15 best free-to-play Android games in 2024

Free-to-play is commonly associated with poorly made games packed with microtransactions, but many of the top games on Android are free-to-play. These games balance fun and engaging gameplay with reasonable microtransactions or no microtransactions at all. From absorbing RPGs like Harry Potter: Magic Awakened to competitive PvP games like Rocket League: Sideswipe, there are plenty of free-to-play games on the Play Store that won’t waste your time.

We’ve picked out the best free-to-play games from the Google Play Store that offer fun gameplay and fair in-app purchases. You can play these on any Android phone, but grab a pair of noise-cancelling earbuds to avoid interruptions.

1 Harry Potter: Magic Awakened

The best Harry Potter experience on mobile

Harry Potter: Magic Awakened is the best Harry Potter game on the Play Store. From its generous fan service to its delightful art style, there’s a lot to love here. Magic Awakened’s gameplay revolves around RTS battles, where you’ll use a prebuilt deck of cards representing monsters and spells to defeat your opponent. It’s surprisingly absorbing, but this is merely the core of a wonderfully engaging game.

Outside of battles, you’ll roam around Hogwarts as your character, interacting with familiar faces at every corner. You can lean heavily into the RPG gameplay or devote yourself to PvP action; the choice is yours.

2 Marvel Snap

Fast-paced competitive card-battler

Free-to-play mobile card games are a dime-a-dozen on the Play Store, but few stand out like Marvel Snap. In our review, we praised its fast-paced strategic matches and clever deck-building mechanics, which come together to form one of the best card games on Android.

Microtransactions give you access to cosmetics. It’s not a pay-to-win game. While it takes time to unlock all the cards, you don’t need to worry about battling someone who’s paid for the best deck around.

3 Vampire Survivors

Addicting and challenging bullet-hell fun

Vampire Survivors on Android is the same game you’ll find on PC and consoles, but you won’t spend a penny. For those unfamiliar with the game, Vampire Survivors is an addicting bullet-hell shooter where you survive waves of bizarre creatures while exploring and unlocking various weapons. There’s a lot to love about this game, and the fact that it’s free is the cherry on top.

You’ll experience ads in-game, but these are few and far between. You can also purchase DLC to expand your Vampire Survivors experience.

4 Rocket League Sideswipe

2D Rocket League is better than you think

Psyonix Studios created a 2D version of Rocket League for mobile. Even though this sounds limiting, the game is pretty great. It offers similar Twitch controls to the original, but now you’re playing on a 2D plane where the goals are on either side of the screen. Controllers are supported out of the box, and the touch controls are serviceable for quick matches. PvP is the name of the game, and you can play 1vs1 or 2vs2 in a few modes.

Best of all, the game is free. It isn’t monetized, making it a perfect example of F2P done right. Plus, seeing that Psyonix has also fairly monetized the original PC and console game, it’s possible that if Rocket League Sideswipe is monetized, it will only sell cosmetics, just like the OG. So, as it stands, Rocket League Sideswipe is one of the better competitive games on Android, and it’s a fantastic F2P release that won’t break the bank.

5 Sky: Children of the Light

Calm and atmospheric RPG

Thatgamecompany is known for its quirky games like Flower and Journey. It also offers a free-to-play title on mobile that’s similar to Journey, seeing there’s a heavy reliance on cooperation in Sky: Children of the Light. This is a multiplayer game, but there isn’t a way to communicate beyond simple emojis. This is a game that children and adults can easily enjoy. What’s cool is you can team up with friends to explore the dreamlike world, which is where this title shines.

Though they can be demanding, the graphics are detailed. It’s an open-world game, similar to an MMO, with events and an evolving story. Best of all, there’s no need to sink money into this title. You can enjoy the entire game for free, even if you want to jump into multiplayer. It’s a game that offers a chill journey backed by pretty graphics and a mysterious story. It’s easily worth checking out if you’re into similar games.

6 Pokémon Go

Still going strong

Pokémon Go might be old news by now, but it’s still running strong seven years after its release. Today, every Pokémon from the core games is included, and players can regularly participate in events and raids. If you haven’t touched it since the earliest days, we recommend giving it another shot. There’s a colossal amount of content to explore.

While Pokémon Go’s gameplay hasn’t evolved much since its release, neither has it degraded. It’s easy to see how Niantic could have exploited the game’s microtransactions, but it remains as enjoyable to play for free as ever.

