Best Action Games for Android
Get your blood pumping with these action-packed games for Android.
There
are so many awesome action games in the Google Play Store, it can be
hard to sort the wheat from the chaff. But we've done the heavy lifting
for you and after hundreds of hours of playing, we've rounded up the
best action-packed games for Android that are worth checking out.
Many of the games on this list are paid apps which might give you
pause, so you'll need to trust us when we say these games are well worth
the initial investment. Plus, it's always good to support those teams
developing great games for Android!
Battlelands Royale
Battlelands Royale is a made-for-mobile battle royale game that
combines cartoony graphics and a top-down perspective with a simplistic
last man standing gameplay format that works really well. This game
offers a fairly unique take on the battle royale formula that is
absolutely for casual gaming sessions as a match takes only a few
minutes to complete. Just like PUBG or Fortnite, you parachute down onto
a map with a bunch of other players — 29 opponents in this case — and
must scavenge for weapons, ammo, and armor while staying in the safety
circle and eliminating your enemies.
You're limited to carrying one gun and ammo is very sparse, leading to
some pretty intense moments where you need to decide whether to engage
an enemy or try and sneak past them. There's also a duo mode where you
can team up with a friend or a random player. The art style and gameplay
are bright and fun and this is a great little game for killing time.
It's free to play with in-app purchases for
character skin.
Suzy Cube
Suzy Cube is a game that's been in the works for many years.
Developed by an indie game developer, this action-packed platformer is a
must-play game on mobile with touch controls that have no right being
as good as they are. It's easiest to compare the graphics and gameplay
to Super Mario 3D Land for the Nintendo 3DS and is far superior to
Mario's mobile debut, Super Mario Run.
In Suzy Cube, you play the titular character who has set out on an
adventure to reclaim her family's fortune which has been stolen by
block-shaped baddies. Most enemies can be defeated by jumping on their
heads, while other obstacles require quick reflexes to dodge each
attack.
There are a lot of ways a 3D platformer can go wrong — bad controls,
shoddy camera, uninspired level design — but Suzy Cube is a rare gem
that shows that a proper console-quality platformer
can be made for mobile without compromise. You hear that, Nintendo?
ICEY
From its name to its app icon, ICEY is a rather unassuming entry in
the Google Play Store that would be easy to overlook — but that would be
a mistake.
At its core, ICEY is a 2D side-scrolling action game where you play
as the titular character, a mysterious cybernetic warrior that kicks
serious ass. The game plays flawlessly, with tight controls and new
skills to be unlocked and upgraded as you progress through the game.
If that's all ICEY was — a kick-ass side-scrolling action game — it would
still
find a spot on this list. But that's just the beginning, there's also
an entire meta-narrative at play here exploring the relationship between
the player and the narrator. The narrator will guide you around the
world and tell you where you should go… but what happens if you ignore
the narrator?
There are layers to this game and a sizeable list of trophies to
unlock. If you love indie games and meta-humor you definitely need to
check out ICEY!
Death Road to Canada
When you're going to be dropping money on a game, you're going to
want to be sure it has good replay value. In that regard, Death Road To
Canada is an outstanding choice.
Facing a zombie apocalypse, you must lead a scrappy squad of somewhat
interesting characters on a deadly mission to the relative safety of
Canada. Along the way, you'll need to explore and loot places for
supplies, while also managing your team's health and morale.
Everything in Death Road to Canada is randomly generated, making
every play-through a unique experience in this road trip action-RPG. You
can randomly generate your character and buddy or custom design your
starting characters with different attributes to help them stay alive.
The controls take some getting used to, and there's a pretty steep
learning curve as you learn which weapons are most effective and when
it's better to fight or run. And you
will die, early and often, although that's part of the fun of a zombie apocalypse, right?
There's a ridiculous amount of depth in this game, including 10
different game modes to unlock. The price might seem a little steep, but
if you're a fan of rogue-like zombie games, it's well worth the
investment!
Stranger Things: The Game
If you're a true fan of Stranger Things, you've already binge-watched
the entirety of Season 2 (possibly in one sitting). But the
truest
of Stranger Things fans have also beaten Stranger Things: The Game, a
surprisingly solid game released by Netflix that has no right being as
good as it is.
Set in the town of Hawkins, Indiana you start out playing as Police
Chief Jim Hopper as he heads out to search for a missing kid, but
discovers much more than he bargained for. The gameplay has a classic
Zelda vibe to it, and the mix of puzzles and action sections keep things
feeling fresh. As you explore the town, you'll find other characters
from the show who join your party and have special abilities which allow
you to reach new areas of the world.
There's just so much to appreciate here. Not only is it a faithful
adaptation of the show, it's available for free with no in-app purchases
or annoying ads…beyond the game itself.
Yes, this game is essentially a playable advertisement for Season 2
of Stranger Things — in fact, one of the rewards for completing the game
is an extended trailer for said season. But unlike other mobile games
tied into movie or TV show franchises, Stranger Things: The Game can
stand on its own as a great game whether you're a fan of the source
material.
