Latest entries - March 16th, 2025:

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Introduction

(scroll down for the actual list)

I recently realized there are still, to this day, some actual “hidden gems” in the Play Store. Not the fake ones everyone talks about which, in a way or another, often have a catch or aren’t very “hidden”. I mean free games with no ads or IAPs of any kind that are fun to play.

So I was thinking maybe it’s time to compile a list of them. Please suggest the ones you’ve found and enjoyed!

I won’t try them all as I did with my premium games list [will update with link as soon as I post it], because this time you could simply download and try them for yourself without spending a dime. I’ll simply list them.

‼️Also, please do checkout MiniReview - Game Reviews for more free games that match the following criteria (use the “Browse” tab and select the correct filters). The same app for iOS - App Store - is here.‼️

 

Entry Criteria

  • FREE
  • NO ADS
  • STRICTLY NO IAPs (except donation buttons, but I’ll have to check before adding the game to the list, so no guarantees it’ll be added quickly)
  • it has to be a legit game, of course. Full, not demo.
  • it has to be available on the Play Store and compatible with the latest, official Android version at the time of entry
  • possibly include a link to the game on the Play Store

I’ve saved this post so to keep it updated over time, for my own reference and for your benefit. So feel free to save it and check out new entries every so often.

 

THE LIST

 

Legend

☕️ - includes a fair donation button, with or without minimal cosmetics only

[Game title] - removed from Play Store

 

Shooters

 

Stealth

 

Platform

 

Rhythm

 

Arcade

 

RPG

 

Roguelike dungeon crawlers

 

Deck builders

 

Adventure

 

Puzzle

 

Strategy

 

Racing

 

Management

 

Simulation

 

Casual

 

Sport/Competition

 

Visual novel

 

Happy gaming ;)

ps: please let me know if there’s any wrong information about the games included in this list (especially regarding the ones with free donations) so that I’ll fix the post, if necessary.

    • char_stats@lemm.eeOPEnglish
      2·
      3 hours ago

      Ye I’m all for one-time paid games! I’ll drop my premium games list here tomorrow

      • Zak@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        3 hours ago

        Thanks for your lists. It’s hard to find mobile games that offer fun and a fair deal.

  • claymore@pawb.socialEnglish
    5·
    5 hours ago

    Guaguin is a sudoku-like puzzle game that I enjoy a ton. Instead of the usual 9-block square, this has random shapes with a number and a math operator on them. The goal is to have no repeating digits on rows/columns, and each block needs its mathematical problem to be solved. For example a block labeled 20x needs to filled so that all the numbers inside of it multiply to 20.

    Play Store

    F-Droid

    • Krelis_@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      4 hours ago

      Seconded, I’ve spent a good amount with this and enjoyed the different numbering systems (e.g. binary, hex) to tickle my brain

  • Pamtomaka@lemm.eeEnglish
    1·
    4 hours ago

    Glad to see you here! I hope this helps getting traction towards a critical mass on Lemmy!

    • char_stats@lemm.eeOPEnglish
      2·
      3 hours ago

      Hey! I hope so too, but I’m sure Reddit itself will do most of the legwork for us haha! They’re going the way of the Xitter.

      And BTW thank you for reminding me Lemmy existed and I should have gotten on it long ago!

  • char_stats@lemm.eeOPEnglish
    48·
    12 hours ago

    Hi everyone!

    I’m moving my two lists of games from Reddit to Lemmy, as I’m planning to jump platform and totally abandon Reddit in the future. The reason is well, Lemmy is better, and Reddit’s admin have suspended or shadowbanned my account without reason, deleting all my contributions to the community (Android Gaming) there.

    Most notably my two lists of games which I’ve curated for 4 years: “100% free games” and “Favorite PAID games”.

    Lemmy’s still young and, unfortunately, there isn’t a relevant or active Android gaming community yet, so I’m uploading here hoping I’m not doing anything wrong!

    I’ll probably cross-post the two lists on android(at)lemmy.world too.

    I’m very new to Lemmy so ANY feedback is appreciated. Thank you!

      • char_stats@lemm.eeOPEnglish
        3·
        4 hours ago

        Thanks! Would this be helpful for cross-posting to that community? My goal is to have a post showing in these 2 communities, and when I update the original one in this instance, the update will automatically carry on to the community in the other instance.

        I tried cross-posting using a function in the Summit app, but the updates don’t carry on… Do you know how I could achieve this?

        • smeg@feddit.ukEnglish
          2·
          4 hours ago

          I don’t think there’s any formal concept of a cross-post in Lemmy, the button in Summit will just create a new post with a link to the original and the description text quoted. They are essentially just two different posts.

    • SatyrSack@feddit.orgEnglish
      10·
      6 hours ago

      Some small markdown suggestions:

      • Headers require a space after the number signs, like:
        ## **THE LIST**
      • I think “Introduction” and “Entry Criteria” should both be headers as well
      • Each of your genre headers should get three number signs, since those are each subsections of the “THE LIST” section
      • char_stats@lemm.eeOPEnglish
        5·
        11 hours ago

        First of all, thanks for your observations and suggestions. I love to be precise with my posts and learning more about markdown formatting.

        Headers require a space after the number signs

        A question about this: does it change the way it actually looks? I’ll fix it, but I’d love to know if there’s a practical difference in using space vs no space?

        I think “Introduction” and “Entry Criteria” should both be headers as well

        You’re probably right, as general rules go, but the reason why headers in my list are formatted this way is because I wanted to draw attention to the actual list and genres, rather than to the introduction/criteria. As I’m expecting most users to browse this list when they wanna checkout some games.

