Best Baseball Games on Android: 3 Hidden Gems & 3 All-Time Faves

Baseball is one of America’s most popular sports, second only to American football. It also has a huge foothold in Japan and Korea, with competitive leagues and international-class players participating. So, it’s no surprise that there are a lot of baseball games on Android to choose from. But choice can be overwhelming, too: thankfully, that’s where this list can help.

Let’s be clear, though. Android baseball games will never match the in-depth gameplay the console games can offer. On top of that, many go too far into unsatisfying casual territory. But fret not, as I’ve managed to find 6 titles I enjoyed, from lesser-known management titles to well-loved licensed games that’ll appeal to MLB fans. So, without further ado, let’s have some fun!

3 Great Baseball Games Nobody Knows

Super Baseball League

Super Baseball League is a baseball game with a twist, in more ways than one. First, its exaggerated aesthetic sets it apart even compared to the more arcade-style offerings. However, Super Baseball League also differs gameplay-wise, focusing entirely on short 1v1, player-vs-player (PvP) matchups.

Unlike most baseball games, which involve a complete match with multiple innings, Super Baseball Games are one inning. Each player has one turn on offense and defense, with randomized runner setups each turn. Essentially, you bat once and pitch once, and the player who does better at both wins the match.

It’s not traditional in the least, but it does offer enjoyable bite-sized entertainment. Unfortunately, the PvP focus means the specter of freemium pay-to-win mechanics rears its ugly head here. To be clear, the usual multiple progression mechanics and currencies aren’t unexpected from a free-to-play game. However, the fact that you can use real money to buy start-boosting equipment allows players to spend their way to the top and brute-force wins—not cool for a 1v1 competitive game.

Beyond its potential issues with pay-to-win, I had a surprisingly fun time with Super Baseball League. While it will never satisfy the hardcore baseball fans out there, those who want quick pick-up-and-play games with a competitive edge will find much to enjoy here.

Pricing

Super Baseball League is free-to-play, with in-game monetization. Purchases in the in-game shop include booster packs, loot boxes, currency, players, and start-boosting team uniforms.

OOTP Baseball Go 24

OOTP Baseball Go 24 is the supposedly simplified mobile version of PC baseball management simulator Out of the Park Baseball 24. Despite that, it’s still an amazingly in-depth game that will test your mettle as an MLB or KBO League manager. Tired of the hustle and bustle of playing baseball matches? Give this game a go and get lost in another side of baseball.

OOTP Baseball Go 24 offers two modes: a standard Franchise Mode where you run an MLB, KBO, or fictional baseball team. In this mode, you compete in real-life or custom leagues with real or fictional rosters. If you opt for real-life leagues, you can also choose from the current MLB and KBO leagues or historical MLB leagues dating back to 1901. There’s also a Perfect Team Mode, which works like EA Sports FC’s Ultimate Team mode with card packs and an online league.

I only spent time with Franchise Mode, so I’ll focus on that mode. It’s what you’d expect from a sports management sim, offering you control of all aspects of a baseball team, including player transactions, budget management, and choosing playing staff. Of course, you don’t play the actual matches, so your team’s success depends on how well you manage these responsibilities.

Thankfully, you can assign OOTP Baseball Go 24’s AI assistant to most managerial tasks, allowing you to focus on only the areas you want. OOTP Baseball Go 24 also has an auto-play mode that gives the AI complete control and only asks for your input on specific occasions. It doesn’t quite turn OOTP Baseball Go 24 into an idle game, but it’s a good option for those who want a more hands-off experience.

If you’re interested in baseball (or sports) management and haven’t tried OOTP Baseball Go 24, you owe it to yourself to do so. There’s a huge learning curve, but even I, who have only ever dabbled in baseball management, found myself having fun with it after a while. Not that I won all that many games, mind you!

Pricing

OOTP Baseball Go 24 is free to download, but you must pay for the leagues you need to play the game. The 2024 MLB and KBO Leagues cost $4.99 each, while the historical leagues cost $0.99 each. Otherwise, the game doesn’t have any microtransactions.

Ultimate Baseball GM

Ultimate Baseball GM is another under-appreciated baseball game on Android, likely because most of you out there want to be in the thick of things playing a match instead of managing. But if you’re after something a bit different without the sheer depth of OOTP Baseball Go 24, then Ultimate Baseball GM might just be the ticket.

As the name suggests, Ultimate Baseball GM puts you in the shoes of a baseball team’s general manager. Here, you oversee all franchise operations, from signing players and hiring staff to managing facilities and dealing with sponsors and the boardroom. There’s a lot to do here, and dedicated sim and strategy game players will likely enjoy micromanaging every aspect of their playing team and franchise.

Unlike OOTP Baseball Go 24, Ultimate Baseball GM sneaks in some real-money microtransactions to support its free-to-play model. Thankfully, they’re not too egregious: You can pay real money to acquire specific gear vendors that boost stats or “training points” that you can use to boost player stats directly, but I had an OK time without resorting to either. You can also pay for a “bank boost” that increases your team’s bank balance.

Despite being a full-featured management sim, Ultimate Baseball GM feels slightly breezier and easier to pick up than OOTP Baseball Go 24—probably due to the more casual interface. And, while I won’t claim to be the foremost expert in baseball simulation, I think Ultimate Baseball GM is a great place to start for those of you curious about the management side of baseball games.

