on the Play Store. It's a departure from the Clash of Clans universe. Instead, it lets players team up in a MOBA game that differentiates itself from others in the genre with its colorful and cartoony look backed by great gameplay variety.

There are multiple game modes available, which rotate every couple of hours, so there's always something new to play whenever you log into the app. Each game is quick, lasting less than three minutes, so it's perfect for some bite-sized gaming. There's plenty of things to unlock, leaderboards to conquer, and cosmetics for the brawlers.

Brawl Stars

Free w/ IAPs at Google Play Store

Here's a fun, fast-paced, and easily-digestible MOBA for your gaming pleasure. Brawl Stars is a fun time with plenty to do and see and lots of variety to keep things interesting.

Stranger Things: The Game

As if Stranger Things itself isn't enough of a nostalgia trip/throwback, Stranger Things: The Game is a surprisingly great game for what was mainly a marketing tool for the Netflix show's second season. All the characters, settings, and themes from the source material are converted into a pixel-retro action-adventure game similar in gameplay to the older Legend of Zeldas (specifically Adventure of Link).

Where other 2D adventure games try and use a digital d-pad for control, Stranger Things uses a simple tap control system that works well. The game is a good mix of puzzle-solving and action, with your favorite characters from the show to unlock and add to your party. There's a surprising amount of depth to this game, and everything feels complete for a free game.

Stranger Things: The Game

Free at Google Play Store

The strangest things surprise you, and such was the case with Stranger Things: The Game. It's a holistic and completely free game without any ads or IAPs.

Ancestor

Ancestor is a fast-paced puzzler mixed with a side-scrolling action runner. You'll need sharp reflexes and quick thinking if you have any hopes of getting far in this game. You play as a cloaked hero who must traverse dangerous lands filled with traps and enemies — all with the help of a mysterious orb that shoots lasers.

Clear the path ahead by solving quick puzzles and shooting down enemies — including boss battles — as the game adapts to your skills and ups the difficulty as you go. If you want to support the developer, you can purchase cosmetic upgrades for your character and laser orb, but you can also unlock all items by collecting the in-app currency during gameplay.

Ancestor

Free w/ IAPs at Google Play Store

A gorgeous and addicting game, Ancestor mixes puzzles with side-scrolling running action. Test your reflexes and puzzle-solving skills and enjoy a great game while you're at it.

Pokémon Go

Pokémon Go is still going strong with a healthy player base still catching 'em all. While the initial craze has died down, it's still common to see folks playing Pokémon Go on the bus and elsewhere around the city. It's so popular that chances are you've already checked the game out or are one of the millions out there still exploring your city for rare finds and community event days. It even adapted to the pandemic problem and people being stuck at home, so kudos to Niantic for doing that.

Pokémon Go was the first game to usher in location-based augmented reality games to the mainstream, and it remains the most fleshed out and fun to play of all the games we've seen.

You can play the game without ever making a single purchase, but if you want additional storage, egg incubators, etc., then you'll need to fork over some money. It's a great game for summertime and heading outside with friends... once it's safe to do so, of course.

Pokémon Go

Free w/ IAPs at Google Play Store

Pokémon Go is insanely popular for many reasons. Everyone gets something different out of it, and it's the perfect summer pastime.

Vainglory

Vainglory is one of the best multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games for mobile that offers cross-platform support. The game looks stunning and offers 120FPS for devices that support it. There are game modes for both casual and competitive play, with Blitz 3-vs-3 games available for fast five-minute matches and a robust 5-vs-5 mode that typically lasts up to 25 minutes.

Featuring an ever-growing roster of heroes to choose from and exciting action that you can play on the go, Vainglory is a solid game that's free to play and supported by in-app purchases. In my experience, Vainglory's biggest problems are its server stability, its slow, unrewarding progression system, and terrible matchmaking. It's a crapshoot if you're going to land on a solid team or get stomped before you can even blink.

Still, Vainglory is the best MOBA on Android, and it's a blast to play when things work right. I've never stepped into the competitive environment since MOBAs have never been my forte, but the casual mode is just fine for me.

Vainglory

Free w /IAPs at Google Play Store

Vainglory is the MOBA experience on Android, offering good gameplay for casuals and sweaty players alike.

Asphalt 9: Legends

Asphalt 9: Legends is the latest entry in this celebrated mobile racing game franchise and brings more of the frantic arcade racing action you love. The Asphalt series has always skipped over all pretensions of realism — outside of the photo-realistic car renders — to provide an over-the-top, high-octane experience with all the fixings.

