For a long time, arcade games were among the most popular in the world. They’re noted for their short play times, consistent challenge, and simple game play. Some popular examples from mobile’s early days include Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja, and Doodle Jump. The result is a highly addictive, enjoyable experience that gives players the urge to keep going. Arcade games on mobile aren’t quite the same as their coin-operated predecessors, but they can still provide a good time. Here are the best arcade games for Android!
- Enjoy more arcade games with the best pinball games for Android!
- It’s not Dance Dance Revolution, but here are some awesome rhythm games too!
Asphalt 8: Airborne
[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Asphalt 8: Airborne channels the arcade genre more than most. It features decent graphics, simple controls, and a metric ton of things that you can do. There are over 400 career events that you can race through, 1500 challenges to complete, five game modes, and an online multiplayer that supports races with up to 12 people. It also has a ton of customization options, limited time events, and the game is updated frequently to add new content. The in-app purchases are a bit of a bother, but you could do far worse in the arcade games genre.
Get it now on Google Play!
BADLAND
[Price: Free / $3.99]
BADLAND is a scrolling platformer game that is both fun to play and beautifully constructed. You play as a little forest dweller and you have to progress through levels before the scrolling level eats you alive. There are over 100 levels to play through, a multiplayer mode with 23 additional levels, and BADLAND features a level editor so that you can create your own levels. You’ll also get support for hardware game controllers, cloud saving, and more. You get a portion of the game for free and the rest is unlocked with a single $3.99 in-app purchase.
Get it now on Google Play!
Crossy Road
[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
It should shock nobody if you walked into an arcade games establishment and saw Crossy Road sitting there. That’s because it borrows a lot of game play elements from Frogger which actually was an arcade game. Crossy Road has you crossing various roads and streams while the player must avoid being run over by cars or falling into the water. It features a local multiplayer mode with up to four friends, support for game controllers along with Android TV, and has various characters that you can unlock. The in-app purchase strategy is less offensive than most and you can play the game an unlimited number of times for free.
Get it now on Google Play!
CSR Racing 2
[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
CSR Racing 2 is a drag-racing game with excellent graphics, simple game play, and tons of stuff to do. The premise is that you must drag race your way to the top of the ranks and dominate the competition. The game features cars from actual manufacturers along with a variety of customization options to help give the game some depth. You’ll also get an online multiplayer mode and a enough single player campaign missions to keep things interesting for a while. This is one of those really quick arcade games that you can pick up, play for a few minutes, and then put it down if needed.
Get it now on Google Play!
Five Nights at Freddy’s 1-4
[Price: $2.99 each]
Five Nights at Freddy’s is a series of arcade games where you must stay awake all night and keep creepy monsters from getting at you. Each game has its own variation of the mechanics. With some, you’ll be hanging out in a restaurant with security cameras and in others, you’ll be playing in a bedroom with a flashlight. The games are relatively short and the mechanics are simple, but there is a challenge there that should be entertaining for many. There are also a lot of Easter eggs that hint at a deeper story. It’s fun and relatively inexpensive.
Get it now on Google Play!
See also: The best Android games, ever!174
Geometry Wars 3
[Price: $9.99]
Geometry Wars was one of the most iconic and popular arcade games for the Xbox 360 and the latest iteration is available on Android also. The idea is that you play on a geometrically themed game board while you blow up tons of bad guys in epic, colorful explosions. This iteration contains over 100 levels across 15 stages (called grids). There are also six companion drones to choose from, five super abilities to choose from, and game pad support. There is also support for Android TV. It’s a tad more expensive than most, but there are no in-app purchases which is a plus.
Get it now on Google Play!
NBA Jam
[Price: $4.99]
NBA Jam is another one of those mobile arcade games that used to be an actual arcade game. The mobile version has been faithfully recreated and it plays just like the old versions used to. You’ll be playing two-on-two basketball either by yourself with three AI players, with a second person on local multiplayer, or up to four players online. The rules are a little more loose and you’ll be allowed to do things like shove other players to steal the ball. It’s relatively inexpensive and a good game to play with friends.
Get it now on Google Play!
