Mobile games are no longer restricted to simple puzzlers and platformers, as developers are now making console-quality RPGs exclusively for mobile devices. If you’re craving something more challenging than Candy Crush, consider this list of the best Android strategy games.
Best Card Based Strategy Game: Plants vs Zombies Heroes
The unending battle between vegetation and the undead roars on in Plant Vs. Zombies Heroes, a collectible card game based on the PvZ series. The rules are similar to Hearthstone, another popular card game inspired by World of Warcraft, but Heroes is more welcoming to casual gamers who’ve never played card based RPGs.
New characters and bosses add intrigue to the PvZ lore.
Intro battles teach you how to play the game.
Cute and colorful graphics.
Fans of the original titles might be turned off by the new gameplay style.
Some games can be quite long.
Best Retro Strategy Game: Old School RuneScape
Are you tired of today’s MMORPG scene? Take a trip back to simpler times by downloading Old School RuneScape; this free mobile port of the 2007 version of RuneScape includes some improvements to streamline gameplay. Old School RuneScape is a great entry point for newer MMORPG fans and a welcome respite for old school gamers.
Old School RuneScape is easier to pick up and play than most modern online RPGs.
Users can vote on proposed new features before they’re implemented.
Tutorial helps you get familiar with game play and the interface.
The graphics look a little rough, but that’s part of the game’s charm.
Difficulty entering a character name due to keyboard layout on smartphones.
Best Looking Strategy Game: Dawn of Titans
Dawn of Titans boasts console quality graphics and a surprisingly complex story for a mobile game. A healthy mix of empire building simulation and real time tactical battles makes this title a total package for strategy enthusiasts. Form alliances with other players or trample them with your army of titans.
Command colossal monsters in epic fantasy warfare.
Detailed character models and dynamic camera angles make for exhilarating combat.
Due to the advanced graphics, you’ll need a high-end mobile device to play Dawn of Titans without experiencing any lag.
Large filesize.
Best Final Fantasy Game: Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions
There are dozens of Final Fantasy knockoffs in the Google Play store, but Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions isn’t one of them; it’s a full port of the Playstation Portable remake of the classic 1998 Playstation title. Console quality graphics, music, and overall presentation make this game well worth the price tag, even if you’ve played the original.
A complex job system allows endless options for character customization.
A newly translated story features realistic characters dealing with themes of war, loyalty, and faith.
The game wasn’t originally designed for touch controls, so navigating menus and rotating the camera can feel tedious.
Game isn’t free.
Best Post-Apocalyptic Strategy Game: Fallout Shelter
You don’t have to play the Fallout series to enjoy Fallout Shelter. All you need to know is the nuclear apocalypse is upon us, and it’s your job to ensure humanity survives. In this simulation game, you must manage a team of fellow survivors to grow food, produce energy, and rebuild society.
Gameplay is similar to the much loved Civilization series.
Also available for iOS, Windows, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.
Useful tutorial shows you the ropes.
Handy tips are provided to improve game play.
Fallout fans may be disappointed by how little the game relates to other titles in the series.
Game play can get a bit tedious.
Best Nintendo Strategy Game: Fire Emblem Heroes
The fabled Fire Emblem series takes place in a classic medieval fantasy world where humans and dragons coexist. You must command an army of sword-bearers and magic wielders in a form of tactical warfare resembling a complex game of chess. Download Fire Emblem Heroes for free and challenge other players in blade-to-staff combat.
Features familiar characters, spells, and locations from various Fire Emblem titles.
Game is rather simple to play.
Fire Emblem purists may find the game too easy.
Rather large file downloads and updates.
Best 4X Strategy Game: Battle of Polytopia
Battle of Polytopia distills the essential elements of the 4X genre (explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate) into a free-to-play mobile package. Similar to games like Rise of Civilization, players compete over territory and resources on a variety of maps; however, gameplay is turn-based, and each session is limited to 30 rounds.
Asynchronous multiplayer allows you to play with friends throughout the day.
No advertisements or “pay-to-win” elements.
A lack of in-game tutorials means you’ll often have to learn through trial and error.
Can’t see the bottom icons on smaller screens. No available scroll.
Most Original Strategy Game: Reigns: Her Majesty
More of an interactive storybook than a game, Reigns: Her Majesty is a choose-your-own adventure app that puts players in control of a queen about to be deposed. You must make critical decisions by swiping left or right to maintain control of your throne. Say the wrong thing to the wrong person and it’s off with your head.
A quirky story with multiple outcomes makes the game highly replayable.
An inventory system adds an extra layer of depth to the decision making process.
The gameplay may feel too simplistic for hardcore RPG fans.
Not free.
Best Tower Defense Game: Clash Royale
From the makers of Clash of Clans comes a card-based, multiplayer, tower defense strategy game set in the same universe. While that may sound like an odd combination of genres, Clash Royale blends them together surprisingly well. Battles consist of intense three-minute rounds, yet the real strategy comes in preparing for combat.
Expands on the Clash of Clans universe with new troops.
Training sessions teaches you how to play the game.
Can earn chests with useful upgrades.
In-app purchases give players a substantial advantage, sometimes making multiplayer battles feel unfair.
Best Sci-Fi Strategy Game: Strike Team Hydra
If you prefer more action in your strategy games, Strike Team Hydra will surely hit the mark. Set in the distant future, the game pits players against an army of cyborg mutants. It’s a tried-and-true premise, but you’ll have to think outside the box and use terrain to your advantage to succeed.
A diverse group of characters and creative monster designs make combat especially enjoyable to watch.
A unique action point system requires players to carefully juggle movements and attacks each turn.
There’s no free trial version, but you can find it at a reasonable price.
Turns move slowly.
Best Hack and Slash Strategy Game: Eternium
If you like classic arcade dungeon crawlers like Gauntlet, then Eternium was made for you. Collect items to forge weapons and spells, then use your fingers to slay hordes of demons with devastating magical attacks. Tight controls, impressive graphics, and multiple gameplay modes make Eternium worth a look.
Multiplayer mode lets you fight with or against other players from around the world.
Free to download with no ads or pay walls.
Unique attacks can be used with various screen draws.
Small tutorial introduces you to game play.
The story, characters, and gameplay are unapologetically unoriginal.
Best Simulator Game for Android: Hades’ Star
Hades’ Star propels the sim genre to new heights. Gameplay takes place in one massive virtual universe where players colonize planets and build fleets of spacecraft to support their intergalactic empires. Unlike other MMO games, Hades’ Star places a greater emphasis on collaboration over competition, making for a more laid back experience.
Engage with thousands of players at once in a giant online community.
Can zoom in or out for better viewing.
Many of the planets and character models look the same.
Some controls may overlap onscreen Android home menu.
Best Board Game for Android: Stormbound: Kingdom Wars
Part board game, part collectible card game, Stormbound: Kingdom Wars has all the makings of an epic RPG, including a backstory about warring royal families in an immersive fantasy setting. Carefully choose which side you’re on, because you’ll have to win battles against other players to obtain new units.
A beautiful mix of 2D and 3D graphics make the fantasy world come to life.
Each kingdom has its own strategic advantages, which adds diversity to gameplay.
Although Stormbound is free to download, in-app purchases give players a substantial advantage in combat.
The game randomly pairs players together, which sometimes feels unfair to newer players.
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