We all know that free Android games aren’t always free these days, but many of them are very close if you have a little patience. Most free-to-play bottlenecks occur when players get impatient and waiting for the game out can usually get around those pitfalls. What we have here are the best free Android games that you should be able to play comfortably without engaging in too many in-app purchases and we hope you enjoy them. This is a hall of fame style list so the options here will only change if something better comes along. Let’s get started.

The best free Android games

Price: Free to play

Alto’s Odyssey is a natural choice for a free Android game. It features simple mechanics, gorgeous graphics, and a relaxing style. Players ski down a hill while avoiding obstacles and making massive jumps. There are also items to collect that can be traded in for various customization options. The game relies heavily on its wallpaper-worthy graphics. They are simple but effective and the dark, gradient colors add a good atmosphere to the game.

It’s completely free to download and play with some limited ads. There are in-app purchases, but they are all for customization stuff so it’s entirely optional and it doesn’t affect gameplay. It’s kid-friendly and fun. Noodlecake Studios also does Alto’s Adventure, the predecessor to this one. Here’s a list of the best endless runners if you want other options. Also, give the screenshot mode a try for some excellent desktop background ideas.

Apex Legends Mobile

Price: Free to play

Apex Legends Mobile launched in 2022 and it became an immediate success. It’s a 60-player battle royale shooter (20 teams of three players) with a couple of other game modes to keep things fresh. Players choose from a cast of Legends, each one with its own playstyle and abilities. You can unlock more as you play the game. It has some of the best controls we’ve seen in a mobile shooter and even some solo player stuff you can do if you don’t feel like playing against others. Like most battle royale games, the depth of content is a bit thin. However, it seems like people very much enjoy shooting it out in large numbers.

Asphalt 9: Legends

The Asphalt franchise has some of mobile’s most popular racing games. Asphalt 8: Airborne and Asphalt Xtreme were the big ones in the series. However, Asphalt 9: Legends came out in July 2018. This is the most recent game in the series now. It includes 50 cars, a bunch of challenges, and a bunch of content to play with. That includes online multiplayer, single-player stuff, and more.

It uses an auto-go mechanism so you can’t control your acceleration. To be honest, it’s not the best implementation, but you get used to it. The graphics are good and there are social elements as well. It’s a freemium game. Thus, the online competitive aspect may be skewed a bit. However, the single-player stuff is classically good arcade racing. You can also skip in-app purchases with extra grinding. It’s tedious but entirely doable. Here are some other great racing games on mobile as well.

Brawl Stars

Brawl Stars is Supercell’s latest hit game. It’s a brawler with online multiplayer elements as well as some MOBA elements. Players drop into a game with a couple of teammates, brawl with opponents, and try to win. There are a few game modes, including a straight brawl mode, a mode where you collect crystals, a heist mode where you steal the opponent’s treasure, and a bounty mode where you beat specific opponents on a team.

It feels like a Supercell game and that’s mostly a good thing. Supercell also makes Clash Royale, Clash of Clans, and Boom Beach. All of those could also easily go on a list like this if you like auto battlers (Clash Royale) or kingdom builder strategy games (Clash of Clans and Boom Beach). You can find more beat ’em ups here if you want more of that.