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Mobile gaming for the past few years has shifted from dedicated gaming handhelds to smartphones and tablets. Practically everyone has one and their respected online application stores showcase thousands of video games from indie studios to big name triple AAA developers. We’ve even seen companies like Nintendo merge into delivering video games for both Google Android and Apple iOS.
Today we’re looking at the best open world based video games on the Android platform. These are massive video games that players will sink plenty of time as they complete quests, customize their various characters, and most of all explore the open world. If you enjoy open world games, and let’s be honest, who doesn’t? Then take a look at some of the best available for your Android smartphone and tablet, though keep in mind we are not ranking these in any particular order. We’ll continue to add more great open world games as they release.
#15 Ark: Survival Evolved
Price: Free
Ark: Survival Evolved is quite a popular game and one you may have already heard about if not played it. It’s an online action-adventure game where you’re left on the shores with nothing and no real goal. Instead, the game focuses on players’ ability to survive and gather resources on the island with other players along with hostile dinosaurs. You’ll have to keep your health, stamina, oxygen, hunger, and thirst under check all while collecting goods.
While the game has been available for players to enjoy on multiple platforms, you may not have noticed that this title is also on the android platform. It’s just like the full game as well as you’ll still have to explore, build, craft, and survive. However, you can also work with or against groups of other players also trying to keep safe in this chaotic open world.
#14 Grand Theft Auto III
Price: $4.99
This is the Grand Theft Auto title that really took off within the series. Grand Theft Auto III introduced players to a three-dimensional world of Liberty City. We shouldn’t have to spend too much time discussing Grand Theft Auto III simply because of its popularity along with being one of the more influential video games of its time. Overall, the game follows the criminal Claude who manages to escape prison transport. Landing on his feet, Claude is forced into taking on odd criminal jobs that lead him deeper into the life of crime. Additionally, much like the previous Grand Theft Auto titles on this list, developers Rockstar Games gave the mobile version of the game the royal treatment with updated enhanced visuals and audio.
#13 GTA: Chinatown Wars
Price: $4.99
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is one of the latest GTA titles to have released for mobile devices. Within Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, players take on the role of Huang Lee who is on a business trip to Liberty City, however, after being robbed and left for dead, Huang decides to seek revenge on the morally corrupt city. Unlike other Grand Theft Auto titles on our list, Chinatown Wars takes the gameplay back to its roots with a more isometric view, but regardless, this is still very much a Grand Theft Auto video game. Players can freely explore the city, cause mayhem, steal cars, and dive into the life of crime.
#12 Mines of Mars
Price: Free
Mines of Mars is described by developers Crescent Moon Games, as an RPG title that shares elements similar to both Metroid and Motherload which is quite apparent when starting the game. Within Mines of Mars, players explore an abandoned mining colony that is procedural generated. As players progress through the game, they dig up dark secrets although, much like Metroid, aliens will be meeting you at your every turn. Explore the world, discover it’s dark secrets, and track down the various advanced weaponry to take out your enemies along the way.
#11 Six Guns: Gang Showdown
Price: Free
We don’t see too many video games set in the old wild west but if there’s one gem we can’t recommend enough, it would have be Six Guns: Gang Showdown. This open world western stars Buck Crosshaw an outlaw that was forced to fake his death in order to escape the state of Arizona. However, our outlaw finds himself facing an evil force that begins to erupt in the hills of a mysterious region. Gameloft has packed forty missions into Six Guns: Gang Showdown and players can expect to have intense shootouts, fight waves of enemies, take out criminals such as thieving robbers, and even partake in horse races. Right now, it’s the next best thing to Red Dead Redemption on Android.
#10 Portal Knights
Price: $4.99
Portal Knights is a cooperative 3D sandbox action RPG from 505 Games Srl. The title puts players onto grand quests as where they will explore the open world environments and defeat a variety of enemies along with boss battles. Luckily, the game does offer multiplayer with up to four friends who can aid you in your journey. Additionally, the game offers a bit of a crafting element where players can create their own island full of structures and recruit NPCs they find in the game to live and aid your home.
