Help me get my bite-sized strategy fix
April 23, 2023 6:20 AM Subscribe
Please recommend me some games for android. I enjoy games with simple interfaces, mid-level strategy or planning, and some randomness and dynamysm. I am looking for some new games to add to my collection of go-to games.
Here are some games I keep coming back to:
Mini metro (strategic network planning) - fantastic interface, consistent gameplay
Meteorfall (deck builder adventure) - very simple and satisfying interface, and I like the challenge of building a great deck
Sudoku (math-based puzzle) - very good interface, lots of level of strategy and problem solving
Threes (math) - nice interface, fun sounds
Some games I don't really like:
Meteorfall krumit's journey (rogue lite) - I find the interface and direct choices to require too much attention
Chess - I don't care to memorize different movement patterns
Baba is you - not enough structure, I could never get the answers so I didn't have fun
Dicey dungeon and dicey elementalist - interface was too cluttered and complex.
Go - absolutely love this game but simply too large to fit on an android screen
Into the breach - play on my laptop, too small for my phone
Slay the spire - interface was too small for me to enjoy on my phone
Here are some games I keep coming back to:
Mini metro (strategic network planning) - fantastic interface, consistent gameplay
Meteorfall (deck builder adventure) - very simple and satisfying interface, and I like the challenge of building a great deck
Sudoku (math-based puzzle) - very good interface, lots of level of strategy and problem solving
Threes (math) - nice interface, fun sounds
Some games I don't really like:
Meteorfall krumit's journey (rogue lite) - I find the interface and direct choices to require too much attention
Chess - I don't care to memorize different movement patterns
Baba is you - not enough structure, I could never get the answers so I didn't have fun
Dicey dungeon and dicey elementalist - interface was too cluttered and complex.
Go - absolutely love this game but simply too large to fit on an android screen
Into the breach - play on my laptop, too small for my phone
Slay the spire - interface was too small for me to enjoy on my phone
Bad North! Bad North! Bad North!
If you like the idea of Dicey Dungeons better than the reality, give Slice and Dice a shot. I've spent far too much time playing that dumb little game.
posted by dudekiller at 7:00 AM on April 23, 2023 [2 favorites]
If you like the idea of Dicey Dungeons better than the reality, give Slice and Dice a shot. I've spent far too much time playing that dumb little game.
posted by dudekiller at 7:00 AM on April 23, 2023 [2 favorites]
If you have Netflix, they have a collection of free-to-play, no-in-game-purchase titles you can download and play for free on your phone.
Find the list here - scroll down a bit and open the "available games" section to see what they have.
You find and download the games as normal through the play store but then you log in with your Netflix account.
Terra Nil was a decent strategy city builder with an interesting twist, but if you found some of the other games you mention to have a UI that's too small or complicated for a phone, this will probably also apply here.
Reigns is more simple and also fun.
I played Spiritfarer on Switch and I loved it- for the story mostly. The game play is fun and not too challenging but it's not very similar to the other games you mentioned. I just wanted to suggest it anyway because the story is just so sweet and poignant and the characters are so good. It's worth a go if you already have netflix, you can always delete it if it's not for you!
If anything else on that list looks good to you, you can always head to Youtube for a trailer or gameplay overview before you download!
posted by cilantro at 7:08 AM on April 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
Find the list here - scroll down a bit and open the "available games" section to see what they have.
You find and download the games as normal through the play store but then you log in with your Netflix account.
Terra Nil was a decent strategy city builder with an interesting twist, but if you found some of the other games you mention to have a UI that's too small or complicated for a phone, this will probably also apply here.
Reigns is more simple and also fun.
I played Spiritfarer on Switch and I loved it- for the story mostly. The game play is fun and not too challenging but it's not very similar to the other games you mentioned. I just wanted to suggest it anyway because the story is just so sweet and poignant and the characters are so good. It's worth a go if you already have netflix, you can always delete it if it's not for you!
If anything else on that list looks good to you, you can always head to Youtube for a trailer or gameplay overview before you download!
posted by cilantro at 7:08 AM on April 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
My favorite game of all time, because it scratches SO many itches without being impossibly hard (and you can always make it harder on yourself by not choosing to use the easier components), and while phone isn't my favorite platform it still works, is the original Plants vs Zombies. It's tower defense at its heart, you can play through each round in a few minutes, it's got just enough tension, it's funny, and the graphics are great (if difficult to fully appreciate on a phone).
posted by Lyn Never at 8:46 AM on April 23, 2023
posted by Lyn Never at 8:46 AM on April 23, 2023
Hoplite is a simple but satisfying rogue like.
Archikaps is a minimalist oddball tower defense and you might like other stuff from that developer if realtime iss a deal breaker for you.
posted by clockwork at 9:01 AM on April 23, 2023 [2 favorites]
Archikaps is a minimalist oddball tower defense and you might like other stuff from that developer if realtime iss a deal breaker for you.
posted by clockwork at 9:01 AM on April 23, 2023 [2 favorites]
Polytopia? Simplified civ clone
posted by crazy with stars at 9:33 AM on April 23, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by crazy with stars at 9:33 AM on April 23, 2023 [2 favorites]
Some other card game/deckbuilders on android I've enjoyed:
Card Crawl (this developer has many other similar games, so poke around in the similar/recommended)
Solitairica (not actually solitaire)
Underhand (seems to have been made by students, so it has an ending far too soon)
posted by Snijglau at 10:11 AM on April 23, 2023
Card Crawl (this developer has many other similar games, so poke around in the similar/recommended)
Solitairica (not actually solitaire)
Underhand (seems to have been made by students, so it has an ending far too soon)
posted by Snijglau at 10:11 AM on April 23, 2023
Simon Tatham's puzzle collection has a slew of puzzles that are just what you're looking for
posted by DanSachs at 10:43 AM on April 23, 2023
posted by DanSachs at 10:43 AM on April 23, 2023
Hoplite is a widely regarded sort of cross between a roguelike and chess. Very clean and simple interface.
Pixel Dungeon is another simple but engaging mostly roguelike rpg.
Two dots was a huge hit in my circles, in the puzzle game vein.
posted by SaltySalticid at 10:52 AM on April 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
Pixel Dungeon is another simple but engaging mostly roguelike rpg.
Two dots was a huge hit in my circles, in the puzzle game vein.
posted by SaltySalticid at 10:52 AM on April 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
Marvel Snap is a good deck builder, and does not require payment to get a good experience. Might need a decently powerful phone.
posted by alexei at 1:55 PM on April 23, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by alexei at 1:55 PM on April 23, 2023 [2 favorites]
Rymdkapsel is a nicely balanced space station resource management game, with a tower defence element. Very enjoyable.
posted by pipeski at 2:13 PM on April 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by pipeski at 2:13 PM on April 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
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