My Dpad was launched about 10 years ago in an attempt to help people find mobile games that are actually fun and respect the player’s time. Since then, a ton of great mobile games have come out, including a bunch of paid ports of great PC or console games.
Here are over 50 of the best paid Android games in 2026, along with Google Play links and Itch.io links (when available).
If you buy a game from Itch.io, the creator gets a bigger cut, and you can download it DRM-free, meaning you can play it on a modified Android version without even logging in to Google! You usually also get versions to play on your computer too.
There is no time limit to this list, so as long as the game is still available on Google Play (or at least still available on itch.io, in the case of Super Hexagon), it’s on this list. This means you might run into compatibility issues with some older games depending on what version of Android you’re running.
Okay, with that disclaimer out of the way, let’s get to it! The games are in alphabetical order, followed by their genre in parentheses.
10000000 (Puzzle/RPG)
10000000 is a match 3 game that looks old but is still very much worth your time in 2026. And it’s a dungeon-crawling match 3 that actually ends!
$2.99 as of this writing
80 Days (Adventure)
80 Days is another excellent visual novel from Inkle. You can circumnavigate the globe and interact with interesting locations along the way.
$5.99 as of this writing
Backyard Baseball ’97 and ’01 (Action/Sports)
Backyard Baseball (both ’97, the original, and the update with MLB stars, ’01) is an all-time classic, and now you can play it on your phone instead of playing it from a CD that came with a box of cereal. I’m not sure why Backyard Basketball and Backyard Soccer are free, but to be honest it makes me kind of nervous about the quality of the ports/their possible monetization.
Backyard Baseball ’97 on Google Play
$4.99 as of this writing
Backyard Baseball ’01 on Google Play
$4.99 as of this writing
Bonus:
Backyard Football ’99 on Google Play
$4.99 as of this writing
Backyard Basketball ’01 on Google Play
Free as of this writing
Backyard Soccer ’98 on Google Play
Free as of this writing
Balatro (Card)
Balatro is poker, if poker was single player, infinitely replayable and completely unbalanced.
$9.99 as of this writing
BROK the InvestiGATOR (Action/Adventure)
BROK the InvestiGATOR is one of the more unique games on this list, as a point-and-click mystery adventure mixed with a brawler.
BROK the InvestiGATOR on Google Play
Free intro, with a full unlock for $7.99, as of this writing
BROK the InvestiGATOR on Itch.io
$19.99, on sale for $9.99, as of this writing (also includes Windows, Mac and Linux versions)
Chrono Trigger ((J)RPG)
One of the best JRPGs of all time, made by a truly all-star team.
$9.99 as of this writing
Citizen of Rome – Dynasty Ascendant (Simulation)
Citizen of Rome is a life sim that also lets you simulate your descendants, their descendants, their descendants, and so on. It’s like it BitLife was mildly educational.
Citizen of Rome on Google Play
$9.99 as of this writing
$9.99 as of this writing (also includes Windows, Mac and Linux versions)
Codenames (Board)
Codenames is a mobile port of the deduction board game that’s perfect to play with a friend or your partner while you’re waiting in an airport for your flight to board.
$4.99 as of this writing
Cultist Simulator (Board/Card)
Cultist Simulator is the least cute/simple card game you can play on your phone.
Cultist Simulator on Google Play
$6.99 as of this writing
Dawncaster: Deckbuilding RPG (Card/RPG)
Dawncaster is an excellent deckbuilding RPG, and it gets bonus points for being built for mobile rather than being a port of a PC game.
$4.99, on sale for $2.49, as of this writing
Dicey Dungeons (Card/RPG)
Dicey Dungeons was not built for mobile and is a port of a PC game, but it’s one of the very best games on this list (and it’s from Terry Cavanagh, who is probably My Dpad’s very favorite developer). You’ll never look at dice the same way again.
