35 Best Retro Games on Android in 2023 (Our Top Picks)

Whether you’re young or old, the timeless charm of retro games cannot be denied.

They transport us back to an era when gaming was straightforward, allowing us to simply immerse ourselves in enjoyment without worrying about complex graphics or online multiplayer modes.

If you’re in search of the finest retro games available on Android, your search ends here – we have got you covered!

In this article, we’ll introduce our top 35 selections of retro Android games from Google Play. So, prepare to journey back to your childhood memories and indulge in some good old-fashioned fun!

1. Stardew Valley

Well, not all gamers might find enjoyment in this farm simulation-themed game due to its slow pace.

However, Stardew Valley offers a slightly faster gameplay and exciting quests, such as fighting monsters, ensuring players won’t tire of it easily.

The game skillfully blends elements of farming, socializing, crafting, and action. Coupled with stunning retro graphics and a captivating storyline, it serves as an engaging pastime.

2. Terraria

If you are a gamer who relishes unpredictability, then a game from the rogue-like genre, such as Terraria, could be the right choice for you.

This game encourages constant exploration, the acquisition of improved equipment and weapons, as well as mining and building a variety of structures. It also lets you invite more NPCs to create a safe haven.

One remarkable aspect of Terraria is the addictive element it consistently delivers.

You’ll find yourself yearning to explore the expansive world, both horizontally and vertically, in the pursuit of more potent weapons and the challenge of testing your mettle against formidable bosses that won’t be easily vanquished.

3. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Classic

Originally released by Sega in 1992 for the Sega Mega Drive, this retro game is now available across all platforms, including Android devices since 2017.

Sonic The Hedgehog 2 Classic largely follows the same gameplay as its predecessor, Sonic The Hedgehog 1. In it, you are tasked with defeating the antagonist Dr. Robotnik, also known as Doctor Eggman, who serves as the boss in each round.

4. Streets of Rage Classic

One of Sega’s retro beat ’em up side-scrolling games, Streets of Rage Classic, was initially released for the Mega Drive, also known as Genesis, in 1991. It was later adapted for the Game Gear, Sega CD, and Master System.

In 2018, the game was made available for various digital download platforms, including the Google Play Store.

The gameplay of Streets of Rage Classic remains true to its roots. Players are required to defeat a horde of approaching enemies and several bosses in each round of the game.

5. Golden Axe Classics

Golden Axe Classic, an iconic game released by SEGA in 1989, has made a comeback on Google Play through Sega Forever.

This edition, initially intended for the Genesis or Mega Drive and first released in 2009, was subsequently withdrawn due to significant issues following an update.

Now, SEGA has re-released it with various enhancements, providing an improved gaming experience.

6. Crazy Taxi Classic

Crazy Taxi is a driving arcade game where you embody a reckless taxi driver who disregards road rules in the name of making a quick buck.

The mobile adaptation, Crazy Taxi Classic, is a spin-off of the original Crazy Taxi game, which debuted on the Sega Dreamcast platform in 1999. It had been available for Android and iOS platforms since 2012.

Initially, Sega released this game as a premium, paid application. However, it has since transitioned to a free-to-play model.

7. Ristar Classic

While Ristar Classic may be one of SEGA’s less renowned games, it holds a sense of nostalgia for those familiar with it.

Ristar, the protagonist, is an anthropomorphic star-shaped character. His outstretched arms grant him the ability to climb and swing, and provide him with an effective means to take out his enemies.

8. Duck Hunt

Duck Shoot, another iconic game from the 90s that has been ported to Android, serves as a remake of the original Duck Hunt.

In this arcade game, your objective is to shoot as many birds as you can in the shortest time possible. It also offers four distinct modes, each with varying difficulty levels, designed to sharpen your hunting skills.

Sporting retro-classic graphics, this game is certain to ignite a sense of nostalgia, transporting you back to your childhood days.

9. DOOM

Currently, two versions of Doom are available on Google Play: Doom I and Doom II. Both of these represent a fantastic throwback to the classic retro gaming era, promising enjoyable gameplay.

As for the gameplay itself, it bears resemblance to many retro RPGs. The objective is to level up, vanquish every villain, and make substantial progress throughout the game.