Death Point
Death Point is as polished a game as you'll find on Android. It's a
top-down stealth shooter in which you play a captured spy in a
post-apocalyptic world where you must sneak through enemy compounds
taking out guards and sabotaging their systems as you go.
Your goal is to meet up with the only other member of your team who
has survived, an operator who is able to communicate with you through
technology implanted in your brain. She's there to give you tips and
info on upcoming sections, and provide some lighthearted banter and
story as you get down to business getting your revenge.
The graphics are next level, and you'll probably need a recent
flagship to get the most out of this game, with great lighting effects
to show you when you're visible to guards and when you're hidden in the
shadows. You're free to play through however you please — be extra
stealthy, or go in Rambo-style — but you'll quickly learn that this game
is
very unforgiving if you make mistakes making a stealthier approach the clear winning strategy.
There are 10 challenging chapters to play through that will test even
the most hardcore gamers. It's a great title that's worth the premium
price.
Island Delta
Island Delta was published by the fine folks at Noodlecake Studios,
which alone makes it worth checking out. Developed by Mantisbite out of
Finland and released for iOS in late 2016, Island Delta brings unique
top-down action-adventure-puzzler fun to Android. You're tasked with
exploring a mysterious retro-futuristic island with your heroes, Zoe and
Baxter, as you try to take down the evil Doctor Gunderson and his army
of henchmen.
Using your anti-gravity gun, you must work your way past mechanical
minions, traps, and guards as you solve puzzles to make it through to
the end of each level. At times Island Delta feels like a stripped down,
third-person version Portal, which is something I wasn't aware I needed
in my life.
The cartoony graphics and outstanding level design will immediately
draw you in, but this game can get seriously challenging at times.
Fortunately, the game is fairly forgiving with checkpoint.
Downwell
Downwell is a retro-styles rogue-like game where the goal is fairly
simple — you jump down the well and see how far you can fall. Easy,
right? Well, not quite — the well is filled with enemies. But don't
worry, you're able to shoot down as you go, which also helps you kind of
float.
Story? Who needs a story when all you're looking for is action, baby!
From the cool graphics and simple controls, this is a game that's easy
to jump into but hard to master. Each time you play is unique, with new
weapon upgrades popping up randomly. At the end of each stage, you also
get to choose an additional power-up to help you along.
But be warned this game is challenging as hell. There's a steep
learning curve as you learn how to best use your weapons and which
enemies can be stomped and which need to be blasted. Since this is a
rogue-like game, you can pick up and play it a different game each time.
Penarium
Penarium is a tough-as-nails platformer created by Team 17, who you
probably remember best from the Worms franchise. Whereas Worms was a
slow-paced strategy game, Penarium is on the opposite end of the
spectrum featuring fast-paced action and requiring quick reflexes to
survive.
It tells the tale of a Willy, a portly farm boy who's always longed
for adventure. One day, a circus show rolls into town and Willy decides
to run away for a bit of fun and excitement. But unfortunately, this is
no ordinary circus — it's Penarium, the sadistic circus extravaganza!
Willy's the next contestant in their twisted game, where the goal is
to smash the barrels while dodging all sorts of devious traps and
weaponry. This game was originally released on Steam, but the gameplay
is ideal for mobile devices. The platforming action here is really
tight, with a rotating variety of traps and weapons keeping things
fresh.
The graphics are beautiful without ever affecting the gameplay
performance, and blends with the soundtrack to create a really polished
experience. Touch screen controls are often hit or miss, but I think
they work really well here as an homage to the simple penny arcades of
the era. The platforming action here is really tight, and the graphics
are beautiful without ever affecting the gameplay performance.
There are two game modes to play: Campaign mode which lets you unlock
additional arenas and is the "story mode" so to speak; and Arcade mode,
which challenges you to survive for as long as you can collecting coins
which you can spend on upgrades. It's a great game for quick casual
sessions that offers a great challenge. It's a paid app as well, so
there's no ads or in-app purchases to distract you
Injustice 2
Injustice 2 is the sequel to the award-winning game which is also one of the best fighting games .
If you've played and enjoyed the first game, you're sure to enjoy the
sequel which features more fantasy fight match-ups between your favorite
heroes and villains from the DC Universe.
Unlock new heroes and build your ultimate team as you battle in 3 vs 3
fights with the ability to swap out fighters as needed. The usual
suspects are here — Batman, Superman, Joker, Harley Quinn — as well as a
whole slew of new heroes and villains which you'll discover and unlock
as you play.
Controls are optimized for Android and feel even better than they did
in the first game. It's easier than ever to jump, duck and shoot
projectiles, with epic Super Moves available to finish off your
opponents. Graphically this game really shines, powered by the Unreal
engine. You start out with a Campaign mode only, with Arena, Story,
Operations, and Challenge modes unlocked later on.
Like the first game, Injustice 2 is free-to-play with a stamina bar
to manage and coins and crystals to collect and spend. There are in-app
purchases if you're impatient and want to unlock new characters quickly,
but there's plenty of fun to be had without spending a dime.
