10 Most Popular Online Android Games

Android is home to an incredible variety of games. Whether you’re into puzzles or adventures, there’s something for everyone. These games not only entertain but also provide a good challenge.

Online games have become the most popular on Android, connecting millions of players from all over the globe. You can see how you stack up by comparing scores, challenge someone directly, or join a game with multiple players.

Here, we're going to explore some of the world’s most popular online Android games that you might want to check out. These games span a diverse range of styles and genres, from strategy to simulation.

1. PUBG MOBILE

Though other games like H1Z1 and Minecraft’s “Hunger Games” mod played around with the Battle Royale concept, it didn’t really take off until PUBG hit the PC scene in 2017. Its massive success led to a version for Android and iOS called PUBG Mobile.

Short for Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds, this game drops you into battle with 99 others aiming to be the last one standing. You start fully equipped, parachuting from a plane, and then it’s all about gathering weapons to take down your rivals. If you’re killed, you’re out, and it’s back to square one.

The main goal? Survive. Outlast all other players to claim victory. Initially, you might face off against bots, but as you play more, you’ll encounter real players.

At first, the vast map might make it seem like you’re wandering an empty wasteland. But the thrill of finally spotting and defeating an enemy is incredibly satisfying. However, dying early on can be quite frustrating.

Luckily, the game includes features like drivable vehicles and a gradually shrinking play area, ensuring you’ll eventually cross paths with other players.

PUBG Mobile has racked up over 500 million downloads worldwide, making it a standout favorite among Android users.

What I love about PUBG Mobile:

• Ideal for casual gamers and those who enjoy intense survival challenges.
• Offers a solid gameplay experience with features like multiple view options and automatic running.
• Well-optimized with numerous settings for graphics and performance.
• The game’s size is reasonable, so it won’t hog too much storage.

Points to consider about PUBG Mobile:

• Matches can last a long time, especially if it takes a while to find and engage other players.
• Not the best fit for those who prefer immediate combat.
• Some might find the game's map repetitive, but this is subjective, though.

2. Mobile Legends Bang Bang

If you enjoy playing League of Legends (LoL) on PC, then Mobile Legends Bang Bang (MLBB) by Moonton is worth checking out. Similar to LoL, MLBB is a MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) game that pits two teams of five players against each other.

MLBB was one of the pioneers in bringing the MOBA genre to Android and iOS. Chances are, you’ve either played it or heard about it.

Personally, I love the game, even though I'm not the best at it. Playing as Layla or any other sniper character, it’s still tough for me to take down an opponent.

One of the reasons MLBB caught on so quickly is its straightforward gameplay. It's easy to get into but still allows for diverse strategies and personal playing styles thanks to its varied hero builds.

The game frequently updates with new heroes, each featuring unique designs and abilities. However, this can sometimes lead to balance issues, with some heroes feeling too strong and others too weak.

MLBB has been downloaded over 500 million times. This is due to its influence and popularity as one of the early MOBA games on mobile, inspiring others like Honor of Kings.

What I love about MLBB:

• Simple interface and engaging gameplay.
• Wide variety of heroes, each with unique roles and skills.
• Accessible to everyone, one of the lighter MOBA games on Android.

Points to consider about MLBB:

• High skill level required for ranked matches.
• Sometimes, matchmaking can pair you with much stronger opponents.
• Slightly pay-to-win, as purchasing skins provides bonuses to hero stats.

3. EA Sports FC Mobile

FIFA Mobile is no longer listed in the Google Play Store under that name. Now, it goes by EA Sports FC Mobile, reflecting the rebranding of the FIFA game franchise to EA Sports, with FIFA 23 being the last installment under the old name.

EA Sports FC stands out as a top-notch football simulation game. Boasting over 500 million downloads, it offers an intense football experience.

I’m not usually a fan of football games, but EA Sports FC changed that for me. The controls for passing, shooting, and dribbling are smooth and responsive. It feels a bit easier to play compared to console or PC football games, which can be more complex.

New players will find the initial tutorials on running, dribbling, and other basics helpful before jumping into full matches. EA Sports FC is a great introduction for anyone new to football games.

What I like about EA Sports FC Mobile:

• Detailed and beginner-friendly tutorials.
• Game size is reasonably small.
• Ability to play online with friends.
• Option to live stream matches for friends to watch.

Things to consider about EA Sports FC Mobile:

• Not the best choice for those who aren’t fans of football.
• Tutorials are mandatory and cannot be skipped.

4. Stumble Guys

If you're familiar with Fall Guys on PC, then you'll find Stumble Guys on Android quite similar. Both games feature characters racing to cross the finish line first, but it’s more about navigating obstacles than speed.

While it might sound like a racing game, it actually revolves around an obstacle course challenge, similar to the antics seen in Takeshi's Castle. Players must dodge and weave through tricky obstacles to avoid being knocked out.

