Our picks for the 10 best new Android games in 2023

After years of free games dominating the sceneswe finally saw a big shift in 2023. Although there were plenty of great Android games released this year that were still freeonly two out of ten of our top favorite mobile games of 2023 are completely free with adsalthough a few have demo versions.

Why the sudden reversal? Part of it is due to Netflix. The streaming giant dipped its toes into mobile games in 2021but 2023 saw it ramp up these effortsoffering high-quality ports of console games and other original titles to its subscribers at no extra cost. Apple also played a role with the announcement of the iPhone 15 Pro and the company’s plans to bring console-quality games to its phoneoffering them at premium prices ranging from $30 to $60.

When Apple introduces a new trendthe Android world often seems to follow suit. With Apple pursuing expensive premium gamesdevelopers are likely more comfortable releasing premium experiences on Android again. Now that you understand why there are more premium titles than everlet’s dive right into our top ten picksfollowed by a list of honorable mentions.

Curious about how we came up with our selections? While I was the primary curator of the titlesthere was more to the process than just picking my favorites at random. We provide more detail at the bottom of the post.

The best Android games for 2024

1. Hello Neighbor Nicky’s Diaries

• Price: Free to try$7 to unlock
• Genre: Horror/Adventure

This year’s race was very closemaking it challenging to select the top three or so. UltimatelyHello Neighbor: Nicky’s Diaries was chosen for several reasons. FirstNicky’s Diaries is one of the few mobile games from a franchise that offers an experience on par with its console counterparts. For instanceWarcraft Rumble is an okay gamebut it doesn’t come close to the quality of a genuine Blizzard title.

While the original Hello Neighbor was previously ported to Google Play and provided a decent experienceit didn’t reach the same level due to bugs and awkward controls. Nicky’s Diaries also stands out because it boasts beautiful graphicswell-functioning mechanicsand some of the best mobile controllers I’ve ever used.

The story is pretty much the same as in any other game in the series: you have a weird neighborand you decide to investigate while he essentially tries to kidnap you. This timehoweverthere’s a lot more in-game lore that can be unlockedwhich makes this title stand out even more. You can download the game for freebut you’ll be limited to a very small portion of it unless you pay $7 to unlock the full experiencewhich we believe is worth it. Looking for more adventure games? Check out our guide to the best adventure games for Android.

2. Laya’s Horizon

• Price: Free with Netflix
• Genre: Action /Adventure

This one was a very close secondas it was my personal favorite of 2023at least until Nicky’s Diaries came around (one of my favorite franchises). From the makers of the Alto seriesLaya’s Horizon is a 3D open-world game that shares the same general aesthetic as the company’s previous titles. This means equally charming graphics and sound.

Essentiallythe game is about indulging in limitless flights around the open mapalthough it does provide specific goals that can unlock new s of flight through additional capes. It offers a very casualrelaxing experience that works well for both short playthroughs and longer sessions. The controls are quite a bit different from other movement-driven gamesas Laya’s Horizon uses touches and gestures to navigate the world. There’s a bit of a learning curve herebut once you master them they’ll feel more natural than other methods used in similar games.

The game is exclusively available for Netflix subscribersso there’s no way to play it on Android without a subscription.

3. Pocket City 2

• Price: $5
• Genre: Citybuilder/Sim

Pocket City arguably was the gold standard for mobile city-building simulation gamesbut sequels can be tricky — just look at how City Skylines 2 has been having a hard time living up to its predecessor at launch. The good news is Pocket City 2 not only lives up to its predecessorbut it brings new 3D Graphics and plenty of other improvements.

The game mechanics have also been polished and it’s added some pretty exciting new features like the ability to free roam and enter buildings or drive around in cars. The good news is that the company has struck a decent balance between these features and what people want: a good city builder.

