With Android phones now more powerful than ever, it’s unsurprising to see a lot of folks use their smartphones as gaming devices as well, thanks to newer and more capable processors, better-looking displays, and even dedicated features designed to make on-the-go gaming much smoother. That being said, while some might dismiss mobile gaming in general as a gacha-infested pay-to-win experience, there are a ton of great titles available on the Google Play Store, across a wide variety of genres.
So for this one, we’re going to focus on titles which go back to one of gaming’s oldest roots: the action platformer. While a lot of these are newer games, they nevertheless manage to blend classic mechanics and difficulty with newer graphics and visuals. The best part is they’re “premium” titles, so you don’t need to fork out cash or stay online to play them. Let’s check them out!
Grimvalor
Starting things off is Grimvalor. Originally designed for mobile platforms and later ported to the Nintendo Switch, Grimvalor is an award-winning hack and slash title, that puts you against hordes of mythical monsters and challenging bosses. Grimvalor also combines exploration with level progression and weapon customization, making for one entertaining experience from start to finish.
In case you’re not too keen on using touchscreen controls, Grimvalor is compatible with third-party controllers as well, giving you a much better handle on all the action going around. The game also features slick combat moves, as well as good-looking graphics and voice-acting.
Blasphemous
While it’s been a good number of years now since its debut on console and Blasphemous is also available on the Google Play Store, and one could even argue that it has a higher difficulty tier than Grimvalor. Similar to the earlier game, Blasphemous is a side-scrolling action title which adopts gameplay elements from titles like Castlevania and Metroid (aka metroidvania).
This includes unlockable skills and items, as well as an in-game world filled with some of the most challenging enemies and terrain outside of Elden Ring. It’s affordable as well at just eight bucks, and includes all the DLC from the original console version.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Up next we have Castlevania Symphony of the Night (aka SOTN), a retro title which is greatly responsible for the other games on this list. While it’s mostly an action-adventure game, SOTN also features role-playing elements such as a leveling system, customizable gear, and some meaty in-game exploration, meaning that you’ll spend a lot of time going back and forth through the massive in-game world.
Originally released for the first PlayStation, SOTN also supports both touch controls and external controllers, so you can easily pair a wireless controller to your smartphone and get started with all the action. The pixelated graphics work well on smartphone displays, and anyone looking to revisit this classic or experience it for the first time will have a blast with this port.
Dead Cells
Finally, we have Dead Cells—Considered one of the best modern titles within the genre, Dead Cells sets itself apart by incorporating swift combat and rogue-like elements for some fast-paced gameplay. One key feature is that levels are generated differently each time you die within the game, so the experience will have you adapting with each run.
While you can purchase the full game, there’s also optional DLC which you can check out in case you want a bit more action. The game has also been released for other consoles, and while it’s been tailored to work with a touch screen, the Android port offers support for external third-party controllers.
