8 Best Casual Games for Android Tablets | 2024 Edition

Not everyone has the time and dedication to commit to a game and obsess over it. This is where casual games come in. It’s the perfect way to relax and have fun during your downtime. They’re easy to pick up and play with but have enough challenge and variety to keep you engaged and entertained.

Now, I’m a gamer myself, and recently, I have been spending more time playing casual games on my Android tablet than on my PC. With their more dialed-in gameplay, they’ve been enough to scratch my gaming itch.

Here are the top 10 casual games I have played extensively and enjoyed:

Alto’s Odyssey

Stressful days will come, and when they do, you just want something that can distract you for a few minutes. Alto’s Odyssey is a game that will mesmerize you with its beauty and tranquillity while also getting you excited and thrilled with the action and adventure it holds.

Don’t let the endless runner tag fool you, as Alto’s Odyssey features enchanting graphics, dynamic weather, and a relaxing soundtrack. You can play a game for a few minutes or hours, depending on how long you want to be distracted.

The game’s mechanics are simple. You control Alto, a sandboarder who jumps on obstacles, performs tricks, collects coins, and avoids obstacles. Tap on the screen, and Alto launches himself through the air. Hold it, and he’ll do a backflip. Chain these tricks, and you’ll get a speed boost as you make your way through the endless but beautiful desert.

As you progress through the game, the scenery changes, and you can explore different biomes, from the dunes to the canyons and, finally, the temples. There’s also a lot of additional content by unlocking new characters, boards, and abilities, increasing its replay value.

Alto’s Odyssey is still a paid app on iOS, and we Android users are lucky to be able to play it for free. Whenever I have 5 to 10 minutes to spare and want to take my mind off work, I reach for my tablet and launch the game. I’ll take in the sights and sounds and return feeling refreshed to work.

Rating: 4.5/5
Price: Free with ads

Google Play Store Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.noodlecake.altosodyssey&hl=en&gl=US

Candy Crush Saga

It won’t be a casual game list without a match-3 puzzle game. And we’re going with the classic with millions of fans around the world, Candy Crush Saga. 

The franchise has expanded with multiple titles, but I’m sticking with the one where I have logged hundreds of hours of playtime.

The game’s premise is simple: swipe the candies on the screen to make matches of three or more of the same color. If you match four or more, you’ll create special candies with abilities that explode or clear entire rows and columns to fulfill the level’s objectives.

Each level is unique, with a different objective every time. You have limited moves to complete each one, so you must plan each move carefully to maximize your chances of proceeding to the next. Some levels will require you to think on your feet as you’ll have to face blockers that add to the difficulty.

Even though Candy Crush Saga is simple enough to play, you’ll get sucked in, and it will frustrate you, especially when you come across incredibly difficult levels. Sometimes, in-game events grant you unlimited attempts for a certain time, and I usually play more than I planned.

Rating: 4.6/5
Price: Free

Google Play Store Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.king.candycrushsodasaga&hl=en&gl=US

Angry Birds 2

Who says you can’t learn physics while playing a game? With Angry Birds 2, you sort of can. It’s the sequel to the popular bird-flinging puzzle game where you launch birds from a slingshot to destroy structures built by your archnemesis, the evil pigs.

It’s a simple and intuitive game to learn, as all you need to do is drag and release the birds on a slingshot and aim at the pigs and their fortress. You can select different types of birds, each with their abilities that will help you topple buildings and get rid of your enemies.

The games have a lot of variety and challenges as you go through the different levels. I always find myself going for the next boss, whether Foreman Pig, Chef Pig, or King Pig, as it adds more depth from the building-toppling main premise of the game.

You’re not limited to the regular pigs, as there are also bosses like Foreman Pig, Chef Pig, and King Pig with their own sets of abilities.

The game has replay value, which I can attest to since I’ll mindlessly tap on the icon and start playing. Unlocking new birds, cards, and abilities will give your games a different dynamic as the pigs also fortify their defenses.

It’s an endlessly entertaining game with colorful graphics and animations. I have played the original Angry Birds, but the sequel takes the quirkiness to an entirely new level.

Rating: 4.3/5
Price: Free

Google Play Store Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rovio.baba&hl=en_US

Threes! Freeplay

Threes! Freeplay is a minimalist puzzle game that requires you to swipe and match numbers on the grid. The goal is to create the highest possible number by combining multiples of three. It’s a game that’s simple to learn but hard to master, as you must plan to avoid filling up the board.

The game features a 4×4 grid, where new tiles randomly appear whenever you swipe. You can only combine tiles with the same number, or 1s and 2s, to make a 3. When you combine tiles, they merge into a new one with the sum of their values. The game ends when the grid is full, and there are no more moves to make.

Since the gameplay is short and simple, it does have a lot of depth and strategy. It allows me to think carefully about each move and its consequences to beat my current high scores. It can get serious, so they dial it back with its relaxing and cheerful vibe.

If you look closely, the tiles have different faces and expressions, making funny noises whenever you swipe them.

Since this is the free version, you’re only limited to 15 plays. However, you can watch ads to add three more. You can always buy the premium version on the Google Play Store for $0.99 if you don’t want to watch ads for plays.

The additional three games you get in exchange for watching a 20 to 30-second ad are more than enough for me. Watching an ad or two for a logic and math puzzle to pass the time leaves me satisfied not to go for more attempts.

Rating: 4.0/5
Price: Free

Google Play Store Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=vo.threes.free&hl=en&gl=US

Kingdom Rush Tower Defense

As the name suggests, Kingdom Rush is your classic tower defense game where you build and upgrade towers to ward off enemy armies. It differs from other tower defense games as it’s a fast-paced strategic game, requiring you to think about your tower placement and upgrades, as the tower slots are limited.

For each slot, you’ll need to decide which of the four types of towers to build, each with its unique strengths and weaknesses. You’ll have to consider the terrain and incoming enemy’s attributes when building them. Upgrading the towers also unlocks special abilities that make them more powerful.

It’s not just about towers, as the game grants you control of up to 18 heroes with their skills and abilities that you can move around the map to help you ward off enemies. With over 70 levels that contain different maps, enemies, and challenges, it’s one of my favorite mobile games. 

I have played Kingdom Rush for hours and even remember buying it on the Google Play Store years ago. I played on my phone then, and now playing it on a tablet, with the extra screen real estate, has given me a fresh perspective and appreciation of the game even more.

Kingdom Rush is challenging, but you can play it casually, taking it one level at a time. It also has a lot of replay value, and I find myself trying different strategies and even going for the harder difficulty levels.

Rating: 4.7/5
Price: Free

Google Play Store Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ironhidegames.android.kingdomrush&hl=en&gl=US

Crossy Road

Crossy Road is a fun and addictive arcade game that challenges you to cross roads, rails, and rivers. The game is simple: tap on the screen to hop forward and cross the road. You’ll have to avoid the traffic and hazards, collect coins, and power-ups. Stay in the lane for too long, and you’ll get snatched up by an eagle that will end your run.

As a modern game, Crossy Road has a quirky 8-bit art style where the models are made of blocks, much like Minecraft. You start as a chicken, perhaps a reference to “Why did the chicken cross the road?” As you collect coins, you can unlock over 200 characters with their style and unique sound effects.

Even though it may seem repetitive, the game has a lot of variety and challenges as you move through different environments and obstacles. There are many secrets, easter eggs, and hidden paths to keep you playing.

Crossy Road is one of those games I’ll open whenever I need that quick arcade game fix. I’ll play a few rounds, get frustrated about why I didn’t beat my previous high score, and call it a session, knowing too well that I’ll open it again in less than an hour. 

Rating: 4.5/5
Price: Free

Google Play Store Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yodo1.crossyroad&hl=en&gl=US

Neko Atsume

Cats on the internet have always had this reputation of being cute and relaxing, and Neko Atsume takes advantage and runs home with it. It’s a game where you collect and watch cats in your backyard. You can place different items like toys, food, and furniture to attract various cats.

The game has a simple premise: tap on the screen to place items in your yard and wait for the cats to come. You can tap on the cats to check their status and find out if they have visited you before.

Whenever a cat comes around, they will offer you gifts in the form of fish, which you can use to buy goodies that the cats will love. You can also use this to change the theme and layout of your yard.

It might seem mundane, but I get this excitement whenever I launch the game to see which cat has visited my yard and left me gifts and mementos. I’ll open it twice or thrice a day, check out my cat situation, and get them new goodies to play with.

It doesn’t take me more than 5 minutes, but it does put me in a relaxing mood, especially with its peaceful and cheerful atmosphere. Now, you won’t consider me a cat person, but you can say that I’m definitely a convert, at least virtually, after playing Neko Atsume.

Rating: 4.8/5
Price: Free with in-app purchases

Google Play Store Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.hit_point.nekoatsume&hl=en&gl=US

Warcraft Rumble

If you’ve been playing Blizzard’s classic, Warcraft, you’ll find yourself in familiar territory with Warcraft Rumble. It’s a strategy game where you build your army of Warcraft heroes and units to defeat various enemies.

The game is easy to pick up and fun to play, where all you need to do is drag and drop your heroes and units onto the battlefield. They’ll automatically walk up to enemy territory and fight anyone coming their way.

I qualify it as a casual game because all the fighting is automated, but you must manage your resources and cooldowns, which will spell victory or defeat. Each round only takes a few minutes, so going through the levels is a breeze.

The secret to beating the levels is balancing offense and defense and using the right units, depending on the situation. With every win, you can upgrade your heroes and units, making them stronger for the next levels ahead.

Since it’s essentially a Warcraft game, each hero and unit has different stats and skills that factor in the battle. Different stages also mean a variety of enemies, terrain, and difficulty, which adds to the challenge.

Unlock familiar worlds like Azeroth, Outland, or Northrend as you progress and face bosses such as the Lich King, Deathwing, or Archimonde.

I started playing Warcraft Rumble for nostalgia, but it has slowly grown on me, and I play a couple of levels whenever I get the chance. It’s a relatively young game, and it does suffer a few optimization issues, which I’m sure Blizzard will be able to resolve.

Rating: 4.3/5
Price: Free

Google Play Store Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.blizzard.arc&hl=en&gl=US

Wrap Up

That’s it! These are my picks as some of the best casual games you can play on Android devices, particularly tablets. All these are free, but there are surely premium picks like Alto’s Odyssey and Kingdom Rush.

These games offer a variety of genres, styles, and features, and you’ll surely find one that suits your taste and mood. Whether you’re looking for one to help you relax, have fun, or a challenge, there’s a casual game for you.