#9 Bully
Price: $6.99
Bully is an iconic title of developers Rockstar Games. The video game played out similar to the Grand Theft Auto series but more laid back. Players take on the role of a student at a prestigious school where gamers can battle against other bullies and teachers. It’s a game based around helping out others that need it and getting some funds in return. While this game has been a cult classic since it released, there’s been no word on if we’ll get a sequel. However, if you never got a chance to enjoy Bully when it first launched into the market then you can at least having the ability to download a copy for your Android device.
#8 Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath
Price: $2.99
Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath definitely looks appealing visually and the gameplay is what you would expect from a title within the Oddworld franchise. However, in Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath, players take the role of a bounty hunter named Stranger who wanders into the wastelands of Western Mudos, a town filled with belligerent outlaws. Stranger sets off on his goal in order to earn enough money for a much-needed life-saving surgery. As mentioned, the world of Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath is stunning, the gameplay mechanics are fun with quirky weaponry and the game world is filled with outlandish characters to meet along your journey.
#7 Crashlands
Price: $4.99
Crashlands is an RPG that follows Flux Dabes, a trucker who delivers goods through space. One day, during a run, Flux becomes a target of an alien menace named Hewgodooko who has since caused our little space trucker to become aware of an upcoming world domination plot. Players must use their cunning to stop this alien attempt in world domination while progressing through this cartoonish isometric action RPG.
#6 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Price: $9.99
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is one of the more popular Star Wars titles to ever release. This is an RPG that takes place thousands of years before the first film which means both the Jedi and Sith are great in numbers. Through the epic journey, players are given freedom of how they progress their character and story as you can determine if you wish to side with the Jedi or fall into the lure of the dark side.
Developers, Aspyr Media Inc., have stated that the mobile video game contains the full experience from Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and because of that, this game will require over 2.4GB of internal storage. If you’re okay with losing out on some storage space and happen to be a fan of the Star Wars films then you won’t want to miss out on this incredible journey.
#5 GTA: Vice City
Price: $4.99
Much like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Rockstar has released Grand Theft Auto: Vice City to the mobile platform. This time around, the game is set within the 1980s in Vice City as this narrative story focuses on one man’s attempt to rise the ranks of the criminal underground. Just like all the other mobile Grand Theft Auto video game titles, controls are tight, the graphics have been updated, and the open world is available for players to do as they wish.
#4 GTA: San Andreas
Price: $6.99
In Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas players take the role of Carl Johnson who was once part of the corruption of the Los Santos city. Carl was no stranger to the life of gangs and drugs though he managed to escape it for over five years. However, after the murder of his mother, Car Johnson, better known as CJ, picks back up the life of crime. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas originally released back in 2004 and now over ten years later, developers Rockstar Games has remastered the title for mobile devices with enhanced visuals. This is one of the more popular installments to the franchise as well, though it could be dated if you’re just jumping into the Grand Theft Auto series.
#3 Baldur’s Gate Enhanced Edition
Price: $9.99
Baldur’s Gate Enhanced Edition brings back the charm from the original 1998 title and best of all, everything is still here. The sixty-hour adventure comes packed in within the app which tosses players into the story of a foster child that was sent out from the comfort of his once beloved home of Candlekeep. Now left to fend for himself, players get swept into this fantasy world on the brink of a massive war along with a sinister dark secret left to be shed. While new gamers to the franchise may be delighted to play this epic once for the first time ever, the Enhanced Edition brings about new quests to complete, updated visuals, and additional worlds to explore that should give players that already played the title some incentive to replay this epic once again.
#2 Oceanhorn: Monsters of Uncharted Seas
Price: Free
Oceanhorn: Monsters of Uncharted Seas came out all the way back in 2013 and it’s still one of the more highly recommended titles for smartphones. This is an action-adventure title that acts similar to The Legend of Zelda franchise. Players take on the role of an unnamed young boy protagonist who is on a quest to find his lost father. In order to do so, you’ll have to venture into new terrains, fight off monsters, equip a variety of weapons, and explore the world.
