35 Best Retro Games on Android in 2022 (Our Top Picks)

Whether you’re young or old, there’s no denying the appeal of retro games.

They take us back to a time when gaming was simple and we could just enjoy ourselves without having to worry about graphics or online multiplayer modes.

If you’re looking for some of the best retro games for Android, look no further – we’ve got you covered!

In this post, we’ll share our top 35 picks of retro Android games from the Google Play. So, get ready to relive your childhood memories and let’s have some good ol’ fashioned fun!

1. Stardew Valley

This farm simulation themed game is not a game that can be enjoyed by all gamers because it has slow gameplay.

But, the Stardew Valley game has slightly higher speed of gameplay and exciting quests like fighting monsters, so players won’t get bored easily.

This game combines a combination of farming, socializing, crafting, and action. With the stunning retro graphics and an interesting story, this game is a great way to kill time.

2. Terraria

If you are a gamer who doesn’t like games that stick to routine, then this rogue-like genre option like Terraria can be the right choice.

This game will ask you to constantly explore, look for better equipment and weapons, mine and build various structures at your disposal, and invite more NPCs to make it your “safe house”.

One fantastic thing about this series is the addictive side that it never fails to offer.

You will continue to want to explore the vast world, horizontally or vertically, looking for more powerful weapons, and testing your strength against various bosses that won’t be easy to beat.

3. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Classic

A retro game released by Sega in 1992 for the Sega Mega Drive. Now, the game is also available for all platforms, including for Android devices released in 2017.

Sonic The Hedgehog 2 Classic is almost the same as the game Sonic The Hedgehog 1, where you have to defeat Dr. Robotnik, also known as Doctor Eggman, is a character who will be the boss in every round.

4. Streets of Rage Classic

One of the retro beat ’em up side-scrolling games released by Sega for Mega Drive or Genesis in 1991, which was later converted into Game Gear, Sega CD, and Master System, which was released for various download platform services, such as the Google Play Store in 2018.

This Streets of Rage Classic game is almost the same as its predecessor, where in the game you have to defeat a bunch of enemies that approach your character and also several bosses in each round of the game.

5. Golden Axe Classics

Golden Axe Classic is an iconic game released by SEGA in 1989. Now, this game is back on Google Play through Sega Forever.

This is a version of Genesis or Mega Drive that was previously released in 2009, but was pulled back after serious issues with the update. This time, Sega re-released it with various improvements.

6. Crazy Taxi Classic

Crazy Taxi is a driving arcade game where you play as a taxi driver who behaves outrageously and ignores the laws of the streets because time is money.

Crazy Taxi Classic is a mobile version of the Crazy Taxi game which was first launched in 1999 for the Sega Dreamcast platform. Previously, this game has been launched for Android and iOS platforms since 2012.

However, at that time, Sega released this game as a paid game. But now, you can play it for free.

7. Ristar Classic

Ristar Classic is one of the less popular games from SEGA. But for those who know, this is a nostalgic game.

Ristar is an anthropomorphic star-shaped cartoon character with outstretched arms that allow him to climb and swing as well as to take out enemies.

8. Duck Shoot

Another iconic 90s game that was ported to Android is Duck Shoot, a remake of the original game titled Duck Hunt.

This arcade game has the goal of shooting as many birds as possible as quickly as possible, and you also have four different modes with different difficulty levels that aim to hone your hunting skills.

With retro-classic graphics, it will definitely make you nostalgic when playing it and will definitely make you feel back to your childhood when playing it.

9. DOOM

Actually, there are two versions of Doom currently available on Google Play, there are Doom I (this one) and Doom II, and both are games that carry retro-classic games that are really fun for you to play.

For the gameplay itself, it is almost similar to most retro RPG games where you just need to level up, kill every villain, and make important progress in the game.

10. DQ Dai: A Hero’s Bonds

Square Enix has revealed that Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai: A Hero’s Bonds is now playable for Android and iOS users. In the trailer below, we can see some of the familiar characters in the manga and anime.

The publisher introduced Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai: A Hero’s Bonds last year. But the company at that time only released mobile games specifically for the Japanese market.

Starting Aug 2021, this anime-adaptation game with the same title is available on Android via Google Play and iOS via the App Store.

12. FINAL FANTASY BRAVE EXVIUS

The Final Fantasy Brave Exvius game was previously only available in certain regions, but starting May 2016, Square Enix announced that the Final Fantasy Brave Exvius game would be available for the global market as well.

Now, the mobile game can be downloaded for Android and iOS devices in the global market.

13. PAC-MAN

This game is a classic version of the Pac-Man we all know. So, you can get almost the same experience when playing the classic Pac-Man game.

BANDAI NAMCO as the developer is kind enough to make this game for free with in-app-purchases. Now, you can play Pac-Man to your heart’s content on your android smartphone.

14. Ms. PAC-MAN

Ms. Pac-Man does have similarities with the original game Pac-Man, where in the game you only need to collect points by eating small dots located in the arena and also avoiding the four ghosts that roam.

15. Snake ’97: retro phone classic

Snake is a legendary game that we all know. Games that are natively present in Nokia phones are often a game we can count on to get rid of boredom back in the day.

Now, a developer named dsd 164 remakes it for the Android platform. And I think this is the most accurate Nokia Snake game on the Google Play because it has the original dual tone display, beep sound, and game controls.

This game contains the original Snake and Snake 2.

What’s interesting in this game is the user interface that uses old school Nokia phones such as 5110, 3210, 3310, 3410 and others.

16. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

Who Wants to Be A Millionaire is one of the most popular TV quizzes in the world. This trivia game requires you to answer questions where the bigger the prize, the more difficult the questions will be.

Now, you can play this classic retro game on your Android device. Released by SONY Pictures Entertainment, this game is no less popular than its TV show.