10. DQ Dai: A Hero’s Bonds

Square Enix has announced that Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai: A Hero’s Bonds is now playable for Android and iOS users. The game features familiar characters from the manga and anime.

The publisher initially introduced Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai: A Hero’s Bonds last year. However, at that time, the company released the mobile game exclusively for the Japanese market.

From August 2021, this anime-adaptation game, bearing the same title, became available worldwide on Android via Google Play and on iOS via the App Store.

12. FINAL FANTASY BRAVE EXVIUS

Previously only available in select regions, Final Fantasy Brave Exvius expanded its reach starting May 2016 when Square Enix made the game accessible to the global market.

As of now, the mobile game can be downloaded on both Android and iOS devices worldwide.

13. PAC-MAN

This game offers a classic rendition of the well-known Pac-Man. Thus, it allows players to enjoy an experience similar to the original Pac-Man game.

BANDAI NAMCO, the developer, has generously made this game available for free, supported by in-app purchases. You can now indulge in endless rounds of Pac-Man on your Android smartphone.

14. Ms. PAC-MAN

Ms. Pac-Man bears striking similarities to the original Pac-Man game. In the game, your primary objective is to accumulate points by consuming small dots scattered throughout the arena while simultaneously evading the four wandering ghosts.

15. Snake ’97: retro phone classic

Snake is a legendary game that originally came natively on Nokia phones and was often relied upon as an antidote to boredom.

A developer named dsd 164 has remade this classic for the Android platform.

This version is arguably the most faithful recreation of the Nokia Snake game on Google Play, given its replication of the original’s dual-tone display, beep sound, and game controls. It includes both the original Snake and Snake 2 versions.

A notable feature of this game is its user interface, which nostalgically recreates the aesthetic of old-school Nokia phones models such as the 5110, 3210, 3310, 3410, among others.

16. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

Who Wants to Be A Millionaire is among the most renowned TV quiz shows worldwide. The trivia-based game increases in complexity as the prize money escalates.

You now have the opportunity to enjoy this classic game on your Android device. Released by SONY Pictures Entertainment, the mobile game version has achieved popularity akin to its television counterpart.

With over 10 million downloads on Google Play, its global appeal is undeniable.

17. Q*bert – Classic Arcade Game

Apart from ‘Who Wants to Be A Millionaire,’ Sony Pictures has also decided to revive the game ‘Q*bert,’ an arcade sensation from 1982.

The adaptation to mobile has been successful. While the advanced graphics may not mirror the original game’s aesthetic, it still does a commendable job invoking a sense of nostalgia.

18. Street Fighter IV Champion Edition

Street Fighter IV: Champion Edition, a retro game from CAPCOM that’s originally launched over three decades ago, is now available for Android.

The game remains largely faithful to previous iterations of Street Fighter, featuring beloved franchise characters such as Ryu, Ken, Ibuki, among others.

This edition elevates the player experience by offering the chance to compete online against opponents from across the globe.

19. Galaga Wars

Galaga Wars, a classic retro shooter game from Bandai Namco, is now readily accessible on Android.

Like typical shooter games, the objective here is to obliterate as many enemy ships as possible, all while deftly dodging their incoming projectiles.

20. Carmageddon

Carmageddon, a chaotic racing game initially launched on PC in 2009, encourages players to indulge in frenzied races filled with pandemonium.

For those craving an adrenaline-fueled arcade racer, the exhilarating recklessness of Carmageddon is sure to impress.

21. Crossy Road

Crossy Road, a nostalgic nod to the arcade genre, has won the hearts of gamers around the globe. Some argue it’s the modern reinterpretation of classic games like Frogger or Varmintz.

Players take control of a chicken in this game, skillfully guiding it across busy roads while deftly avoiding obstacles and making timely maneuvers.

22. METAL SLUG ATTACK

Marking 25 years since its original debut in arcade machines, Metal Slug is set to return, poised to captivate its long-time fans and entice a new generation of players.

SNK is teaming up with Studio TiMi, a game development studio under the aegis of Tencent, the Chinese technology behemoth, to develop the latest Metal Slug game for Android and iOS platforms.

23. Prince of Persia : Escape

Fans eagerly awaiting a classic Prince of Persia experience on their smartphones might find themselves underwhelmed by Prince of Persia: Escape.