There are two versions of the gamebut we highly recommend picking up the premium app as it’ll only set you back $5and yet you’ll lose the ads and gain a bunch of extra features and functions that are omitted from the base game. If you want to try the free version firstyou’ll find it on Google Play as well.

4. TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge

• Price: Free with Netflix
• Genre: Arcade

As a young boyI spent more hours than I care to admit attempting to beat TMNT 2: The Arcade game on the NES so I was excited by this release. While it’s a whole new game it still gives me the same nostalgic vibe as the original and it’s nice to see a solid game like this in modern timesas these types of games aren’t nearly as popular anymore. This game has been around on other platforms for a whilebut Netflix brought us an Android version in 2023.

Netflix is one of the best when it comes to optimizing its games and so it’s no surprise that the mobile controllers are actually fairly decent. Stillyou can’t replicate the experience of an actual physical controllerso I’m even happier that the game includes full support for controllers as well. As with other Netflix gamesthe only downside is that you can only play it if you subscribe to Netflix.

5. Sid Meier’s Railroads!

• Price: $12.99
• Genre: Tycoon

One of the most expensive Android games of the yearSid Meier’s Railroads is a faithful port of the 2006 classic. While there are many great tycoon games out there for mobile with more modern additions to the mechanicsthe game actually holds up reasonably well despite its age. You get all sixteen scenarios from the original gameas well as the 40 real-world engines from the game. Unfortunatelythere’s no multiplayer support in the Android version.

When I first heard about this gameI was concerned as I owned the original and the graphics were pretty dated. Thankfullythis isn’t just a straight portas there is a redesigned interface for mobileas well as upgraded graphics. It’s still not the most visually impressive Android game by a long shotbut it’s a solid upgrade from the original. Is it worth $12.99? If you’re into these kinds of gamesthen absolutely.

6. Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon

• Price: Free with Netflix
• Genre: Action/Puzzle

Netflix is on this list multiple times this yeara testament to just how good its console ports are. The game is a unique blend of rogue-lite action and puzzle mechanics. You have a main map that you walk across and can enter into encounters with enemieswhich starts up a puzzle round.  There are plenty of puzzle games that offer a similar experiencebut this more gamified rogue-lite approach helps it stand out as a charmingaddicting experience.

While Shovel Knight works well for shorter playthroughsI will admit I often got lost in the game and ended up playing longer than I intended. This is largely down to the fast-paced gameplay that makes you feel like you earned it when a level is clear and leaves me wanting to start the next one. I let my wife try this oneas she typically sticks more to traditional puzzle games as her mainstay. She fell in love and has been playing it almost nightly since.

7. Coromon

• Price: Free trial$4.99
• Genre: RPG

As a Pokemon fanatic since the original Game Boy eraI was happy to see a full-fledged classic monster-catching game finally come to Androideven if it was originally for other platforms first. The game is completely unapologetic when it comes to copying the Pokemon gamesbut it manages to do it with utmost respectsimilar to how Stardew Valley was inspired by classic Harvest Moon games. You’ll find similar-looking but unique monsters (there’s a ghost-catwhich is my favorite)as well as the same general story of leaving behind your mom to collect pocket monsters

The graphics are reminiscent of the earlier Pokemon gamesparticularly during the GBA erabut with more polish and modernization. Although you’re limited to just a small part of the game for freeit’ll only cost $4.99 to unlock an experience that will keep you busy for at least 25 hours but can easily double that time if you are a completionist.

8. Hitman: Blood Money REPRISAL

• Price: $14.99
• Genre: Stealth

Yesthere are a ton of ports on this list but this one stands out as it is a massive upgrade that is worth a replayespecially if you haven’t touched it for a decade or more. For Hitman fans who came to the series more recentlyBlood Money was first released in 2006. The Hitman franchise has evolved a lot since then adding several new changes to the formula. Although it won’t feel like the more recent Hitman trilogythe game does make some improvements to help modernize the gamesuch as adding a core feature from its direct successor.

