Top 12 Best Free Android Games: All Genres | 2024 Edition

Every time I open Google Play Store, I find myself so inundated with choices that I get analysis paralysis.

But in this article, we’re going to cut through the noise and get to the best games for each category. We’ve been reviewing tablets since 2008 and have tested many games. Try any one of these and there’ll be one that you’ll love.

They’re going to be free, after all, so you have nothing to lose. Here’s a summary of the best free Android games by genre:

• Shooter: PUBG Mobile
• Strategy: The Battle of Polytopia
• Racing: Asphalt 9: Legends
• Action: Genshin Impact
• Adventure: Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion
• Tower Defense Game: Plants vs Zombies 2
• Open World: Pokemon GO or Goat Simulator Free
• Idle Game: Cats and Soup
• Casual Game: Candy Crush Saga
• Retro Game: PAC-MAN
• Trivia: Trivia Crack 2

Best Free Shooter Game: PUBG Mobile

PUBG Mobile happens to rank as my favorite shooter game because you can get it for free, and you will have loads of fun playing it.

I debated between this game and Fortnite, but chose PUBG because you can play this on most tablets (including the budget-friendly Alldocube iPlay 50 mini Pro NFE), and you can easily install it off the Google Play Store (unlike Fortnite, which requires you to use a roundabout installation).

PUBG Mobile is a battle royale shooter where you are airdropped into an island and you will have to scavenge weapons. From there, you can explore the map and eliminate opponents. You can play this in a team or go solo, in third-person or first-person. You can use vehicles to get around. I enjoyed how this game has a huge pool of players and regular updates from the developer.

Read More: Top 10 Best Mobile Shooter Games in 2024 (I Love Number 3)

Best Free Strategy Game: The Battle of Polytopia

You can get Civilization VI (free for 60 turns, 3.5 stars) on Android or you can get The Battle of Polytopia (free, 4.6 stars).

Although the Civilization VI Android port plays like the PC version, reviews reveal that the game has problems with bugs and requires an expensive upgrade to the game to play beyond 60 turns.

The Battle of Polytopia, though, plays similarly and we enjoyed this turn-based gem quite a bit even though the blocky visuals seem like a throwback.

Your goal is to control the map, fight enemy tribes, explore the land and master new technologies.

All of these can be played offline, and depending on what game mode you choose, you can play bite-sized games of conquest or protracted campaigns for a marathon experience.

Best of all? The Battle of Polytopia is pretty easy to pick up and has quite a lot of depth. It’s endlessly replayable!

Read More: Dominate with these 10 Best Strategy Games Android

Best Free Racing Game: Asphalt 9: Legends

Who would have thought such a complete game like Asphalt 9: Legends would come for free.

Asphalt 9 is a visual masterpiece, boasting some of the most detailed cars and effects I’ve ever seen on mobile. With over 900 career events and 185 tracks spread across real-world locations like Cairo and San Francisco, it never gets boring.

The action? Non-stop! Racing solo against rivals while dodging avalanches and tornadoes keeps the adrenaline pumping. Plus, you can team up with friends, unlocking sweet rides from Porsche, Ferrari, and Lamborghini along the way.

There’s a catch: Asphalt 9 is freemium, which means that people who are willing to spend money can unlock elements like cars more quickly. Though, this game is so fun that you might not even need to pay to unlock stuff. You’d naturally want to play and over time you’d unlock stuff for free.

We tested Asphalt 9 on our Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ and the game looked beautiful, feels fast-paced, and invites you to take a few laps over and over again

Read More: The Best Android Games of All Time

Best Free Action Game: Genshin Impact

Genshin Impact is a free-to-play action role-playing game known for its console-quality visuals and gameplay. I tested Genshin Impact on a low-mid specced XP Pen Magic Drawing Pad and it ran well.

It features a vast, open world filled with secrets and offers engaging combat, a rich soundtrack, and well-implemented controls that are further enhanced with a controller. The game’s story and diverse quests add depth, ensuring players remain engaged.

Characters in the game are distinct, each offering unique abilities critical for overcoming specific challenges, although unlocking them can be slow without microtransactions.

The need to simultaneously level up a team of four characters requires patience due to the game’s level-specific quests. Regular updates and seasonal events ensure the game’s world is ever-evolving, inviting players to continuously discover new content.

This blend of advanced technology, compelling gameplay, and dynamic storytelling secures Genshin Impact’s position as a top choice for Android tablet gamers and action role-playing fans alike, despite the potential frustration of its Gacha system for character unlocks.

Best Free Adventure Game: Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion

It might not look like much, but Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion quickly became one of our favorite and free adventure games.