While the game’s aesthetics echo the 1989 version, its gameplay takes a different path—it’s a runner game where the prince dashes from left to right, skillfully dodging obstacles and deadly traps.

Traditional elements such as the 60-minute time limit, navigation through levels, and puzzle-solving have been stripped away, rendering the game notably simplified.

24. MORTAL KOMBAT

Are you familiar with the hit fighting game, Mortal Kombat? It’s now accessible on your Android device.

Mortal Kombat features a tag-team system, where each side is composed of three fighters.

At any point in the game, players have the flexibility to swap their active fighter, adding a layer of strategy to the epic battles.

25. Star Wars™: KOTOR

The RPG game, Star Wars: Knights of The Old Republic (KOTOR), first gained significant popularity on PC and Xbox after its debut in 2003.

The depth of the story, the strategic gameplay, and the impressive graphics at the time all contributed to its success. These elements collectively transformed KOTOR into an enduring icon in the realm of Star Wars RPGs.

26. Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links

In January 2017, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links was officially released on Android and iOS platforms in the US and Asia.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links is a card battle game that allows players to duel against NPCs or global players.

27. Saint Seiya : Awakening

Like most Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs), “Saint Seiya: Awakening” employs a turn-based strategy concept for its combat system.

In this game, you have complete control over basic attacks and character skills, and can choose which enemy to target first.

Saint Seiya: Awakening doesn’t confine itself to a single storyline. In addition to the main storyline, the game also offers various engaging side stories, proving just as captivating as the primary narrative.

28. Minecraft Pocket Edition

Minecraft, one of the best-selling sandbox games of all time, is also one of my personal favorites. In fact, I’ve dedicated a section of this website specifically to Minecraft guides.

This game has been released on various platforms including PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Android.

Mojang, the developer of Minecraft, introduced a mobile version known as the Pocket Edition to tap into the burgeoning market of mobile gamers. Minecraft PE is available for purchase at $6.99.

29. RollerCoaster Tycoon® Classic

For fans of the RollerCoaster Tycoon game, the amusement park simulation created by Atari is now available on the Android platform.

RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic boasts gameplay similar to that of the original RollerCoaster Tycoon (RCT) and RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 (RCT 2), offering a simpler design, construction, and management system than the newer editions of the game.

30. Pinball Deluxe: Reloaded

There are many pinball games available on Google Play. These games, which involve the player using two or more flippers to keep a ball from falling into a hole at the bottom of the machine while trying to hit targets on the playing field, are indeed fun and addictive.

One such enjoyable and retro-inspired pinball game is Pinball Deluxe: Reloaded, created by Made Of Bits.

31. Lemmings

Lemmings is a retro puzzle game hailing from the 90s. Despite some differences between the Android version of Lemmings and its original counterpart, it still manages to invoke the same sense of excitement and nostalgia that players experienced with the original.

32. Sky Force Reloaded

Do you remember the Sky Force Reloaded Game that was once popular on the Nokia N-Gage and other Symbian phones?

Now, you can relive those memories on your Android device, with improved graphics to boot.

This arcade game thrusts you into a shooting adventure where you control fighter planes. Enhanced with 3D graphics, it can be enjoyed offline as well.

The Sky Force Reloaded franchise offers two versions: Sky Force 2014, which has a size of 107MB, and the newer Sky Force Reloaded, which is 186MB.

Both games were developed by Infinite Dreams and are available for free download on Google Play.

33. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, a favorite retro arcade game from the Castlevania franchise, was developed by Konami.

Originally launched for PlayStation devices in 1997, this game was re-released for Android devices in 2020.

It is now officially available for both Android and iOS devices. The Android version is priced at $2.99.

34. Five Nights at Freddy’s

Do you remember the chilling animatronic dolls from the horror game franchise, Five Nights at Freddy’s?

This game, which gained popularity in 2014 after being featured by PewDiePie, is now playable on your smartphone. Dare to play?

35. 1942

If you were born in the 90s, you’d undoubtedly remember the legendary 1942 game from Capcom.

This retro game, which debuted in 1984, is a war game where players have to navigate their aircraft, confronting enemies along the way.

Unfortunately, the 1942 game from Capcom has been banned by Google. However, you can enjoy a similar gaming experience with a title of the same name developed by Onesoft Global.