While we saw fewer games arrive on the Play Store this May, there were still plenty of titles to get excited about that will easily make up many of thebest games on Android. The return of World of Goo is exciting for many, but we’ve also seen sequels to popular franchises like Dumb Ways to Die and Super Cat Tales. Notably, these aren’t very demanding games, so you should be able to play all of these with abudget Android phone.
We’ve brought together the best games in this roundup. But if you want to see what else arrived this year, check out ourroundup of the best games of April too.
1Dumb Ways to Die 4
Dumb Ways to Die 4 brings the wide variety of quirky minigames we have come to expect from the franchise, but rather than introducing significant gameplay mechanics, it returns to the style of the first Dumb Ways to Die game. It’s a refreshingly fun game; you won’t be disappointed if you enjoyed any of its predecessors.
Dumb Ways to Die 4 is free-to-play with microtransactions and ads. These range up to a staggering $134.99 purchase for in-game currency, but thankfully it’s mostly cosmetics locked behind paywalls. Overall, these don’t detract much from the experience, making Dumb Ways to Die 4 the perfect way to whittle away time on your commute.
2Laya’s Horizon
With Laya’s Horizon, game development studio Snowman took everything we loved about Alto’s Adventure and Alto’s Odyssey and cranked it up to 11. Despite offering completely different gameplay, Laya’s Horizon feels like a sequel to the Alto games, pulling off the same trick of calming you while you dodge obstacles at high speeds.
Laya’s Horizon isa 3D wingsuiting adventure that we can’t recommend enough. While there’s a relatively steep learning curve, the final product might be Snowman’s best. However, it’s been snapped up by Netflix Games, so you’ll need a subscription to play.
3Mia and the Dragon Princess
An FMV game starring some notable actors, Mia and the Dragon Princess takes us on an action-packed adventure where we can influence the narrative as we play. FMV games tend to be fairly sedate adventures, but Mia and the Dragon Princess is packed with brilliant fight scenes; it’s worth playing just to watch the choreography.
You’ll need to pay $4.99 to unlock the whole game, but you can play the first couple of chapters for free.
4Valiant Force 2
Despite some frustrating monetization, Valiant Force 2 is an absorbing turn-based strategy game with plenty of depth. While you’ll have to rely on the game’s gacha system to generate heroes, the massive variety of heroes means you’ll struggle to run out of strategic options.
Fans of the original Valiant Force game should undoubtedly play this sequel, but it’s worth trying out if you enjoy playing any of thebest strategy games on Android. Just be aware that this is a gacha game, which can be frustrating for some.
In May, Nianticreturned to its pre-Pokemon Go rootsby releasing an AR game with a completely original IP. Peridot might seem like a Pokemon Go on the surface but delve a little deeper, and you’ll find an experience more akin to Tamagotchi. The aim is to develop a closer bond with your creatures, and the result is undeniably adorable, even if microtransactions taint the experience.
Peridot is on the same course as its predecessors as a free-to-play game with microtransactions. However, they’re particularly egregious here. But if you can handle the obnoxious in-app purchases, it’s worth checking out Niantic’s first original IP in years.
6Lost Words: Beyond the Page
Lost Words: Beyond the Page launched as a Stadia exclusive in 2020, and it’s since been ported to various platforms. It’s finally available on Android, so you’re able to now try this stunning narrative platformer on your phone. The atmosphere is the most impressive feature, but the gameplay and narrative are adequate to keep your interest throughout.
Like Antivine, you can only play a few chapters of Lost Words: Beyond the Page before a paywall blocks you. However, $5.99 is a reasonable price for this stunning game.
7Torchlight: Infinite
Torchlight Infinite is the biggest Diablo Immortal competitor on the Play Store, and there’s plenty going on here that makes it stand apart from last year’s biggest mobile ARPG. As we noted in our review,Torchlight Infinite offers fairer monetization and an expansive combat system. However, an obscure perk system and lackluster content prevent it from being a Diablo Immortal killer.
That said, casual ARPG fans will be engrossed in Torchlight Infinite for hours. It’s free-to-play as it relies on good old-fashioned microtransactions to make a profit, but to its credit, these are easily ignored for the most part.
Antivine is part casual, part puzzle game. If you’ve played Monument Valley before, you may expect similar gameplay here, but there’s a distinctly different aesthetic. It’s simpler than most ofour favorite puzzle games, but its soothing gameplay is the real draw.
Antivine is free to download, but you must pay $3.99 to play past the first few levels. This is not stated on the game’s Play Store listing, so be aware this is not a free game before downloading.
9Legend of Keepers
A dungeon management game with a humorous twist, Legend of Keepers is a port of the 2021 game for desktop and Nintendo Switch. In Legend of Keepers, you’ll take the place of an ambitious dungeon manager attempting to climb the corporate ladder by building the best dungeon. You’ll attempt to protect your dungeon against gold-hungry heroes; it’s easily one of thebest roguelikes available on the Play Store.
Legends of Keepers is a premium game with no microtransactions or ads. However, you will eventually be able to buy the DLC that was released on the desktop and Switch versions. The game’s interface was completely redesigned for mobile; however, you may find the UI slightly overwhelming without the benefit of one of ourfavorite budget Android tablet’s large screens.
10Aether Gazer
The number of free-to-play gacha games on the Play Store can sometimes feel overwhelming, but plenty of excellent titles are hiding in the sea. Aether Gazer is a recent addition to the crowd, but its smooth gameplay and (at the time of writing) fair monetization have already made it stand out.
While Aether Gazer has superficial similarities to games like Honkai Impact, its mechanics are refreshingly unique. However, we recommendstarting off with our beginner’s guide, as Aether Gazer is just as challenging to make sense of as its brethren.