        Each of your genre headers should get three number signs, since those are all headers that fall within the “THE LIST” section

        I’ve actually tried that recently, but didn’t like the way it looked. I think something was off with the spacing between genre headers and first line when using three hashtags. Might give it another try soon.

        • SatyrSack@feddit.orgEnglish
          3·
          11 hours ago

          A question about this: does it change the way it actually looks? I’ll fix it, but I’d love to know if there’s a practical difference in using space vs no space?

          Without the space, they don’t render as a header at all.

          No space:

          ##THE LIST

          With space:

          THE LIST

          • char_stats@lemm.eeOPEnglish
            3·
            11 hours ago

            They both always looked the same for me, but once I tried on Obsidian I could see the difference! I think it depends on what app the formatting is displayed on. Thanks, I’m gonna fix all headers

            • SatyrSack@feddit.orgEnglish
              4·
              11 hours ago

              I think it depends on what app the formatting is displayed on.

              That is probably where the confusion lies here. Because in the default Lemmy web UI, omitting the space literally displays the number signs as-is without making the line a larger font at all.

  • SatyrSack@feddit.orgEnglish
    19·
    12 hours ago

    Anything on F-Droid should fit your criteria, but here is what I have installed:

      • SatyrSack@feddit.orgEnglish
        13·
        12 hours ago

        And careful throwing around terms like “100% Free” around here, considering most of the titles in your list are not free open source software in the “libre” sense that Lemmy users tend to expect more than Reddit users do.

        • char_stats@lemm.eeOPEnglish
          3·
          12 hours ago

          Yes, thanks. I removed the 100% in the title. That was to distinguish the games in this list from the “free-to-play” games, which are free to download but then have predatory monetization through microtransactions, or ads.

          Personally, I can see the difference between saying “free” and “FOSS” so I thought it should be alright. But thanks for the feedback!

          I might start listing real FOS games recommended by the users, but I’m not sure whether I should add a dedicated section within this list, or build a new list from scratch for FOS games alone.

  • Sterile_Technique@lemmy.worldEnglish
    6·
    9 hours ago

    This only kinda meets the criteria since emulators are available on the play store, though roms will have to be sourced elsewhere, but… 100% roms and emulators. The N64 content and earlier emulate really well on a smartphone, especially when paired with a bluetooth controller.

    IIRC ever version (different language releases, etc) of every game for Nintendo consoles from when they first became a company through all of the N64 content is a grand total of like 20bg: each individual game is tiny, so you can easily fit all your favorites on your phone.

    I’m not sure what the latest and greatest emulators are today, but when I dabbled into this stuff last time, there were free, no bullshit options.

    Quick search reveals a couple communities for it here on Lemmy:

    !emulation@lemmy.ml

    !emulationonandroid@lemmy.ml

    I’d hit the side bars of those communities and go from there.

    Note: downloading roms you don’t own the license to is piracy; and even if you do own the license, your ISP won’t know that, so I’d recommend practicing some basic internet safety like using a VPN. Also, ad blockers are an ABSOLUTE MUST on any website that provides or directs you to roms, otherwise you’ll have like 20 links on your page that all say “Download!” that will lead you to some flavor of shitware.

    But yeah, if you want games without all the modern bullshit in them like ads and lootcrate gambling, etc, then what better option than games that were made before all that cancer existed?!

    • char_stats@lemm.eeOPEnglish
      1·
      9 hours ago

      While I enjoy emulation, it is kinda OT for this list.

      Also, is it me or the two links in your comment are broken? It seems like they both miss an “h” in “https”.

      • Sterile_Technique@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        9 hours ago

        While I enjoy emulation, it is kinda OT for this list.

        Kinda, but only kinda. I wouldn’t put any how-to guides or anything here, but letting folks know that it’s an option is worth posting.

        Also, is it me or the two links in your comment are broken? It seems like they both miss an “h” in “https”.

        Weird. They both worked for me; I changed them to the ! links - see if that works any better. …actually iirc that makes it better for mobile users anyway.

  • Davel23@fedia.io
    12·
    12 hours ago

    Welcome to Lemmy! Love the post and I look forward to more, just one small suggestion. The title reads a little bit spamlike, I almost dismissed the post as some sort of ad.

    • char_stats@lemm.eeOPEnglish
      6·
      12 hours ago

      Lol! You’re right, actually. But it’s accurate, to the point and, I suppose, easy to find for users.

      What would you suggest instead? Maybe removing the “100%”?

      • SatyrSack@feddit.orgEnglish
        2·
        12 hours ago

        I think changing it to something like “List of my favorite 100% Free Games - no ads, no IAPs” should suffice. To me, that comes off as having a more genuine/personal feel

        • char_stats@lemm.eeOPEnglish
          2·
          12 hours ago

          Thanks for the suggestion. I can’t really say that because, as mentioned in my post, I haven’t played all those games. This is a list of games recommended by the users that I simply put together for everyone to easily browse.

          I changed the title a bit and I’ll see if I can further improve it! Cheers!

  • Fallofturkey@lemmy.worldEnglish
    6·
    11 hours ago

    Links that didn’t work for me / not on the play store anymore: Satyrn, Supertux, Supertux classic, Dribble, Bad Trip, Lofi Ping pong , Rocket League sideswipe, Butterfly soup, Butterfly soup 2

  • murmelade@lemmy.mlEnglish
    2·
    11 hours ago

    Nice list, will be checking out some of these as I’ve only been playing Sudoku lately. Thank you!