The Best Console and PC Games on Android Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Gaming > Mobile
The Best Console and PC Games on Android
Games strong enough for a desktop, but made for mobile
By Carter Dotson Carter Dotson Writer Texas Tech University Carter Dotson is a former Lifewire writer and an Android gaming expert who reviews games for top gaming outlets. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on June 30, 2020 Reviewed by Jessica Kormos Reviewed by Jessica Kormos Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Jessica Kormos is a writer and editor with 15 years' experience writing articles, copy, and UX content for Tecca.com, Rosenfeld Media, and many others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Mobile Consoles & PCs Gaming Services Game Play & Streaming Mobile Gaming Thanks to hardware such as Shield TV and Android compatible game controllers, it's easier than ever to play PC and console games on your Android device. Since Google Play started allowing games that require controllers, the official Android app store has become home to hundreds of titles originally released on Windows, PlayStation, Nintendo DS, and other platforms. How Can You Play Console Games on Android
While iOS devices could theoretically power some of the games on this list, only Android users can play them on their smartphones, tablets, or Android TV. That said, you'll need a higher-end device to run games with HD graphics, and most console titles require a controller to play. If you have the right hardware, the following games are worth a download on Android. Portal
Valve What We Like Excellent writing and voice acting. Creative level designs. What We Don't Like Uninspired visuals. A little too easy. This game is an absolute gaming classic. It's brief, but it doesn't overstay its welcome as you quickly discover the secrets of Aperture Science and its Portal Testing Initiative. GLaDOS, the omniscient and malicious super AI, remains one of the great villains in gaming. The puzzles and atmosphere are still ingeniously done. This game is a must-play for anyone, and if you've yet to try it out, why not grab an Android device and play it now? And if you want some more Valve classics, Half-Life 2 (based on Half-Life 2 for PC) and its first and second episodes are on Android as well, though Portal 2 has yet to release on Android. Super Meat Boy
Team Meat What We Like Hundreds of challenging levels. Pays homage to other games yet still looks unique. What We Don't Like Absurdly difficult at times. Requires lots of trial and error. The trial platformer genre has become popular on mobile, and many of the games owe a significant debt to Team Meat's take on the genre. Nvidia helped port it over to Android, and you can see many of the elements that helped make other games in this genre so popular. You will need a controller; the game would be way too difficult without one. The challenges are brutal yet plentiful and rewarding, so if you succeed at this, you have truly proven your skills as a gamer. Borderlands The Pre-Sequel
Gearbox Software What We Like Well written original story. Tons of unique skills to experiment with. What We Don't Like Unevenly paced story. Not very different from other games in the series. The original game in this series helped popularize the loot-and-shoot genre for which Destiny and other games have since taken up the mantle. This "pre-sequel" taking place after Borderlands 1 and before 2 wasn't developed by Gearbox proper, but it allows you to collect billions of guns and do stomps on the moon. And for only $15, it's hard to turn this one down. We just need the other 2 games to show up on Android. XCOM Enemy Within
2K Games / Firaxis What We Like Diverse battle maps. Rewards risk taking. Innovative new skills and mechanics. What We Don't Like Easier endgame than Enemy Unknown. Too similar to its source material in other regards. While many of the games here require controllers, XCOM Enemy Within is a turn-based strategy game that makes great use of the touchscreen. It's also an incredibly deep strategy game that can be extremely punishing if you play on its hardest difficulties. You'll have to be smart and careful as you play, but it can be extremely rewarding. Enemy Within is an expanded version of Enemy Unknown, which is a remake of the 1994 cult classic UFO: Enemy Unknown. Hotline Miami