$4.99 as of this writing
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince (RPG)
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is maybe the most “premium feeling” game on this list. If you were about to go on a long trip and only wanted to play one game, this might be the one.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince on Google Play
$29.99 as of this writing
Dragon Quest Builders (Action/Adventure/Simulation)
If you’ve ever wanted games like Minecraft to have more guidance/story elements, Dragon Quest Builders is for you. It also still feels very much like a Dragon Quest game.
Dragon Quest Builders on Google Play
$27.99 as of this writing
Dragon Quest (all mainline games) (RPG)
In case you can’t tell, I love Dragon Quest, and their mobile ports are excellent for retaining the spirits of the originals while reworking them into portrait-mode games you can play with one hand. My all-time favorite is Dragon Quest V, but it’s worth playing them all (though you can also jump around without missing too much if you want.)
$2.99 as of this writing
Dragon Quest II on Google Play
$4.99 as of this writing
Dragon Quest III on Google Play
$9.99 as of this writing
Dragon Quest IV on Google Play
$14.99 as of this writing
$14.99 as of this writing
Dragon Quest VI on Google Play
$14.99 as of this writing
Dragon Quest VIII on Google Play
$19.99 as of this writing
Dungeon Village 1 and 2 (Simulation)
Kairosoft offers some of the best free and paid games available for Android, and both the first and second ones Dungeon Village games are perfect mixes of city building and adventuring/combat.
Dungeon Village 1 on Google Play
$6.49 as of this writing
Dungeon Village 2 on Google Play
$7.99, on sale for $2.99, as of this writing
Eternya Tactics (Tactics)
Eternya Tactics is for the Advance Wars/Wargroove fans out there.
Eternya Tactics on Google Play
$1.99 as of this writing
$2.99 as of this writing (also includes Windows, Mac and Linux versions)
Forest Golf Planner (Simulation)
Another Kairosoft banger, Forest Golf Planner is focused entirely on designing/running your country club, with no combat to be found.
Forest Golf Planner on Google Play
$7.99 as of this writing
Galaxy Trader (Adventure)
Speaking of “no combat”, Galaxy Trader is a peaceful space RPG that’s entirely about exploration/trading.
$2.99 as of this writing
$3.50 as of this writing (also includes Windows version)
Game Dev Tycoon (Simulation)
Even though this game was heavily inspired by a Kairosoft game, it’s an absolute classic that feels even better on mobile than it did when it originally released on PC. If you get far enough, you can start designing MMOs and even consoles!
Game Dev Tycoon on Google Play
$4.99 as of this writing
Gem Wizards Tactics (Tactics)
Gem Wizards Tactics is also for the Advance Wars/Wargroove fans, but with some quirks that make it feel all its own. It’s also only on Itch.io without being available on Google Play, which I gotta say I respect.
Gem Wizards Tactics on Itch.io
$6.99 as of this writing
Inbento (Puzzle)
Inbento is a cute puzzle game from afterburn, for fans of both sushi and cats.
$4.99 as of this writing
Iron Marines 1 and 2 (Real-Time Strategy)
Iron Marines is like is StarCraft was ported to mobile phones while streamlining everything to account for the much smaller screen/touch controls.
$2.99 as of this writing
Bonus:
Free as of this writing (used to be a paid game)
Kingdom Rush 1-5 (Tower Defense)
From the same developer as Iron Marines, the Kingdom Rush games are some absolute mobile classics, and fans of tower defense games will feel right at home.
Kingdom Rush 2 (Frontiers) on Google Play
$1.99 as of this writing
Kingdom Rush 3 (Origins) on Google Play
$2.99 as of this writing
Kingdom Rush 4 (Vengeance) on Google Play
$4.99 as of this writing
Kingdom Rush 5 (Alliance) on Google Play
$6.99 as of this writing
Bonus:
Free as of this writing (used to be a paid game)
Kingdom Rush Battles on Google Play
Free as of this writing (always was free to play; probably affects monetization)
Letters & Legends (Word)
If you’re a word nerd, or if Bookworm was one of your favorite games back in the day, Letters & Legends is for you.