This game has been downloaded more than 10 million times on Google Play.

17. Q*bert – Classic Arcade Game

In addition to Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, Sony Pictures also decided to reissue the game Q*bert, an arcade game that was popular in 1982.

The adaptation to the mobile phone was successful, although this game doesn’t really feel like the original game because of the graphics improvements, this game still worthy to bring us nostalgia.

18. Street Fighter IV Champion Edition

Street Fighter IV: Champion Edition is a retro game from CAPCOM that was released more than 3 decades ago. Now, you can play it on Android.

This game has no significant differences from previous Street Fighter games, where you can still find characters from this franchise such as Ryu, Ken, Ibuki, and more.

In this version, you can play this game online against players from all over the world.

19. Galaga Wars

Galaga Wars is a classic retro shooter game from Bandai Namco that you can currently play on Android.

Like other shooter games, in this game you have to shoot as many enemies as possible in front of you while avoiding projectile shots from them as well.

20. Carmageddon

Carmageddon was a game that was previously released on PC back in 2009. The purpose of this game is to race while causing major mayhem.

And if you’re in the mood for an arcade racer, the recklessness of this game is awesome.

21. Crossy Road

Crossy Road is an iconic retro game that is popular among gamers who love the arcade genre. This is arguably the modern version of Frogger or Varmintz.

In this game, the player controls a chicken that must cross the road, while avoiding obstacles and making moves in a timely manner.

22. METAL SLUG ATTACK

After 25 years of its debut in arcade game machines, Metal Slug will be back to entertain its old fans and attracting new players from newer generations.

SNK is collaborating with Studio TiMi, a game studio owned by Tencent, a giant technology company from China in developing latest Metal Slug game for Android and iOS base.

23. Prince of Persia : Escape

For those of you who expect the presence of the classic Prince of Persia to be played on smartphones, it seems that you have to be disappointed with this Prince of Persia: Escape game.

Although the game has a very similar appearance to the 1989 version, it turns out that the type of game is a runner where the prince runs from left to right while avoiding obstacles and deadly traps.

Gone are the 60 minute time limits, finding your way to the next level, and solving puzzles, because the game is really simplified.

24. MORTAL KOMBAT

Do you know the popular fighting game Mortal Kombat? Now, you can play it on your Android device.

Combat in Mortal Kombat adopts a one-on-one system with tag teams. That is, each team consists of three fighters who can switch positions at any time.

25. Star Wars™: KOTOR

This RPG game was very popular on PC and Xbox when it first appeared in 2003.

The depth of the story, the gameplay that really sharpened our strategy skills, and the graphics were pretty good at that time made Star Wars: Knight of The Old Republic (KOTOR) has become an icon of Star Wars RPGs to this day.

26. Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links

In January 2017, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links has officially been 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 JRPGs, Saint Seiya: Awakening has a turn-based strategy concept as its combat system. In this game, you have full control over the basic attacks and character skills.

In addition, you can also choose which enemy you want to attack first.

Saint Seiya: Awakening doesn’t just stick to one storyline either. In addition to providing the main storyline (main story), you can also find various additional stories (side stories) in the game.

Even though it is a side story, the story that is shown is no less interesting than the main story.

28. Minecraft Pocket Edition

Minecraft is one of the best-selling sandbox games of all time and one of my favorite games too. In fact, I even dedicated a section on this website specifically for Minecraft guides.

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

Mojang, the developer of Minecraft, released a mobile version (Pocket Edition) to capture the growing market for mobile gamers. You can buy Minecraft PE for $6.99.

29. RollerCoaster Tycoon® Classic

For those of you fans of the RollerCoaster Tycoon gamme, now you can enjoy this amusement park simulation game made by Atari on the Android platform.

RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic has gameplay similar to RCT and RCT 2 by offering a simpler playground design, construction and management system than the newer RCT games.

30. Pinball Deluxe: Reloaded

There have been many pinball games circulating on Google Play.

The game where the player keeps the ball in a machine from falling into the bottom hole by using two or more flippers and trying to hit the targets on the playing field is indeed fun and addictive.

One of the fun and retro Pinball games is Pinball Deluxe: Reloaded, by Made Of Bits.

31. Lemmings

Lemmings is a retro 90s puzzle game. Although the Android version of the Lemmings game is slightly different from the original game, you will still get the same excitement and nostalgia as playing the original game.

32. Sky Force Reloaded

Do you remember the Sky Force Reloaded Game that used to be on the Nokia N-Gage and other Symbian phones? Now, you can play it on your Android device with even more improved graphics.

This arcade genre game allows you to go on a shooting adventure using fighter planes with 3D graphics and can be played offline.

The Sky Force Reloaded game has 2 versions, namely Sky Force 2014 with a size of 107MB and the new version, Sky Force Reloaded, with a size of 186MB.

Both games were developed by Infinite Dreams and you can download them on Google Play for free.

33. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is one of the favorite retro arcade games from the Castlevania franchise, developed by Konami.

Game Castlevania: Symphony of the Night was originally launched for Playstation devices in 1997, then re-released for Android devices in 2020.

You can now taste it officially for Android and iOS-based devices, with the price on the Android version at $2.99.

34. Five Nights at Freddy’s

Still remember the animatronic aka the scary machine doll from the horror game franchise Five Nights at Freddy’s?

This game, which was popular in 2014 because it was played by PewDiePie, can now be played on your smartphone. Dare to play it?

35. 1942

If you were born in the 90s, you would certainly remember the legendary 1942 game from Capcom.

This retro game was actually released in 1984 and is a war game with planes where players have to fight against the enemies in front of them.

But unfortunately, the 1942 game from Capcom has been banned by Google. But you can play a similar game developed by Onesoft Global with the same title.