The 10 Best Ad-Free Games on Android 2022.
They say that there is no free lunch, and there is no place where it is more true than in mobile games. Even those Android games that claim to be free end up with annoying ads hidden behind an in-app purchase.
Finding games on Google Play that don’t have ads or microtransactions can be tricky. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best Android games that are ad-free and free of in-app purchases.
1. Stranger Things 3: The Game
Cashing in on a popular television series with a video game is not uncommon. But to make this game completely free, without any microtransactions or ads, is definitely unique.
When Stranger Things first announced its spin-off series, audiences were skeptical. Their fears were only heightened when the game turned out to be an old-school pixel art game.
But when the game finally came out, it turned out to be surprisingly good. Fans of the series loved the opportunity to explore more of the setting while they waited for the next season, and retro fans enjoyed an authentic 16-bit experience.
We are now in the third iteration of the game and the quality has only gotten better. Stranger Things 3: The Game is completely free to Netflix subscribers and does not include any ads or microtransactions. A must-play for anyone who has seen the show or just loves nostalgic retro games.
2. Data Wing
2D racing has long been a staple of arcade games. With simple mechanics and intuitive touch controls, these games are easy to learn and will quickly keep you engrossed for a couple of hours.
The data wing is a simple graphical recreation of a formula. But what it lacks in visual detail, it makes up for in storytelling and gameplay. This does not mean that its graphics are bad; the visual design pairs beautifully with the EDM soundtrack, creating a very fun gameplay experience.
The level of difficulty increases over time, although the game is still easy to master for anyone. And with the low, low cost of free, there’s no reason not to.
3. Ultraflow
Puzzles are another important element of arcade games. And if we are talking about puzzles, it would be remiss not to mention Ultraflow.
Like Data Wing, Ultraflow is a simplified version that best represents its genre. The visuals are crisp and easy to read, with seemingly simple puzzles that will keep you for hours and hours trying to get the perfect shot.
The minimalist visuals are not compromised by any ads or in-app purchases, giving you a clean gaming experience that will not leave you indifferent. And now that Ultraflow 2 is out, it’s time to start playing.
4. Unciv
Anyone who has ever played a Civilization game on their computer knows how exciting and addictive this game can be. The granddaddy of 4X strategy games, Civilization is a timeless classic that remains a favorite of many gamers even today.
Unfortunately, the game is not entirely available on smartphones. Officially, at least. But thanks to the efforts of the Civilization fan community, you can also play Civ on your Android phone.
Unciv is an open-source reconstruction of Civilization 5 that recreates the deep mechanics and strategic variety of the game in a simpler visual representation. While not an official port, it nevertheless manages to stay true to the game by bringing you the quintessential Civilization for free on your mobile phone.
The 10 Best Ad-Free Games on Android 2022
5. The Frostrune
Point and click adventure games were once quite a popular game genre. You have explored a vast 2D environment by interacting with the world and solving puzzles. The focus was not on combat but on an adventure in general, giving these games a more relaxed pace rarely seen in modern RPGs.
However, the rise of the indie game industry has breathed new life into the dying genre. And while most of these games are for PC, there are some great releases for mobile as well.
Frostrune is a great point-and-click adventure with an interesting storyline and lots of puzzles. Drawing inspiration from Norse mythology, Frostrune creates a world that is both breathtaking and sinister. A must-play for anyone who grew up playing Myst games and wants that nostalgia back.
6. Underhand
Card games like Magic: The Gathering have a long history. Gamers have always enjoyed collecting rare cards, creating their own unique decks, and then using them to destroy their opponents with too much skill.
And thanks to mobile games, getting into this genre is easier than ever before. Underhand is a completely free deckbuilding game with an interesting premise: you are the leader of a Lovecraft cult seeking to summon an Ancient One. No, we are not joking.
Cthulhu cultists aside, Underhand is a fun and surprisingly deep card game with a wide variety of cards on offer. And since there are no annoying pop-ups to get in the way of the game, be prepared to spend whole nights chasing the perfect deck.
7. Pixel Dungeon
Any list of games would be incomplete without a good roguelike. The roguelike genre, popularized by games such as NetHack and Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup, has become a very popular gaming niche these days.
Pixel Dungeon is a true roguelike, modeled after Brogueand Angband rather than the more action-oriented Spelunkyor The Binding of Isaac. The graphics are simple, but the mechanics are deceptively complex, providing a level of depth and replay value rarely seen in today’s games.
And the best thing is that it’s absolutely free. There has been no attempt to monetize the popularity of the game through poorly targeted ads or microtransactions, and this is always welcome.
8. Fast Like A Fox
Fast Like A Fox is a unique combination of platforming and endless runner mechanics. Endless runners have a long history in mobile games as they are fairly easy to get into and play for minutes or even hours while you are driving to work.
How about an endless runner where you can also control your character’s speed and collect tons of collectibles along the way? This is exactly what Fast Like A Fox promises.
Unlike most endless runners where all you need is just tap to jump, you need to keep tapping on the back of your phone to make the fox run. The faster you press, the faster he runs, and the faster you will finish each level. The fast-paced and addictive game Fast Like A Fox is available on the Google Play Store for free.
9. Mindustry
Thanks to the incredible success of Factorio, the factory-building game genre really took off. While the specific mechanics vary, all of these games offer satisfying crafting mechanics as well as the ability to create automated crafting machines.
Mindustry blends this addictive formula with the Tower Defense genre for explosive gameplay. The graphics may not be very complex (and this is not the topic of this article), but the unique gameplay makes up for it. What’s more, you can play in both single and multiplayer modes.
If our description hasn’t already got you up to speed, Mindustry might seem a bit overwhelming to a beginner. Factory builders are notorious for scaling out of control, and combining that with tower defense mechanics doesn’t make things any easier either. But for fans of the genre, there is nothing more satisfying than watching your carefully built defenses be easily destroyed by oncoming waves.
Mindustry had a different pricing model for Android and iOS devices. While the game is free to download from the Play Store, it costs a one-time purchase from the Apple App Store. Keep in mind that even in this case, there are no ads or microtransactions, and the player on the iPhone will have the same experience as the player on the Samsung Galaxy.
10. FreeDOOM
The classic Doom is still a great game for many, even after the success of the modern remake of the game. For those who grew up shooting pixelated demons in the pseudo-3D wastelands of Doom, there really is no other solution.
You can easily play it on PC using DOSBox, but what if we say that you can enjoy the same experience on your mobile too? Not officially, of course, since the mobile spin-offs released by the developer were role-playing games. No, we’re talking about FreeDOOM, a game developed by the community that aims to keep the feel of the original.
FreeDOOM is essentially a remake of the original DOOM with the similar art style and game mechanics for mobile devices. It looks and plays very similarly, as it uses the same game engine and first-person perspective. For those who still have a copy of the old game, this application can be used to open and run the most classic Android game, which is amazing.
Which Are the Best Free Android Games?
When exactly can you call a game free? Is a free download enough, even if it bombards you with ads? Is there an in-app purchase to disable ads?
For most gamers, a truly free game is a game that has no ads or microtransactions other than the fact that it is initially available for free. As you might expect, there aren’t many games in this category, especially if you’re looking for quality.
But there are some gems if you know where to look. And to save you the trouble of sifting through the crowd yourself, we’ve compiled a list of the best of them.
From deck builders to roguelikes, this list has something for every gamer. And since the games are free, trying them out is as easy as installing them.
The 10 Best Ad-Free Games on Android 2022
The 10 Best Ad-Free Games on Android 2022