When it comes to games, the Google Play store still pales in comparison to Apple’s thriving iPhone game selection, but it’s making up ground and many iOS developers are porting their games over. Things are beginning to change for gamers on Android. As such, we’ve listed out a bunch of great games available. Some are free and some cost a couple bucks, but all provide a good time. There are thousands of Android games. If you think we missed a particularly awesome one let us know. Until then, enjoy our picks for the best Android games.
Royal Revolt!
By Keen Games - download free on Android
In last month's Top 10 round-up, we featured Anomaly Korea, the latest in a growing sub-genre of tower offence games. Royal Revolt! joins that welcome uprising, and does so with considerable aplomb.
Rather than hole up against an attacking army, here you are the attacking army. It's up to you to grind down your hunkered-down opponent through grit and tactical acumen.
With superb 3D graphics, a likeable fantasy theme, and reasonably acceptable IAPs, Royal Revolt! is probably our favourite Android game of the month.
Colosseum Defense
By COCOSOFT - download free on Android
In this tap-happy defence game, you fend off waves of orcish enemies with a whopping great knife-gun. You heard - a knife-gun. Why no one thought to combine the two before, we'll never know.
While the action's pretty simplistic and repetitive, there's a compelling level-up system at the heart of the Colosseum Defense experience. Oh, and yet another example of a reasonable IAP system.
Is it just us, or do developers seem to be starting to get a handle on this?
Kingdom Conquest II
By Sega Mobile - download free on Android
This hugely involved title from Sega really puts a great many flimsy freemium titles to shame.
It's got city-building elements, it's got action-RPG dungeon-crawling bits, it's got card-battling sections. Yep, Kingdom Conquest II is big.
In fact, there are probably a few too many things going on here for its own good, but the last thing we want to do is talk a game down for ambition. Especially in the freemium category.
Gunslugs
By OrangePixel - buy on Android
This mixture of Metal Slug-style scrolling action and Super Crate Box-esque frantic weapon juggling results in another hit for OrangePixel.
Gunslugs's got that brilliant retro art style that the developer has gradually refined over half a dozen or so games. And, yes, it's tough as nails to boot.
A highly entertaining blaster.
Metal Slug 3
By SNK Playmore - buy on Android
Speaking of Metal Slug, Metal Slug 3 finally hit the wider Google Play Store this month, after appearing on iOS and Xperia Play in 2012.
It's the same super-detailed 2D platform-shooter that surfaced on the Neo Geo console in 2000 - though, admittedly, with somewhat compromised virtual controls.
All in all, this has proven a good month for retro shooters.