PewDiePie: Legend of the Brofist
[Price: $4.99]
Like him or hate him, PewDiePie has a pretty decent mobile game to his name. Legend of the Brofist contains a mash-up of genres including platformer and shooter which adds a variety of game play elements to the experience. It’s full of pop culture and YouTube references and you can even unlock and play as other popular YouTubers. The game itself features various levels, boss fights, secret treasures, and a hard mode that you can challenge yourself with after you beat the game. There are also no in-app purchases.
Get it now on Google Play!
PewPew 2
[Price: $2.57]
PewPew 2 is a retro style shooter with minimal graphics and one of the most difficult “hard modes” out there. It’s a top-down shooter and your job will be blowing up all of the bad guys on the screen. There are nine game modes, a single player campaign, boss fights, and more. Under the hood, you have leaderboards with full replays so you can see how the score was obtained, achievements, and the game boasts a solid FPS count. It’s inexpensive and it also works on Android TV and other set top boxes.
Get it now on Google Play!
Ridiculous Fishing
[Price: $2.99]
Ridiculous Fishing is one of only a few really good fishing games on Android. It features retro-style graphics and simple mechanics that make it quick and easy to play. Here’s how the game works. You toss your lure into the water and it sinks down. At some point, you start hauling it back up again. On the way down, you have to avoid as many fish as possible and then hook those fish on your way back up. There is unlockable content, no in-app purchases, and tons of stuff to do. It’s not bad for $2.99.
Get it now on Google Play!
See also: The best free Android games of all time!107
Sky Force Reloaded
[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Sky Force Reloaded is an ode to the top-down shooters of old, except this one has way better graphics than the old ones did. In terms of game play, the mechanics are fairly simple and easy to understand. You press and move your finger around the screen to move the character while firing at bad guys that appear on the screen. You’ll also have mini missions, including picking up survivors and finishing levels after fulfilling various conditions. It’s free with in-app purchases, but the IAP strategy isn’t overly bad and the game should be enjoyable for most.
Get it now on Google Play!
Smash Hit
[Price: Free / $1.99]
Smash Hit is an infinite runner that is unlike most other infinite runner titles. This one presents itself from the first person perspective and your job is to throw balls and break panes of glass that pop up in your way. The balls also double as your life total so you have to be a little strategic on when you throw them. The graphics are pretty decent and the pro version even comes with a save feature so you can continue where you left off. The game contains only one in-app purchase which unlocks the full game.
Get it now on Google Play!
Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and 2
[Price: $2.99 each]
Sonic the Hedgehog, along with being one of the most memorable platformers of all time, was also actually an arcade game. The mobile version are direct ports of the original and you’ll be able to play all the levels from Sonic 1 and 2 in their respective glory. Couple that with a cheap price tag, hardware controller support, some new levels, and a new Boss Attack Mode, and you have a couple of games that fans of arcade games could really enjoy. They’re also a must have if you like the Sonic series.
Get it now on Google Play!
SoulCalibur
[Price: $13.99]
SoulCalibur is an arcade-style fighter where you go head-to-head against an opponent. It’s a direct port of the original arcade game from the late 1990s and the game has been faithfully recreated. Aside from the addition of on-screen controls, everything else remains pretty much unchanged. You’ll have just shy of two dozen characters to choose from along with five game modes that you can play. It’s fairly expensive compared to most games, but it comes with Google Play Games support as well as support for Android TV.
Get it now on Google Play!
True Skate
[Price: $1.99 with in-app purchases]
True Skate is one of the most popular skateboarding games on mobile. The idea is that you play as a disembodied skateboard and your fingers are used to skate around and perform tricks. It features a lot of intangible things that add charm to the game, including wear and tear on the skateboard, slow motion replays, and more. You’ll get some places to skate, but you’ll have to unlock the majority of parks and courses using in-app purchases along with tons of other stuff. The game is really fun, even if the the in-app purchase strategy is rather aggressive.
Get it now on Google Play!
Related best app lists:
If we missed any of the best arcade games for Android, tell us about them in the comments!To see our complete list of best app lists, click here.
Leave A Comment