While at the time of writing this, Nintendo has yet to bring over the Zelda franchise to the smartphone mobile market, so this is as close as you can get at the moment. However, we do have to give a bit of a disclaimer here as this game may not be a fully open world. Instead of having a fully open world to explore, the game features a variety of islands that act like hubs for you to explore. This is also not a linear experience so you’ll have to venture off into the different islands to find new secrets or solve puzzles that may have simply caused a roadblock before you were able to proceed any further into the narrative.
#1 Minecraft Pocket Edition
$6.99
You knew this one was going to top our list didn’t you? Minecraft is a massive hit and one that continues to bring in new players to its fan base on a daily basis. Overall the game of Minecraft is a rather simple one, you explore, craft items, and collect resources. This is also one game that truly inspires players to build incredible works of art and while the Minecraft Pocket Edition does fall behind from its PC predecessor in terms of content, this mobile edition doesn’t fail to skip a beat in bringing the same gameplay we came to love when it originally released on PC back in 2009 with its alpha version debut.
Bonus Games
Survivalcraft
Price: $3.99
Survivalcraft, as I’m sure you can tell from the name alone, is a clone to the popular video game Minecraft. Within this title, players are left stranded on a blocky world where they must collect resources, craft tools, and most of all survive. What makes Survivalcraft a more approachable title compared to the widely known Minecraft video game is that the developers are pretty much on top of things with new updates and features, not to say Minecraft falls far behind, but if you need a good alternative that still stays close with blocky visuals then this would be our recommendation.
Gangstar Vegas
Price: Free
If you enjoy video games like the Grand Theft Auto and Saints Row series then Gangstar Vegas is probably your best option for a free alternative on mobile. Players are tossed into a pretty big map of Las Vegas where our protagonist is an up and coming MMA fighter that gets intertwined with the mafia. As you become featured in the biggest fighting match of the year, the infamous crime lord Frank Veliano decides that you’ll take the fall and let your opponent win. Although, when you come out as the victor, you suddenly also come out as the most wanted man in the city. With an awesome soundtrack, a variety of weapons and vehicles to choose from, Gangstar Vegas has proven to be a must-have open world video game for mobile users.
Ravensword: Shadowlands
Price: $6.99
In Ravensword: Shadowlands, the story opens up with the fall of Ravengard in which the world quickly erupts into chaos. Dark elven invaders begin to flood into the Kingdom of Tyreas and during the heat of battle, the ancient Ravensword was stolen. Players take on the role of a descendant to the ancient kings bloodline where it’s revealed that only you contain the power to wield the Ravensword and restore the world to its former glory. This third-person RPG resembles much of the same gameplay from The Elder Scrolls series as players have an open fantasy world to explore, various attributes to level up, quests to complete, along with a variety of enemies to face against.
Goat Simulator
Price: $4.99
Who knew Goat Simulator would be that much fun. Developers Coffee Stain Studios tossed together a truly wacky and addicting open world video game where players control a goat, that’s right a four-legged goat. Essentially, players are given goals to complete though the game gets its fame from the mass destruction players can emit and the wacky bug filled gameplay.
The Shadow Sun
Price: $0.99
From the veterans who have worked on the hit RPG series Dungeons & Dragons along with The Witcher, comes The Shadow Sun, a story driven RPG that’s packed with a ten-hour adventure. Developers Ossian Studios Inc. decided to create an enduring open world adventure and they definitely accomplished their goal. There’s over seventy unique locations to explore, hundreds of items to obtain, tons of available quests, freedom to customize your character attributes, hidden secrets to uncover, and a slew of interesting characters to meet along the way.