Letters & Legends on Google Play
$4.99 as of this writing
$3.99 as of this writing (also includes Windows version)
Luck be a Landlord (Card)
Luck be a Landlord is a slot machine roguelike that is one of the all-time best games you can play with one hand on your phone.
Luck be a Landlord on Google Play
$4.99 as of this writing
Magic Research 1 and 2 (Idle RPG)
Magic Research 1 and 2 are both idle games that elevate the genre into something similar to an idle version of Dragon Quest games. There are also free demos of both games available.
Magic Research 1 on Google Play
$3.99 as of this writing
Magic Research 2 on Google Play
$4.49 as of this writing
Meteorfall: Journeys, Krumit’s Tale and Rustbowl Rumble (Card)
The Meteorfall games are all interesting card-based battlers, each with its own unique angle.
Meteorfall 1 (Journeys) on Google Play
$3.99 as of this writing
Meteorfall 2 (Krumit’s Tale) on Google Play
$6.99 as of this writing
Meteorfall 3 (Rustbowl Rumble) on Google Play
$6.99 as of this writing
Minecraft (Simulation)
It’s Minecraft.
$6.99 as of this writing
Out of the Park (OOTP) Baseball 26 Go! (Simulation/Sports)
OOTP Baseball 26 Go! is the latest entry in the Out of the Park Baseball series, which is the closest thing any other sport has to something like Football Manager.
OOTP Baseball 26 Go! on Google Play
$9.99 as of this writing
Overboard! (Adventure)
Overboard! is another great visual novel from Inkle where you try to get away with murdering your husband on a ship. It’s quite fun and offers a lot of replayability.
$6.49 as of this writing
Papers, Please (Simulation)
Papers, Please is an all-timer, and the amount of work that went into making a mobile port that doesn’t ruin the magic of the original game is well worth the price of entry.
$4.99 as of this writing
Pocket City 1 and 2 (Simulation)
The Pocket City games are some of the best city builders available for mobile, especially because they have fair monetization. Excellent games to play through on a plane ride.
$2.99 as of this writing
$4.99 as of this writing
Pup Champs (Puzzle)
Pup Champs is the newest and cutest game from Afterburn. Help dogs score goals in this deep-but-never-frustrating puzzler.
Free intro, with a full unlock for $7.99, as of this writing
$12.99 as of this writing (also includes Windows and Mac versions)
Railbound (Puzzle)
Another Afterbound game, Railbound has you laying down train tracks in cute landscapes.
$4.99 as of this writing
$12.99 as of this writing (also includes Windows and Mac versions)
Rebuild 3: Gangs of Deadsville (Simulation)
Rebuild 3 is a zombie apocalypse city builder/survival simulator that feels surprisingly good to play on mobile.
Rebuild 3: Gangs of Deadsville on Google Play
$4.99 as of this writing
Rebuild 3: Gangs of Deadsville on Itch.io
$15, with a deluxe version for $25, as of this writing (also includes Windows and Mac versions)
Reigns and Reigns: Her Majesty (Simulation)
Reigns is like if you ran a kingdom using Tinder mechanics, with Reigns having you play as a king and Reigns: Her Majesty having you play as a queen. There’s also a Game of Thrones version, but I never watched Games of Thrones so I never played that version.
$2.99 as of this writing
Reigns: Her Majesty on Google Play
$2.99 as of this writing
RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic (Simulation)
RollerCoaster Tycoon is one of the best tycoon games ever, and it feels surprisingly good to play on a touchscreen.
RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic on Google Play
$5.99 as of this writing
Roundguard (Puzzle/RPG)
Roundguard is like if Peggle was an RPG, and if that sounds cool to you you might also want to check out Peglin.
$6.99 as of this writing
Silver Screen Story (Simulation)
Silver Screen Story is another Kairosoft classic that has you running a movie studio and making movies. It gets hectic quick!
Silver Screen Story on Google Play
$7.99 as of this writing
Siralim Ultimate (RPG)
Siralim Ultimate might just be the all-time best and deepest creature catcher.