Devolver Digital / Dennaton What We Like Nice balance of action and strategy elements. Simple yet engaging control scheme. What We Don't Like Tedious stealth sections. Brutal boss fights. Dennaton's top-down action game is all about brutal violence and its impact. Your mysterious protagonist is sent on missions to kill large numbers of people, and it's up to you to discover why. Survival is not guaranteed, and one mistake will mess you up. The game is an interesting contradiction as it presents ultraviolence to you while not letting you feel good about it. It's a fascinating concept for a game and incredibly captivating, much like many Devolver Digital titles. The soundtrack is well worth it to plug headphones into your device. The electronic tracks help add to the mood and the devastating nature of the entire product. The sequel Hotline Miami 2 can also be played on Android. Shovel Knight
Yacht Club Games What We Like Charming presentation. Classic platforming gameplay. What We Don't Like Too short. Nothing original. This is the best retro-inspired platformer you can get right now. Inspired by Mega Man, Castlevania, DuckTales, and all manner of 8-bit era games, you play as the shovel-wielding hero as you try to defeat the Order of the No Quarter, including the mysterious Enchantress. The levels have some neat platforming tricks up their sleeves, along with secrets to discover. This game feels a lot like it could have been made in the 80s and become an all-time classic, but it came out in the mid-2010s. Virt's soundtrack is wonderful, too. The catch here is that the game is currently an Amazon exclusive, so you'll need a Fire TV to play it. But if you do, then you need to, as it's one of the finest platformers out there. The Plague of Shadows expansion dramatically changes the game enough to justify the extra purchase. Metal Gear Rising Revengeance
Konami What We Like Exciting, fast-paced swordplay. Cool main character. What We Don't Like Obnoxious camera angles. Predictable plot. Stylistic violence experts Platinum Games pair up with Kojima Productions on this 3D action game. You play as the sword-wielding Raiden, and you get to do all sorts of acrobatic stunts to engage in some crazy combat. The combat isn't just mindless chaos: The game rewards you for smart kills, and you can use a free-swinging sword mode to precisely cut your enemies in a way to absorb more energy and get more points. Giant boss fights are part of the fun too. If you enjoy verbose dialogue, but maybe not on the par of the overly-verbose Metal Gear Solid 4, you'll love Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Right now, this one is only available on Nvidia Shield TV. The game looks fantastic and clearly pushes the device to its limits. Super Mega Baseball
Metalhead Software What We Like Funny character designs. Intriguing leveling system. What We Don't Like No online or multiplayer modes. Mediocre graphics. It may not be a licensed MLB simulation, but Super Mega Baseball is an amazing baseball game nonetheless. The hitting and pitching systems are simple enough for anyone to pick up and play, but they provide enough complexity for players to feel truly in control. Friendly enough for beginners to get, but deep enough for baseball fans to enjoy, this is one of the best games in its genre for Android or on any platform. Super Slam Dunk Touchdown
Tipping Goat / Nvidia Shield Partners What We Like Wide variety of playable characters and gameplay modes. Combines the best elements of multiple sports genres. What We Don't Like Lacks the complexity of more serious sports games. No online multiplayer. It's common for people who don't understand sports to mix up terminology. Thanks to Super Slam Dunk Touchdown, they will finally be vindicated. This multiplayer sports game is all about combining all sorts of sports into one massive amalgamation of a game. It's goofy fun with several different scoring mechanisms and ways that you can play based on the type of athlete you choose. Grab some controllers, some friends, and have a great time. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire 9 Best Websites for Playing Free Online Games The 16 Best Android TV Games of 2022 The 12 Best Offline Strategy Games to Play The 12 Best Offline Multiplayer Games of 2022 The 12 Best Roku Games in 2022 Best Xbox 360 Games by Genre (List Index) The Best MS-DOS PC Games of All Time The 12 Best Fun Online Games to Play in 2022 The 8 Best Shoot 'Em Ups for Android The 8 Best PC Games of 2022 The 8 Best Offline Games for Android in 2022 The 9 Best Games for PS5, Tested by Lifewire The 10 Best Games for Steam Deck of 2022 The 10 Best Xbox 360 Games The 8 Best Role-Playing Games for Android The Top 10 Action Games for the Game Boy Advance Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies