Back in September of 2024, I took some time to talk about some of the Android games I found myself playing the most at the time. Somehow, 9 months later, what I’m playing has almost completely changed from the last go around, and now there are way more games worth playing on the Play Store. Even if it is hard to actually navigate to new and upcoming games there.
So if you’re looking for a few more recommendations for Android games, this is just a few of my favorites that might be worth taking a look at. Or you could go to the Retro Tech Dad’s YouTube channel on this…he’s got like 15 videos on the topic.
AK-Xolotl
This is one game I wouldn’t recommend using a touchscreen for. AK-Xolotl is a “Cute and Deadly” roguelike, twinstick shooter. And of course, going by the name, you’re going to be an AK-powered Axolotl the entire time. While it’s $20 on Steam, the Android port of the game comes in at a much smaller, $9.49. With controller support, it’s up to you to go down into the dungeons, blast your enemies up, and collect materials. Which you can use to grow new and more powerful Axolotls for future runs through your dungeons.
For me, this has been an incredibly addictive game, and now that it’s on Android, I’ve had a lot more opportunities to play through the game. It’s one that I recommend, especially if you’re a fan of the Gungeon series (which is coming to the Play Store soon as well).
Wreckfest
As always, I’ve gotta get one racing game on the list, and this time it’s going to be given to Wreckfest. I’m used to racing games where I can slam into opponents in an attempt to get past them, but this one’s a bit different. Smashing and slamming is the name of the game, and destroying your opponents is the goal.
A demolition derby-style racing game is something you might not know you needed. However, as a fan of Dirt Showdown, Wreckfest has been a really fun and solid next step up. The physics does well enough for my liking, and the feeling only grows more interesting as your car gets destroyed and loses just about every panel on its body. For the $9.99 price tag, you’re getting another solid game. I’m just happy to see more racing games hit the Play Store. I just hope Google doesn’t randomly kill their compatibility.
Donut County
Are you a fan of Katamari games? Do you have $4.99 that you could spend on a really cute game with a nice short story that’s full of holes? Well, Donut County might be the one for you. It’s not the longest game, but Donut County is a fun little romp in which you’re moving a hole around your environment to swallow objects and get larger. The nicest bit is that Donut County comes with a cute story alongside it, and a talking raccoon to boot. If you’re looking for a fun, calmer game to pair with the intensity of something like Wreckfest, this is the one I’d recommend.
Spiritfarer
On the other hand, if you enjoy Stardew Valley but wish it had more water, Spiritfarer is another choice for you, and it’s on the Google Play Store via Netflix Games. The entire purpose of Spiritfarer is to build up your boat so that you can comfortably ferry the spirits to their afterlife. While it’s not an endless game, you’re welcome to take your time as you fulfill your quests in-game.
The story of Spiritfarer is quite an emotional one, and the further in you get, the more you really connect with your passengers. Just don’t get too attached. Considering the game only needs a Netflix account to play on your devices, I can always recommend just giving this one a try if you’ve got the time and the need to fish.
Pang Adventures
Last but certainly not least is a $3 game that’s going to be up you’re alley if you were someone who grew up playing Pang, or Buster Brothers. And that’s mostly because it’s supposed to be a continuation or remake of the originals. In Pang Adventure, you’re just a little guy with a harpoon and a goal. Destroy every last balloon.
It sounds pretty simple until you realize that once you break the big balloons, they just turn into smaller and harder to hit balloons as well. You’ve gotta be careful, because one hit knocks you out. Pang Adventures isn’t the hardest game in the world, but it can be challenging if you don’t take your time with it to make sure you don’t just run into a small balloon for the fifth time. If you’re into classic arcade-style games, this is one that’s going to be worth it to grab.
Final Words
As a whole, it’s awesome to see more and more PC games getting ported over to Android. From Grid to Gungeon to ScourgeBringer, the number of choices on the market is getting more and more prevalent. The most unfortunate part about choosing to buy your games on the Google Play Store is the concerns regarding delisting and eventual incompatibility with older games if they stop pushing updates for them. I mean, I have Terraria, but half of the devices I own won’t let me download it.
The Play Store is an evolving market with a bunch of options to play. While I’ve only talked about this topic once, there are plenty more options out there that could suit your specific game needs. And if you’re looking for even more choices on what to play, you can always check out the Android Games series by Rob the Retro Tech Dad. Just don’t dive too deep, or you’ll spend way too much money on mobile games.
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