Siralim Ultimate on Google Play
$9.99 as of this writing
Slay the Spire (Card)
There are a lot of roguelike deckbuilders on this list, and they probably all owe something to the OG, Slay the Spire.
$9.99 as of this writing
Slice & Dice (Card/Dice/RPG)
Slice & Dice is like a grimdark version of Dicey Dungeons.
Free intro, with a full unlock for $9, as of this writing
$18 as of this writing (also includes Windows and Mac versions)
Slice & Dice (Android only) on Itch.io
$9 as of this writing
Sorcery! 1-4 (Adventure)
Sorcery! 1-4 brings gamebooks where you choose your own adventure to your phone’s screen. If I recall correctly, you can keep your progress through the first three games. It’s also possible that these haven’t been updated recently enough to play on newer phones, but these games are so good they still deserve to be on this list.
$5.99 as of this writing
$5.99 as of this writing
$5.99 as of this writing
$5.99 as of this writing
Spy Fox in Dry Cereal (Adventure)
If you remember Backyard Baseball, you might also remember Spy Fox, who’s like James Bond if he starred in ’90s-era point-and-click adventures for young audiences.
Spy Fox in Dry Cereal on Google Play
$4.99 as of this writing
Stardew Valley (Simulation/RPG)
Stardew Valley is the game that kicked the Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons-started farm sim genre back into action, and it’s just as engrossing on your phone.
$4.99 as of this writing
Strange Horticulture (Adventure/Puzzle)
Strange Horticulture is one of the most unique games on this list, as it’ll have you finding various types of plants to help customers with various types of problems, while you also uncover (and participate in?) a conspiracy.
Strange Horticulture on Google Play
$4.99 as of this writing
Streets of Rage 4 (Action)
Streets of Rage 4 brings a modern version of classic beat-em-up action right to your phone.
Streets of Rage 4 on Google Play
$8.99 as of this writing
Super Hexagon (Puzzle)
Super Hexagon is another Terry Cavanagh classic, and even though it’s seemingly disappeared from the Google Play Store it’s still very much worth your time.
$2.99 as of this writing (also includes Windows and Linux versions)
Terraria (Action/Adventure)
Much like Minecraft is Minecraft, Terraria is Terraria.
$4.99 as of this writing
Thimbleweed Park (Adventure)
Thimbleweed Park is basically an unauthorized X-Files point-and-click adventure.
Thimbleweed Park on Google Play
$9.99 as of this writing
Threes! (Puzzle)
Threes! is an excellent game that you should play instead of its ripoff, 2048.
$0.99 as of this writing
Thronefall (Tower Defense)
Thronefall is a tower defense game where you also control a champion, and it’s both deep and a lot of fun.
$9.99 as of this writing
Ticket to Earth (Puzzle/RPG)
Ticket to Earth is probably the single most underrated game on this list, since it seems that most people have never heard of it (most likely because it gets overshadowed by the similarly named Ticket to Ride). It’s like if Advance Wars had combat somewhat inspired by match 3 but its own thing entirely.
Ticket to Earth on Google Play
$4.99 as of this writing
VVVVVV (Action/Adventure/Puzzle)
VVVVVV is my favorite game of all time, from one Terry Cavanagh, and it’s only slightly more frustrating when you’re playing on a touchscreen.
$2.49 as of this writing
$4.99 as of this writing (also includes Windows, Mac and Linux versions)
Wingspan (Board)
Wingspan is one of the best new board games of the last several years, and its mobile port is spectacular.
$9.99, with other paid expansions available, as of this writing
You Must Build A Boat (Puzzle/RPG)
You Must Build A Boat is the sequel to 10000000, and an even deeper match 3 RPG.
You Must Build A Boat on Google Play
$2.99 as of this writing
Zookeeper DX (Puzzle)
Finally, Zookeeper DX is another paid match 3, which means you can play it forever without being pressured to spend more than 99 cents.
$0.99 as of this writing
Well, that’s it! Surely you’ve found SOMETHING to play by now. Thanks for reading!