One of the most appealing aspects of Stumble Guys is the variety of customizable skins available, though many are premium options that need real money to unlock.

The game’s cute and engaging graphics have made it particularly popular among younger players, boasting over 100 million downloads. Plus, it’s designed to run smoothly on even the most basic smartphones.

In my first game, I tackled the Jungle Roll stage. Out of 32 players, only the first 16 to finish could move on to the next round. This process of elimination continues until only 8 remain, culminating in a final dash where only the fastest—or the last standing—wins.

What I like about Stumble Guys:

• It's free to play without any pay-to-win dynamics.
• The game is lightweight and won’t eat up much storage.
• Offers a fun and engaging obstacle course experience.
• Features a wide variety of stages, each with unique challenges.

Points to consider about Stumble Guys:

• The game includes frequent ads.
• There’s a gacha system for acquiring skins, which parents might want to monitor.

5. Brawl Stars

When I first installed Brawl Stars, I noticed it was a bit hefty because it takes up about 451 MB of space. Fortunately, once the installation was done, I could dive right in without any lengthy updates.

Developed by Supercell and downloaded over 100 million times, Brawl Stars mixes elements of MOBA with aspects of Battle Royale—though it’s not quite a traditional Battle Royale since matches are 5 vs 5.

In Solo Showdown, the first mode you’ll likely try, you compete against 9 other players on a small map. You need to manage your ammo while engaging enemies.

Like PUBG Mobile, the playable area decreases over time due to a shrinking green mist. If you’re eliminated, there’s no respawning—you’re out for the game.

You can hide in tall grass or break wooden boxes around the map to collect power cells that boost your character’s strength. The top-down perspective of the game offers a fresh take compared to the usual FPS or TPS views in other shooter games.

It feels like a blend of sniper tactics from Mobile Legends and gameplay dynamics from PUBG Mobile.

What I like about Brawl Stars

• Unique blend of MOBA and shooter gameplay.
• The game runs smoothly without requiring high-spec devices.
• A wide variety of characters, each with unique abilities and weapons.
• Mostly cosmetic purchases, no pay-to-win elements.

One thing to note about Brawl Stars:

• Initially, only one character is playable, with others unlocking over time.

6. Mortal Kombat

You can play the Mortal Kombat fighting game series on Android too. It’s linked with the Mortal Kombat X version on PC and consoles.

I wouldn’t suggest this game for kids, as it contains a lot of sadistic and brutal scenes where characters defeat their enemies. However, the cinematic moments in this game are impressive. Each special move feels like it’s straight out of a movie.

One downside is that the game is pretty large, about 1 GB. Download times can be long, depending on your internet speed.

The first time I opened the game, it took even longer. All I saw was a wallpaper with a water splash icon in the bottom right corner, probably downloading an update or something.

In “Battle Mode”, you’ll play alone across five stages. You can use three characters in the same match and switch between them during the battle, a feature known as tag-in. Characters not in use will gradually recover.

You can also dive into multiplayer in “Faction Wars” mode. After you enter your username, you choose from one of five factions: Black Dragon, Shadow Brotherhood, Lin Kuei, Special Forces, and White Lotus.

If your faction earns the most battle points, you get a reward each week. Unfortunately, the fighting mechanics are quite basic here.

Unlike the versions on PC or consoles where you can string together combos, this Android game limits you to simple taps and occasional swipes. Still, every time you execute a move, you’re prompted to act quickly and accurately to maximize your damage output.

What I like about Mortal Kombat:

• Cinematic fight scenes
• Lots of iconic characters
• High-quality graphics

Things to note about Mortal Kombat:

• Not suitable for children due to graphic “finisher” scenes
• Large file size
• Performance may lag on older or less powerful phones
• Doesn’t support real-time multiplayer or playing with friends
• Combat is highly simplified for mobile play

7. The Simpsons: Tapped Out

In my view, The Simpsons: Tapped Out is a clever take on the city-building game genre. It's crafted with a touch of satire by the writers of The Simpsons, turning a typical city-building simulation into something much more fun.

The gameplay mechanics are what you’d expect from a city-builder, but it's the witty and ironic dialogue that really sets it apart.

At the start, you’ll see Homer poking fun at city-building games for being a waste of time—even as he’s absorbed in one himself.

While distracted by the game at work, he neglects a critical warning at the nuclear plant he supervises, leading to a disastrous explosion. Now, Homer needs to rebuild the city, mirroring the very game he was playing.

During the tutorial, I had Homer build a house to unlock his daughter, Lisa. Building anything required real-time waits—sometimes just a few seconds, other times hours.

Thankfully, I could use donuts to speed up these waits. But once out of donuts, I needed to buy more with real money.

I also got to visit another player’s version of Springfield, which allowed me to see how they arranged their town and interact with their buildings.

