Best Android games

MARIE BLACK rounds up our favourite titles of all time

There are loads of round-ups of the best Android games on the web, so what makes ours different? Well, for a start, we’ve included not only the most recent trending titles, but also our favourite games of all time – the ones we routinely go back to, despite them being released several years ago. These games never get old.

We also recognize that sometimes you have to put your hand in your pocket if you want something truly

special, so while the majority of the Android games in our list are free, there are a couple of paid-for games, too. On the subject of payment, you should be aware that even free games usually contain paid-for elements – extra coins or customization options, for example. If anyone other than you – perhaps a child – is going to be playing games on your phone then it’s worth checking they won’t be able to purchase any of these extras without your permission.

Launch the Google Play app and tap the three vertical lines at the top left of the window. Choose Settings, then scroll down to Require authentication for purchases and ensure this is set to ‘For all purchases through Google Play on this device’.

Also in this Settings menu you’ll find an option to Auto-update apps over Wi-Fi only, because some games are huge and can kill your data allowance. When downloading a large game from the Play store you should get a notification warning you and recommending that you turn on Wi-Fi.

Anyway, on to the fun stuff.

Pokémon Go

Price: Free from tinyurl.com/j9v46dy

No best Android games list is complete without the phenomenon that is Pokémon Go. True, it has lost some of its popularity since it debuted in summer 2016, but there are still some die-hard players out there, and thanks to continuous updates Niantic and The Pokémon Company have managed to keep things fairly fresh.

This is an augmented-reality game, loved by anyone who has ever loved Pokémon or anyone who is likely to get sucked into the hype of the latest trend. It will also appeal to competitive types, who can attempt to find the most, best and most powerful Pokémon, then compete to win gyms (found at real-world places such as shopping centres and train stations).

Pokémon are caught by throwing PokéBalls at them, which can be collected from PokéStops in the nearby area. Pokémon Go really encourages kids to get up and walk about – more so if they want to hatch their eggs – and some of the places they find Pokémon can be fascinating. Pikachu sitting on the bathroom toilet? Quite possible.

A new batch of Pokémon was recently released into the wild, which gave some respite to long-time

Pokémon Go players who had already ‘caught them all’. And now legendaries are coming, too. Other labels will still sync unless you turn them off. Thus, the messages will be available when you open the app. If some of your labels are of particular importance, you can also set them to notify on every new message instead of just once per label.

Minecraft Pocket Edition

Price: 99p from tinyurl.com/7d56ttp

Another Android game that will appeal to small- and big kids alike is Minecraft Pocket Edition, the mobile version of the Minecraft game played on PCs, laptops and consoles. It’s not free, but £2.99 is a fair trade for the hours it will keep you or the kids entertained.

If you’ve never heard of Minecraft, crawl out from under whichever rock you’re hiding. Minecraft is a construction sim with endless possibilities – if you

can think of something you can build it. So it’s not just fun, it’s also creative and educational. Awesome.

Super Mario Run

Price: Free from tinyurl.com/jmfsw9ap

If you’re into gaming then you have to try Super Mario Run. It’s the first Super Mario game for mobile ever released by Nintendo, and has now made its way to Android after being an App Store exclusive since December 2016. Super Mario Run is, as the name suggests, a runner game. There’s one-touch gameplay and simple mechanics, but if you’ve ever played Super Mario before you’ll know exactly what you’re doing. You need to jump over gaps and obstacles, collect coins and avoid enemies as you attempt to make your way to the end of the level.