The Android is one of the most popular gaming platforms out there. No, seriously. As a smartphone OS, the Android has a huge marketshare that is ahead of the iOS with a 51%-43% lead in 2013. It's a figure that the iOS had ahead of the Android a year back.
Since then, the Android's proved itself a worthy contender in the field of smartphone operating systems and provides its users with every bit of a gaming ecosystem as its Apple counterpart.
Despite popular belief—and heavy amounts of marketing from Apple—the Android is every bit of a gaming platform as the iOS. Offering decent graphics, a flawless touch-based interface and multiplayer capability, Android phones are no stranger to games.
Here’s a decisive roundup of the best multiplayer games that the Android has to offer, including MMORPGs and board games.
#10 Pocket Legends
Pocket Legends earned critical acclaim from a variety of tech sites, including Mashable and PocketGamer for offering a good massively multiplayer experience for gamers on the go.
Players choose their character, develop their abilities and journey into a variety of dungeons alongside other players in this cooperative online game. You need not apply for a World of Warcraft subscription or own a PC to get your game on.
#9 Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour
Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour is the fourth and latest game from Gameloft Montreal that attempts—successfully—to emulate the gameplay of the Call of Duty series for the iPhone and Android.
The game is controlled using virtual buttons on-screen and a virtual control stick is used for movement. For a first person shooter on the mobile, it offers a surprising amount of options as players can crouch behind cover, mantle obstacles, throw grenades, reload manually, and aim down their iron sights.
As with previous titles in the series, Zero Hour features a multiplayer mode that allows up to twelve players to participate in any given game, and fight in levels based on the single player campaign.
The game succeeds in delivering a solid shooter for the mobile platform where Activision fails to deliver a solid Call of Duty, much to everyone's chagrin.
#8 Starfront: Collision HD
It looks, feels, and plays like StarCraft, but until we see a StarCraft game ported to the Android, Starfront: Collision will have to satiate our hunger for a good RTS.
Like the much better StarCraft on the PC and Mac, Starfront: Collision offers three distinct races, each with their own campaign, and four-player multiplayer over Gameloft Live, where players can do battle against other players in one vs one, or cooperate in two vs two.
#7 Dungeon Defenders: First Wave
Dungeon Defenders is not exactly Diablo for the Android. More than that, it’s Diablo meets Tower Defense. Free on the Android Market, Dungeon Defenders offers support for cooperative four player multiplayer.
Players must build a defense while fighting off hordes of invading monsters with their personal characters. Additionally, the game also offers Player vs Player match-ups for competitive gamers.
This game will be making its way to Steam later this year in full fledged form.
#6 Dungeon Hunter 2
It’s no Torchlight, but it certainly comes close. Gameloft’s Dungeon Hunter 2 is a fantastic action RPG that marries Diablo with the portability of the Android mobile.
Dungeon Hunter 2 offers a loot farming, with a streamlined system of character building. Like Torchlight and Diablo, the game is populated with randomized dungeons.
#5 Asphalt 7: Heat
Asphalt 7: Heat is the latest title from the Asphalt series of racing games that manages to outdo EA's Need for Speed franchise on the mobile platform. Like its predecessors, the gameplay allows players to drive by touching the side of the screen to steer or tilting the device and using its gyroscopic controls.
Much of the fun in Asphalt 7 comes from its online multiplayer mode, which allows players to go head to head in races through both local and Wi-Fi and bluetooth, and even global through na internet connection.
#4 Raging Thunder 2
This cross-platform racing game allows you to go head to head online against three other racers in an arcade-style setting. Like the Need for Speed series for the console, you can also perform time trials or race against CPU-controlled opponents.
The lite version—which is free—for the Android should be enough to tide you over while you’re on the bus or the train.
#3 Virtua Tennis
Ever wish you could compete against Roger Federer or Andy Roddick in the palm of your hands? Well, you can certainly do so in Virtua Tennis for the Android. It's based on the same game that was released on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PlayStation Vita., offering players the chance to compete against 50 international players in 18 stadiums around the globe.
Players can build concentration by making plays that match their character's unique play style with a wide variety of shots.
Best of all, it's even playable online by allowing players to compete in singles or doubles challenges against a friend over Bluetooth.
#2 Words With Friends
Words With Friends is Scrabble without the name. You can connect with friends through Facebook, the iPhone and just about every other platform the game exists on thanks to Zynga’s extensive reach.
#1 Guerilla Bob
Guerilla Bob was first released on the iOS to critical acclaim. Offering slick controls and sweet action-based gameplay, Guerilla Bob is a homage to classic action games like Take No Prisoners and Mageslayer.
Guerilla Bob and his pals take on hordes of “infected” (zombies, really) characters throughout the maps in cooperative multiplayer. Owners of the game on the Android can also join forces with friends on the iPhone thanks to the cross-platform capability. The game is even available on the Xperia Play with twin-stick controls.