The hilarious and quirky title parodies classic action-adventure games, and feels like Zelda.

But instead of rescuing a princess, you’re saving yourself from the corrupt Mayor Onion. Your goal is to avoid paying your taxes by ripping up any documents you find and helping the other inhabitants.

The game is pretty short, and you’ll enjoy the quirky, delightful adventure game with clever dialogue and challenging puzzles.

Read: The Best Adventure Games For Android Tablets

Best Tower Defense Game: Plants vs Zombies 2

We liked Plants vs Zombies 2 because you can get it for free and you can play it offline for those long journeys on airplanes. Tower defense games also have great replayability value because no two games play the same.

Plants vs Zombies 2 builds upon its successful predecessor but brings enhanced visuals as you go on a time-travel adventure across various eras, bringing new and familiar plants like the Peashooter, Cabbage-pult, Laser Bean, and Spikeweed into battle against zombie hordes.

Its engaging, strategic gameplay captivates both casual players and genre aficionados, making it a must-have for tower defense enthusiasts.

Read More: 10 Best Offline Android Games You Should Try: No Wi-Fi Needed!

Best Free Open World Game: Pokemon GO or Goat Simulator Free

We’re including two games here because Pokemon GO is a game that is really fun but requires you to step out of your home.

Pokemon GO

This game still endures till today, even though you’ve probably heard of it since the mid-2010s. It still receives updates and has a loyal fanbase.

This game does require you to go out and explore different locations in your city because you get different Pokemon to catch in different areas or PokeStops or Gyms to visit.

Once you have a decent team, you can challenge other trainers and participate in raids, as well as events where you can get better Pokemon.

Goat Simulator Free

Goat Simulator Free allows you to create chaos as a goat.

You’re a goat. You roam. You wreak havoc by destroying objects as a goat.

The game also has some bugs that causes the physics engine to do weird stuff. Just like all bugs that don’t get fix, they become features.

We enjoyed the game when we reviewed it, and got hours of fun on the free version, though you pay for more levels if you like it that much.

Read More: Top 8 Open World Games For Android Tablets

Best Free Idle Game: Cats and Soup

The perfect idle game helps you “speed up” time when you’re waiting for someone or something.

Cats and Soup remains my favorite because it has a cute theme — cats cooking soup. The colors are pleasant, and the cats are cute. You play the role of a cat chef running a soup shop in the forest. Your goal is to strategically place your cats near facilities that will enhance your cat’s cooking.

As you sell more soup, you can get more chefs to expand your shop, and with that, you will also unlock more recipes to sell for more gold.

The evolution of your soup shop is one thing, but the other thing that keeps us coming back involves just watching cats work together. It’s always a delight, especially if you like cats.

Read More: The 10 Best Idle Games on Android to Pass the Time

Best Free Casual Game: Candy Crush Saga

Candy Crush Saga represents a classic beloved by millions worldwide.

We’ve sunk hundreds of hours into this addictive game, where the goal is to swipe candies to match three or more of the same color, unlocking special candies with explosive abilities to clear levels with specific objectives.

Each level offers a unique challenge with limited moves, requiring strategic planning and quick thinking to overcome blockers and advance.

Despite its simplicity, Candy Crush Saga’s tough levels can be frustratingly fun, often keeping me glued to the screen during unlimited attempt events, playing way more than intended.

Read More: 8 Best Casual Games for Android Tablets

Best Free Retro Game: PAC-MAN

PAC-MAN represents such a classic that we thought we should include the game in this list. There are a ton of other games that we wanted to recommend, but for that you’d have to consult the list we’re linking to below… because there are just too many games that jog our nostalgia.

On the Android version of PAC-MAN, you get the classic experience that anyone who’s played the original would be familiar with.

Furthermore, you also get plenty of additional content not available in the original. This time, there are newer levels and power-ups to change the experience. The Adventure Mode also contains time-limited events with skins as rewards. Competitive PAC-MAN players can also participate in Tournament Mode to climb the leaderboards. Mazes change weekly so there’s always a new challenge.

Besides the classic appearance, PAC-MAN for Android supports character and interface customization. You can change how PAC-MAN, the GHOSTS, and the on-screen joystick look.

Read More: These 9 Retro Games Are Perfect For Your Android Tablet In

Best Free Trivia Game: Trivia Crack 2

We loved the original Trivia Crack and no wonder Trivia Crack 2 remains our favorite general knowledge trivia game.

Trivia Crack 2 not only has trivia elements, but it also has a ton of social elements that make it a thrill to play. You can challenge your friends or a random player to answer trivia questions in exchange for crowns.

Read More: Best 10 Free Trivia Apps on Android