Players can work their way through career mode, where they unlock new rides and upgrades for your garage and cars or take the competition online in multiplayer. The incredibly polished graphics and outstanding soundtrack make Asphalt 9 an adrenaline trip you won't soon forget.

Of course, it has the usual Gameloft trappings, like a stamina meter and plenty of microtransactions for in-game items (including refreshing that stamina meter). Still, you can get by without spending any cash, so from that standpoint, Asphalt 9 is a great free game. If you love cars, this is a great game for you.

Asphalt 9: Legends

Free w/ IAPs at Google Play Store

Now a legendary mobile racing franchise, Asphalt 9: Legends continues with the high-powered supercar races you love.

Alto's Odyssey

Odyssey is a beautiful game that features simple controls and endless replayability. The game builds off of the physics introduced in Alto's Adventure. It feels quite familiar, except Odyssey swaps the snowy mountain setting for a diverse one that transitions from desert dunes to lush temple sections.

This game has introduced some fun new gameplay mechanics, including hot air balloons, wall riding, and dust devils that will toss your character into the air. It all comes together to feel like a unique adventure, taking the best parts from the first game and adding new ways for linking tricks and exploring the slopes.

Alto's Odyssey

Free w/ IAPs at Google Play Store

Alto's Adventure was already a fun game, but Odyssey is one step further. Master the slopes using a variety of tricks as you hurtle downwards.

Clash Royale

Grown tired of Clash of Clans gameplay but still love the characters and world that the folks at Supercell have created? Clash Royale is for you! You get to unlock and upgrade classic troops, build your battle deck, and take on real-life opponents in real-time battles.

Join or create a clan and share cards and strategies with friends from around the world. You'll need to employ quick thinking and genuine strategy to win, so you'll be compelled to keep tweaking your decks by working in new cards. This game's been around for a few years now, so there's a ton of grinding and chest unlocks ahead for newer players to rank up and unlock all the best troop cards and whatnot.

Clash Royale

Free w/ IAPs at Google Play Store

A new game from the Clash of Clans universe, Clash Royale asks you to build your deck of battle cards and take on other players in 1v1 combat.

Sky Force Reloaded

Sky Force Reloaded is one of those pure games that's just a blast to play. It's a top-down shooter that harkens back to the classic retro genre with gorgeous graphics and challenging gameplay. Blast your way through 15 action-packed missions as you take down enemies while dodging the attacks they send back your way.

Collect stars and upgrade your ships as you try to earn all medals on each mission at each difficulty level. There's also plenty of eye candy, unlockables to find, and skills to unlock. It's an incredibly well-polished game from a storied and celebrated franchise, making Sky Force Reloaded an absolute must-play.

Sky Force Reloaded

Free w/ IAPs at Google Play Store

Fans of the old arcade top-down shooters will love Sky Force Reloaded. It's gorgeous, well-made, and a blast to play.

Anima

Anima is an action RPG (ARPG) that feels like a serious Diablo II clone, but that's not a bad thing. It's an incredibly addicting game, as ARPGs tend to be, and it looks good while being so. The dark fantasy setting draws you in just enough to keep you chasing loot.

I enjoy this game so much that it featured as my first Game of the Week. Anima's controls are fantastic — they don't get in the way, but it's easy to attack and use abilities.

This is a free-to-play game with microtransactions, but it seems to be similar to Path of Exile where they're not in your face, and you can play through the game on your own terms. You can pay a little bit to unlock three more character slots, two additional inventory tabs, and a weapon upgrade. There are other purchases, too, like dungeon keys and a skill reset item.

Anima

Free w/ IAPs at Google Play Store

Anima is a Diablo clone, but that doesn't mean it's not a good ARPG. It's tons of fun.

Hearthstone

Hearthstone is the king of card games on Android and is an overall gaming culture icon. It's massively popular, partly because it's free to get started and partly because it taps into Blizzard's beloved Warcraft universe. It came onto the scene in 2014 and took over from there. Tons of expansion packs have been released since then, so there's a ton of content here for new players to dive into.

Hearthstone pits you against another player in 1v1 combat, where your goal is to knock down their health pool to 0 before they do the same to you. Different cards have different abilities, some of which attack or defend. With all of the expansions, there's a lot of variety, and deck build diversity.

This game is simple to pick up, but it's open to some wild strategies. It's fun, but the pressure to buy new packs can be exhausting.

Hearthstone