7 AnimA ARPG (Action RPG)

Better than most pay-to-play RPGs

If you enjoy action RPGs in the same style as the Diablo series, check out AnimA ARPG. This is a dark and gritty hack-and-slash title, and it’s monetized well, leaving in-app purchases for cosmetics that don’t affect gameplay. This means the game isn’t pay-to-win, unlike much of its competition on the Play Store. It also doesn’t hurt that the title gives a distinct Diablo II feel with responsive controls, quality graphics, and phenomenal music.

8 Brawlhalla

Fast-paced brawler action

The easiest way to describe Brawlhalla is to call it a Smash Bros. clone. But that oversimplified label may anger Smash and Brawlhalla fans alike. At its core, this is a free-to-play platformer brawler. The title contains a cash shop for cosmetics and an optional Battle Pass subscription that nets you extra rewards over free players.

The game is best played with an external controller, though touchscreen controls are available and can be adjusted in the title’s settings. All in all, the Android port of Brawlhalla holds its own. And thanks to cross-play support, you can play against your friends no matter their platform of choice.

9 Call of Duty: Mobile

The best FPS experience on mobile

Call of Duty: Mobile is about as good as it gets for first-person shooters on mobile. The game contains many of everyone’s favorite CoD levels, and the gunplay feels great, whether you play with touchscreen controls or a physical controller. Since this is an F2P release, you can expect iffy monetization and an optional monthly subscription plan that can net significant rewards.

10 The Ramp

Chill skateboarding satisfaction

Skateboarding games are few and far between on mobile, especially quality titles. This is why the port for The Ramp is special. This fantastic casual skateboard game is about creating long-lasting lines. Plus, it looks great in action. Controllers are supported out of the box, and since pulling off perfect transitions can be tricky with the touch controls, use a controller to play.

The game launched on the Play Store with a $2 IAP in tow, but the publisher removed it, which means this free-to-play game is free. The Ramp is about having fun while learning the controls with no distractions. So, if you have a controller handy, give The Ramp a try, especially if you’re a fan of skateboarding games.

11 Old School RuneScape

The classic MMORPG on your phone

Old School RuneScape is a classic MMORPG that offers a boatload of free content, though it is slightly limited. Still, it provides an excellent trial opportunity to jump into the MMO before deciding if the optional monthly subscription is worth your money.

The title offers cross-platform support, and it’s a skill-based game that requires input from the player. There’s no autoplay here. This means players must manually grind to level the title’s 23 skills, which is the real draw of this release: grinding the day away through manual input.

12 The Battle of Polytopia

Low-poly Civilization

The Battle of Polytopia is one of the better 4X turn-based strategy games on the Play Store. Its low-poly graphics provide the game with a unique and stylized look. Maps are auto-generated, allowing for endless replayability. The majority of the title can be played for free. However, if you want to play online, purchase at least one of the playable tribes to help the developer maintain server costs. The single-player content is so enjoyable that the online content isn’t necessary unless you want to thrash some of your friends.

13 Roblox

Community-led minigames

Roblox is wildly popular (mostly among children), yet few can explain what kind of game this is. That’s because it’s not a single game. Instead, it’s a collection of games created by users within its virtual universe. There’s no telling what kind of content you’ll dig up playing Roblox. The sky’s the limit. Think of this title as something similar to Minecraft, where children run rampant using the platform as their personal playground for their digital avatars.

There are years worth of content, almost a never-ending supply. If you don’t mind digging a little for fun, Roblox has an entire digital universe of games to explore. And we have a guide that shows you how to explore Roblox and create the best experience.

14 Roach Race​​​

There are free-to-play games, and then there are true games without monetization that are entirely free to play, such as Roach Race. This simple auto-runner from CD Projekt was recently added as a mini-game inside Cyberpunk 2077. CD Projekt then released the game on mobile to advertise the recent update to Cyberpunk, a great way to build excitement with fans. What matters is whether the game is fun, and it is, especially if you enjoy running games.

15 Data Wing​​​​​

Data Wing is a fantastic racing game that is free to play in the truest sense of the word. The game offers stylish top-down racing that uses minimal graphics to give the feeling that you’re racing inside a computer system, a sort of Tron-like vibe. There’s a two-hour story with about 40 levels to play. The touchscreen controls are easy to pick up and even simpler to use. All you do is tap the left or right side of the screen to turn your ship in the corresponding direction.

This slick little racer is a joy to play and has a kicking chillwave soundtrack. But best of all, it’s completely free.

Which free-to-play Android games are your favorites?

While there are plenty of great free-to-play games on Android, you don’t need to spend much money to access a huge variety of quality games. Any Netflix subscription now includes access to Netflix Games, which includes an exclusive library of games without ads or in-app purchases.

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