However, I was caught off guard when I couldn’t proceed further because the game was still downloading additional files. Even after starting the tutorial, it continued to download, reaching a total size of 1.6 GB. For a city-builder, that’s pretty hefty.

What I like about The Simpsons: Tapped Out:

• Packed with funny character interactions and dialogues
• Features many famous buildings and references from The Simpsons TV series

One thing to note about The Simpsons: Tapped Out

• Very large file size

8. Genshin Impact

It's pretty impressive how HoYoVerse managed to bring a massive open-world game like Genshin Impact to Android. This game rivals console games with its expansive world and stunning graphics.

Playing it, I was reminded of "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" because of its open-world exploration, where you can wander through vast green landscapes, battle monsters, and switch between different characters.

Each character has unique abilities. For example, Amber is one of my favorites; she can shoot arrows from a distance and unleash fire attacks.

The game really shines with its team play. Say you attack an enemy with a lightning character; you can switch to another character with water abilities to deliver a powerful combo attack.

Compared to Zelda, the hack-and-slash action in Genshin Impact feels smoother and more dynamic. Plus, all these cool features are available without any ads.

Players can spend real money on "gacha" raffles to acquire new characters and items more easily. However, this system can be frustrating as it's possible to spend a lot and still not get the character you want, earning the game a reputation for being a bit stingy.

What I like about Genshin Impact:

• Expansive open world to explore.
• Unique and varied character designs.
• Engaging and satisfying combat mechanics.

Points to consider about Genshin Impact:

• Requires a decently powerful phone, at least something like a Helio G99, to run smoothly.
• One of the largest games available for Android, with a size over 30 GB!
• The gacha system can feel quite unforgiving.

9. Honor of Kings

Honor of Kings is a 5 vs 5 MOBA game developed by Level Infinite. It’s quite similar to Mobile Legends Bang Bang in terms of gameplay.

I was really impressed to see how quickly Honor of Kings climbed the ranks of popular Android games in July 2024, especially since it was only released a month earlier in June 2024. It has already been downloaded over 10 million times.

One of the coolest things about this game is that the heroes are inspired by characters from the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," which brought back fond memories of playing Dynasty Warriors.

The gaming experience feels smoother here compared to Mobile Legends. For instance, in Honor of Kings, the game shows which direction the enemy is fleeing in a preview window, which really helped me chase and defeat them with my character, Hou Yi.

As someone who often plays sniper roles, Honor of Kings felt like a natural fit. Once you reach a certain rank, the game recognizes your most-used path in ranked matches.

Since I frequently play as Hou Yi, I usually get assigned to lane farming. This tailored match setting means I don’t have to scramble for characters with other players, unlike in Mobile Legends where I often struggled to pick Layla quickly enough.

What I like about Honor of Kings:

• Enhanced quality of life features compared to competitors.
• Superior matchmaking features.
• Ability to heal without having to return to base.
• Fair play is encouraged; skins don’t add any status benefits.

Points to consider about Honor of Kings:

• The experience might not feel very unique if you’re familiar with other MOBAs, which could lead to boredom more quickly.

10. Metal Slug: Awakening

Metal Slug is a legendary name in the world of shooting games, with its roots in the Neo Geo arcade and early home consoles like the PS1 and Sega Saturn.

Fast forward to today, several Metal Slug titles have been adapted for Android, and SNK Corporation teamed up with TiMi Studios to bring us Metal Slug: Awakening, available on both Android and iOS.

The gameplay sticks to its roots: you move your character left and right in a classic side-scrolling setup, blasting every enemy in sight to advance to the next area.

Players can unlock special weapons like the Heavy Machine Gun, Laser, and Shotgun by rescuing hostages. As suggested by the title, you also get to command "metal slugs" or combat vehicles, packing enough firepower to feel overpowered.

So, what sets Metal Slug: Awakening apart from its predecessors? For starters, the 2024 release boasts enhanced HD graphics. The characters and environments are now in 3D, yet they maintain the iconic 2D perspective.

A big addition is that Metal Slug: Awakening is now an online multiplayer game. You can team up with friends in groups of three and explore new plots with the "World Adventure" feature, complete with dialogues for NPCs and characters.

What I like about Metal Slug: Awakening:

• It's free to play, offering that nostalgic arcade shooting experience with crisp HD graphics.
• You can team up and play online.
• Engaging new storyline and interactive characters.
• The game is relatively light in terms of storage, considering the content.
• Runs smoothly enough even on less powerful phones.
• Packed with impressive cinematic cutscenes.
• Overall quality improvements that enhance the experience.

Points to consider Metal Slug Awakening:

• Like many free-to-play games, it includes gacha elements and can lean towards pay-to-win.
• The manual controls can feel a bit awkward, making it tougher to aim compared to earlier Metal Slug titles.

So, these are some of the hottest Android games you can play right now. They're great for beating boredom in your spare time. From the list above, which game you like the most?