With phones now capable of console-level graphics, it’s a great time to be a mobile gamer. Android games, in particular, are pushing the envelope regarding what’s possible in this area. These eight Android games offer great gameplay but also push the boundaries of your device.
1 Genshin Impact
I’m not usually a fan of Gacha games, but this isn’t a bad choice if you want something that combines the charm of Zelda’s Breath of the Wild with Gacha. It’s an action RPG set in the world of Tevyat, offering players a lot of space to explore and experiment. It even has a massive list of characters covering different spells and abilities.
Genshin Impact really pushes your Android device to the edges of what’s possible because of the immersive open-world, particle effects, and well-done shader system. The gameplay is also pretty cool, even if you’re not into the whole Gacha game thing. There are puzzles, exploration, and challenging combat, making it a pretty decent game on its own merit.
2 Honkai: Star Rail
Looking at Genshin Impact, it would be crazy if another game did the same as this one, but that’s exactly what Honkai: Star Rail tries to emulate. While the games are separate and distinct in their own right, they share similar traits. Since the same company is responsible for both titles, it’s unsurprising.
Honkai: Star Rail is a sci-fi turn-based combat game with a compelling narrative. The high-quality graphics show how much effort goes into character design, and the game pushes the envelope of what your Android device is capable of. The gameplay is pretty rewarding, focusing on character-driven story arcs to drive the narrative. Although you probably guessed it already, this is also a Gacha game, so if you don’t like lootboxes, this might not be your thing.
3 Asphalt Legends Unite
As someone who’s spent several hundred hours in racing games, I think this one ramps up the immersion to eleven. Playing this on an Android device is a unique experience. I previously avoided racing games on Android, but Asphalt Legends Unite made me reconsider.
From the stunning graphics to the out-of-this-world visual effects, it really plucks all the strings for an old racing player like me. The environments are detailed enough to make you want to keep playing. If you were into games like Need for Speed, you’d fall right into this arcade-style racer. The graphics settings really take full advantage of what your Android device can do, and higher-end phones will have a better experience. Despite being a 2018 release, it still is an amazing game to experience.
4 Wuthering Waves
Have you ever dived into a game and just been totally sucked into it? That’s what Wuthering Waves was for me. It’s an open-world RPG with a post-apocalyptic setting, and it really leans into it. The game’s graphics are stunning, even on Android, making it great for pushing the hardware limits.
The game has some field action sequences that really show off what your Android device is capable of graphically. The narrative is well-crafted, and for players who enjoy video games with a deep story, this one is for you. Exploring such richly detailed environments will push your Android device’s graphics to the max, so it’s terrific for stress-testing your device.
5 GRID Autosport
I’ve never been a massive fan of ports, and this one comes from a console to the Android. Even though it’s a port, GRID Autosport delivers on bringing racing to a mobile device. It’s supposed to be a realistic racing simulator, much like Gran Turismo, but a lot more accessible because of the platform.
The experience is unique, with the console-level graphics coming across well. I was surprised at how easily top-end Android devices could handle it, but the porting seems well done. The game has several modes that fans of other racing titles would enjoy, so there’s a little for everyone. As it’s a port, it’s not native code, meaning your Android device must be a bit beefy to run it.
6 Call of Duty: Mobile
One of the “old reliables” for mobile gaming is Call of Duty: Mobile, but even so, it packs a punch at the highest graphics settings. Character models and shaders take a bit to render on mobile devices, but this is as good a time as any to jump into the latest Call of Duty game.
If you’re into FPS shooters, you’ll enjoy this game, but there isn’t much different from the console and PC versions. However, Activision has done a good job building a mobile experience for the game, and it runs decently on most systems. It will take advantage of the higher-end devices, though, so it’s great for testing how much your Android can handle.
7 Sky: Children of the Light
If you’ve played Journey, this game comes from the same developer and offers similar experiences, albeit in a mobile title. Sky: Children of the Light offers an exceptional multiplayer experience, which makes it worth downloading and checking out. There’s no global chat, but you’ll see other players as ghosts, adding to a shared camaraderie in the world.
From particle effects to deeply detailed environments, Sky: Children of the Light is visually stunning. The game offers environments that range from the tiny to the wide and sweeping, and it never lets up on the immersion it builds. It’s truly an experience worth having on a mobile phone.
8 Black Desert Mobile
Black Desert has always been about pushing the edges of immersion in MMORPGs, and the mobile version of this title does just that. The game’s not new, having been out for around four years at this point, but that doesn’t mean it won’t test the limits of your hardware. As an MMO title, that’s to be expected, with dozens of characters populating a particular area.
There are some MMOs you can play solo, and Black Desert Mobile seems to be one of them, although I haven’t spent as much time in the game to see what endgame content looks like. The graphics won’t stress your Android device as much as the sheer amount of players, so it’s great to put your device through its paces.
9 Android Is a Real Gaming Platform
Once you get serious about Android gaming and stop seeing it as “not a real system,” you realize how sophisticated these games have become. With almost 79% of all gamers using their phones extensively, it’s no wonder games have increased in quality and complexity. As someone who’s been on the fence about mobile gaming, these titles made me rethink Android gaming completely, and it might do the same for you.