Terraria
Price: $4.99
Much like Minecraft, Terraria is an endless title where players explore, collect resources, and battle enemies within a randomly generated world. Players can also build structures which can eventually be filled with NPCs that will offer gamers services or items for purchase. If you enjoy Minecraft and don’t mind resorting to a 2D style gameplay, Terraria has been an excellent video game alternative.
Gangstar Rio: City of Saints
Price: $6.99
Much like Gangstar Vegas, Gangstar Rio: City of Saints is another open world video game title that takes elements we’re used to seeing in the Grand Theft Auto and the Saints Row series. Players embark on a crime filled journey within Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Similar to the first title in the series, our protagonist seeks out to extract his revenge on those who attempted to rob and leave him for dead. Fight crime, explore the city of Rio de Janeiro, steal cars, complete over sixty missions with the mixture of random events, and take out corrupt politicians. Additionally, for the first time ever in the Gangstar series, players can customize their character with new shirts, hats, glasses, and more.
School of Chaos Online MMORPG
Price: Free
School of Chaos Online MMORPG is certainly an odd little game but its gameplay proves to be an addicting one. Within the game, players are a nerd within a school and as such, you’re one of the easier targets from bullies. Looking to rid the school from these jocks and thugs, players are tasked in taking them out. As you fight bullies and steal their lunch money the game will offer players various upgrades in both armor and diabolical weapons all while playing online with other gamers.
Galaxy on Fire 2
Price: Free
Galaxy Fire 2 is an excellent spacecraft simulation title where players control the space war veteran, Keith T. Maxwell. Players must save the galaxy from the invading alien threats, careless space pirates, and the power-crazed men who wish to take over total control. Fans of video games like Eve Online should feel right at home as the game focuses on space travel and combat while the in-game currency is spent on new spacecrafts or various upgrades. Over ten hours is available within the campaign so you should spend quite a bit of time on the game broken up by your daily routine but if need more then there are two expansion packs available that adds onto the story.
Baldur’s Gate II Enhanced Edition
Price: $9.99
Baldur’s Gate II originally released in 2000 and for the most part, it plays out very similarly to the original Baldur’s Gate. With this title, players start the game out by being captured by a dark wizard who wishes to strip away powers that is your birthright although it’s up to the players if they wish to turn into the heroic legend that will destroy the dark essence of the world or embrace it to become the monstrous lord of destruction. Again, much like the predecessor, Baldur’s Gate II Enhanced Edition brings about new updated visuals along with the previous expansions released for the game.
The Escapist
Price: $3.99
The Escapist is a top-down strategy title developed by Mouldy Toof Studios. Within the game, players take on a roll of an inmate who is tasked with escaping a prison. As you complete the levels you’ll find that the game will increase difficulty and there’s a ton of trial and error type puzzles involved in your escape. While exploring players will need to keep an eye out for resources to acquire to help in the breakout.
Godus
Price: Free
Developed under 22Cans is Godus a game in which players take on the role of a god which is stated to be a spiritual successor to Populous. For the most part, you’ll find Godus as a simulation type game in which you’ll have to strategically run a colony. How the land is shaped and the growth of the civilization will ultimately be up to you.
Payback 2: The Battle Sandbox
Price: Free
Under the development team of Apex Designs comes the sequel to PayBack, PayBack 2. The video game is an RPG that now takes advantage of a new game engine with improved graphics and multiplayer functionality. Players will be able to step inside a plethora of vehicles such helicopters and tanks while fighting in massive battles against other gamers online.
9th Dawn
Price: $2.99
9th Dawn has been described as a 2D version of The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim before and it definitely has that appeal of epic long journeys and quest embarking adventures. Developers Valorware, deliver an old school RPG video game filled with mystery, danger, but most of all, adventure. Players can choose from three classes as they progress through the game, a knight that can wield heavy weapons, an archer who is swift with incredible skill for long range combat, and lastly the mage who possess the power of magical elements to destroy his enemies. Gamers will locate lost treasure and help the troubled world from the undead army, and explore the various landscapes that range from forests, towns, to dungeons.
