Top 8 Open World Games For Android Tablets | 2024 Edition

Many role-playing games (RPGs) are now offering an open-world experience that promises seamless exploration and limited loading screens. Players can spend hours in these beautifully-crafted realms and enjoy an immersive gaming experience. Here are some of the best open-world games for Android.

If you want to try playing these Android open-world games on PC, check out my guide on playing Android games on Windows. It’s incredibly simple to set up an emulator, and there are various advantages to doing so. Enhanced performance and automated gameplay are only two perks of using an Android emulator.

What Does Open World Mean?

The term “open-world” usually refers to a video game with a rather expansive world for players to explore while not forcing them to follow a linear storyline too much. Therefore, players can progress at their own pace and choose which bosses to fight to a large extent. Unlike linear games that remove access to an area, you can usually come back to one even after it has experienced some changes relevant to the main story or side quest.

Among the first open-world games is the first The Legend of Zelda game, and many open-world RPGs are still using concepts introduced by this title today. The fact that you can choose which areas to explore first and what items to pick up in this game resulted in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s release many decades after the first Zelda title. In return, Breath of the Wild influenced other modern open-world titles.

It’s important to note that not every open-world game is 3D, but the ones I’ll cover usually are.

The Best Android Open World Games

Let’s take a look at some of the best open-world games on Android. All of these are completely free to play except for Minecraft. Many are only released on Android officially, but some, like Genshin Impact, Tower of Fantasy and Wuthering Waves, have PC releases, too. If you want to emulate the mobile versions on Windows, that’s completely fine. The list is also unordered.

Genshin Impact

No list of open-world games on Android would be complete without mentioning Genshin Impact. This RPG took the world by storm when it was first released in 2020, and the game regularly makes miHoYo, its creator, millions of dollars per update. Plus, I regularly play this game myself and admit I’ve spent some money getting characters and weapons.

Genshin Impact takes much influence from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, as you can glide around areas and teleport. Allegations of copying a successful game aside, I think Genshin Impact is worth playing. The game’s story has had ups and downs, but it’s clear that the miHoYo doesn’t spare any expense in delivering a wonderful experience. To fight, you play as characters wielding elemental powers and various weapons.

Although Genshin Impact has seen its fair share of controversy, especially in the form of its player base, the game is packed with content to enjoy. As time passes, the developers will eventually add more endgame content for players to enjoy. Genshin Impact is available on Android, iOS, Windows, PS5 and GeForce Now. Unfortunately, we still haven’t received news on the Nintendo Switch version in development.

Minecraft

Originally released in 2009, Minecraft has been through many editions, including the current Android port. When I was younger, I played Minecraft but never stuck with it for too long. Still, I can highly endorse the game if you have friends to play with, since the developers introduce new content periodically. Unlike games that focus on realistic graphics, Minecraft is made entirely of blocks and has a pixelated aesthetic. Most blocks can be destroyed and collected, and there are creatures called mobs you can fight or tame.

While the goal of the game is to defeat the Ender Dragon, players are never obliged to do so. They can opt to survive in the harsh world for as long as they want or join other players in creating amazing structures. You can die in Survival mode, but you should activate Creative mode if you only want to build castles and fortresses. The way I see it, there’s no wrong way to enjoy Minecraft.

Besides the base game experience, Minecraft lets you install Add-Ons to modify the game’s appearance or how the mobs behave. Think of it as the mods, but they’re now officially supported by the developers. No matter how you want to play, Minecraft has something for anyone. The game is available on mobile, PC, consoles, and many other platforms.

Read: The Best Retro Games For Android Tablets

EVE Echoes

EVE Echoes is an open-world mass-multiplayer online (MMO) game you can pay for if you commit to the full experience. While it’s possible to play without spending anything, a subscription unlocks various perks like better ships, skills and skill training speed, among others.

In a nutshell, you’re an explorer in space on your way to forge your own path to greatness. You can form alliances with other players while encountering new worlds to explore. Because of EVE Echoes’ large scale, you need a mobile device with more than 2GB of RAM even to install it. I understand this requirement as rendering a large-scale space battle with special effects takes a lot of processing power and memory.

The game’s sandbox environment allows players to play however they like. There are Universes, Regions and Constellations to travel to. You need time to reach the highest levels in EVE Echoes, or you can speed up the process somewhat with real-life money. However, it’s the perfect game for people who want to commit to a long-term title. Play the game on Android or iOS.