Pricing

Ultimate Baseball GM is free to play, with some in-game microtransactions, including a real-money shop that sells bank balance boosts and training points. You can also pay for a “Premium” mode with features like changing player and coach appearances, setting up custom games, and disabling injuries.

Best Android Baseball Games Ever: Our All-Time Favorites

Baseball 9

Baseball 9 is an arcade-style baseball game with a cartoony, unrealistic look and fictional franchises. While its aesthetic may make it seem like a simple, casual game at first glance, it’s actually one of the most enjoyable baseball games on Android.

It all starts with the actual gameplay, of course. Admittedly, Baseball 9 isn’t necessarily a deep game, with the usual simplified mechanics standard to Android baseball games. However, it’s still very satisfying to play. Pitching and batting feel good and require some skill since you actually have to aim. It’s not a one-button game like so many others, and I like that a lot about Baseball 9.

Like many of the best free Android games, Baseball 9 relies on freemium mechanics and in-app purchases—player packs, currencies, items—to sustain itself. However, my impression of Baseball 9 is that you can genuinely enjoy it without worrying too much about all those aspects. Yes, spending real-world money on the in-game currencies can give you an edge, especially as the in-game items can improve player stats, but it’s not essential.

Overall, I like Baseball 9 a lot. It lacks the glitzy presentation and real-world franchises of a licensed MLB game, but the game has it where it counts. It’s fun to play and offers a satisfying baseball experience regardless of skill level. Sure, the bobblehead-stye visuals may not be for everyone, but try and look past it and give Baseball 9 a go.

Pricing

Baseball 9 is free-to-play with microtransactions. In-app purchases include gems, coins, items, and player packs.

MLB 9 Innings 24

MLB 9 Innings 24 isn’t the only officially licensed MLB baseball Android game, but it definitely has one of the best presentations of the MLB experience we’ve seen thus far. If you’re after a licensed game that brings the teams, stadiums, and players of the MLB to a small screen, this might be the game to check out first.

MLB 9 Innings 24 is a free-to-play game with many of the genre’s usual trappings. Chief amongst them is a card-collecting mechanic, where you collect player cards to build and improve your team. You win cards and the currency to buy them by playing the game, but you can also spend real money on card packs.

The game plays fine enough: it’s simplified, as all Android baseball games are to some extent, but batting and pitching feel good, and the presentation is a cut above the unlicensed games. It’s perfectly serviceable and fun enough that I played through a handful of matches when I sat down to play it. The impatient can even choose to only play offense or defense, making matches much quicker and letting you focus more on collecting player cards. You also have some team management aspects, such as training (and upgrading) your players and managing the lineup, so there’s something for everyone here.

Overall, MLB 9 Innings 24 is a solid baseball game wrapped up in a flashy, licensed experience that’ll satisfy MLB die-hards. Those who just want a simple baseball game may need to look elsewhere, but MLB fans should find 9 Innings 24 right up their alley.

Pricing

MLB 9 Innings is a freemium game with in-game microtransactions. You can purchase most of the booster packs and other rewards using one of the game’s several currencies, which you can earn through gameplay or pay real money for. Other real-money transactions include special combo packs and time-limited, progression-boosting Play Passes.

Read: The 9 Best Free Sports Streaming Apps for Android & iPad

MLB Perfect Inning 24

MLB Perfect Inning 24 is one of the “big two” of officially licensed MLB baseball games on Android alongside MLB 9 Innings 24. It shares a lot of DNA with 9 Innings 24, but it’s still worth including on a list as it offers a slightly different overall feel, especially in the gameplay.

MLB Perfect Inning 24 aims for realism above everything else, from the graphics to the gameplay. The game broadly succeeds at the former, with detailed models that impress even compared to other MLB-licensed games. The gameplay perhaps doesn’t reach the same heights of fidelity, but it still feels compelling to play. It’ll never be as complex and satisfying as a console baseball game, but it’s a cut above many others.

Of course, you won’t be surprised that all the usual free-to-play trappings are present and accounted for here. Perfect Inning 24 has an in-game shop, several currencies and resources to accumulate and spend, and progression-accelerating passes. Like MLB 9 Innings 24, Perfect Inning 24 also has a card-collecting mechanic with player and booster packs. It’s not my favorite way to monetize a game, but I didn’t mind it beyond the cluttered menus.

However, one issue that did impact my enjoyment of the game was the performance. The gameplay stuttered noticeably on my Honor Pad X9, even with the settings turned down. While I admit that the Pad X9 is an entry-level tablet at best, I thought it was still worth pointing out, considering I had no such issues with the other baseball games I tried.

Potential performance issues aside, MLB Perfect Inning 24 is another solid licensed baseball game for Android users. Yes, I wish we could have an MLB game without all the free-to-play clutter, but Perfect Inning 24 has to rank as among the best for now. If you can’t live without your real-world players and teams, this is a game you’ll have to check out.

Pricing

MLB Perfect Inning 24 is a free-to-play game. As usual, it has a ton of microtransactions; these include player packs, items, special effect “tickets,” and currency.

Before You Go

If you’re a fan of sports, then why not examine the 9 Best Free Sports Streaming Apps for Android & iPad in 2024.

If you just bought an Android and want to know how to use it, here’s how to make full use of its capabilities.