The Legend of Neverland

Okay, if you think I forgot, I’m including a proper Japanese RPG (JRPG) title in this list. The Legend of Neverland is an MMORPG made by Ark Games Global that allows users to choose from many classes. You can travel around quickly with mounts and fight alongside Flower Fairies. As with many other JRPGs, character customization lets you create the perfect avatar for your adventure.

Besides combat, you can go fishing or socializing with other players. Even during leisurely activities, the game rewards you with items. If fashion is important to you while you play an RPG, The Legend of Neverland has plenty of costumes, ranging from one-star rarity to five stars. You can choose from 14 Flower Fairies as you start the game, too.

Interestingly, you can choose between manual gameplay and autoplay. The latter is perfect if you need to step away for a while or for grinding repetitive missions. The game also asks you to spend real-life money persistently, but that’s not the biggest issue. You can also play the game on iOS with an Apple device.

Read: The Best Adventure Games for Android Tablets

Stardew Valley

Popular open-world farming RPG Stardew Valley is now on mobile devices. You play as a farmer who just arrived at Stardew Valley to inherit your late grandfather’s property. With only a few tools to start, you begin by befriending people in nearby Pelican Town, and there are many characters with interesting backstories. It’s also possible to marry 12 of them and start a family with.

Naturally, you can live off the land and start planting crops, but Stardew Valley offers much more than that. Many other activities, like fishing, mining and home decor, are available to enrich your new life. Of course, there’s the opportunity to find treasure in caves guarded by monsters.

If the touchscreen controls aren’t to your liking, the game supports external controllers via Bluetooth. I like games where combat is the main focus, but sometimes relaxing and playing something more peaceful is a good change of pace. Stardew Valley is on other operating systems like PC, iOS, Xbox, PS5 and Nintendo Switch.

Goat Simulator Free

When things in the real world stress you out enough, consider blowing off some steam by playing Goat Simulator Free. There are also paid versions if you truly enjoy the game. Goat Simulator’s premise is simple. You roam around as a manic goat and wreak havoc in the world around you.

You don’t just roam around destroying objects as a goat. The developers intentionally let the game’s physics engine bug out to the point that most bugs are left as is. The only exceptions are bugs that cause crashes, but that’s standard fare to ensure a playable experience. I’m sure you’ll experience hours of fun as you run around causing chaos with questionable game physics.

The game is free, but you can pay for more levels if things get stale. I recommend you never take Goat Simulator seriously, as nobody does. The game can also be played on iOS, PC, PS5 and Xbox.

Pokemon GO

Always remember to practice a healthy balance of gaming and exercise, as having a healthy body is best for enjoying video games. Pokemon GO is the perfect excuse to go outside and catch them all. Even after seven years, the game still sees regular updates to keep the player base engaged. While you can play with AR, this isn’t necessary for catching Pokemon.

Like most Pokemon games, the goal of this game is to catch the various Pokemon that appear, and there are stakes as these creatures can escape. There are creatures to catch, whether you’re walking or in a vehicle. Of course, please don’t drive as you play the game. Once you have a decent team, you can challenge other trainers and participate in raids. There are limited events, too, so keep an eye out, as you can get better Pokemon that way.

Unlike all of the other games on our list, Pokemon GO is played in the real world, meaning the whole planet (to an extent) is your open world. The various landmarks around you are either PokeStops or Gyms. Get the game on mobile devices or play it on Android emulators if you prefer.

Read: The Best Casual Games for Android Tablets

Tower of Fantasy

Tower of Fantasy certainly satisfies gamers who want an open-world MMORPG with a sci-fi setting. The game’s futuristic setting on a faraway and mysterious planet will surely capture the hearts of sci-fi fans, and you can play as many characters pulled from the gacha. Something I like about the game is its character creation, as you can recreate some of your favorite characters from other games or even your personal original character.

The open world is expansive and has plenty of room for exploration, whether solo or with friends. Since it’s an MMORPG, teaming up with friends for raids and bosses can help enhance the experience. The game also has a compelling story that will keep you hooked.

With frequent updates and lots of content, I’m sure Tower of Fantasy will easily steal hours of your time. In terms of art style, the game manages to set itself apart from some competitors. You can play it on PC, mobile, PS5 and GeForce Now.

Conclusion

Open-world games offer hours of exploration and revisiting areas as you come and go for combat, resource gathering or another reason. There are many games within this category on the Google Play Store, and while some are paid games, others are available free of charge. I included games from various genres so anyone can find something they’ll enjoy.