The game Hitman: Absolution arrived in 2012 with a brand new Instinct Modewhich marks NPCs with yellow outlines and allows your character to see enemies and civilians alike. It also helps indicate points of interest. This makes it much easier to play the gameespecially with mobile controls.  This is the most expensive game on the list at $14.99but it’s worth it if you’re a fan of the series or want to replay the popular classic with quality-of-life improvements.

9. Harry Potter: Magic Awakened

• Price: Free with in-app purchases
• Genre: Card RPG

Although Harry Potter Legacy has had some mixed critical receptionit was a massive hit amongst the fans. That’s not the only new Harry Potter game thoughas it’s been a pretty good year for The Boy Who Lived. Harry Potter Magic Awakened went under the radar a bit but was still picked up by loyal fans like my daughter. The game is a mix of RPG and RTSblended further by card game mechanics. it’s an interesting mixif not a completely unfamiliar one. The art looks great and the gameplay is a lot of fun most of the time. Some of the mechanics can admittedly be a bit frustrating in my experience. Even the storyline is solid.

Harry Potter is a big franchise with a huge fanbaseso why isn’t this further up the list? Bugsfor starters. I found this game would play inconsistently on the Pixel 7Pixel 6 Proand even my Z Flip 3. It would work well until it encountered some error and crashedor even worse it would just disconnect the game. You won’t always run into issuesas my daughter says she’s had many great play-throughs with no issuesbut equally as many times she’s been completely frustrated with the game.

10. Honkai: Star Rail

• Price: Free with in-app purchases
• Genre: RPG/Gacha

Honkai: Star Rail is easily the best RPG gacha game released to Android in 2023. Set in the HoYoversethe graphics of this title are beautifulthe storyline draws you in immediatelyand within minutes you’re already thrust into some early action that’s interspersed with cut-scenes that further the story and introduce you to the world around you. The battle is your typical turn-based fare and is quite balanced as the game progressesand there’s clear inspiration in some of the mechanics taken from the developer’s other smash hitGenshin Impact.

While the game is easy to jump intoit also gets progressively more difficult as you have to learn the best move and ability combinations for certain battles and more. We highly recommend this game whether you’re into RPGsgachasor both. Many of my coworkers specifically voted for this one to be on the main list and honestlyI wish I could give the last three picks a tie as it was a very close decision.  You can play the game for free and while there are in-app purchases you can easily get through most of the game’s objectives without paying a dimejust be aware progression will be harder and slower once you reach higher character levels.

Honorable mentions: The rest of the best

Every yearwe also list a few games that nearly made the listbut fell just short. After allthere are tons of great titles releasedbut our list only holds our favorite ten. Here are the rest of the best new Android games released in 2023:

• Perfect Grind (Free with in-app purchases) — This quirky casual title lets you flipgrindand perform skating tricksbuild your own skateparkcustomize your complete challengesand more. 
• Roto Force (Free to try$5 to buy) — This unique game is a fast-paced bullet-filled frenzy. It feels like the kind of s arcade game from Atari’s heyday but with a modern twist.
• Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance ($9.99) — Baldur’s Gate takes on a very different form in this action RPG from the early 2000sported masterfully to Android. While it’s not cheapit’s a great game and will provide countless hours of fun. 
• Super Meat Boy Forever ($0.99) — The sequel to Super Meat Boythis game is set years later where Meat Boy has lived happily and safety for years with his new family. Until Dr. Fetus shows up. 
• Iris and the Giant ($5.99) — This game is an odd but satisfying fusion of RPG and card gamewith roguelike elements thrown in. 
• Goat Simulator 3 ($12.99) — The Goat Simulator is back on Androidcomplete with good graphics and all the same features as you’d get in the console version. 
• Metria (Free with in-app purchases) — At first brushthis looks and plays a bit like modern Zeldga gamesbut the world is only semi-open and the game has more JRPG/Gacha elements. 
• Storyteller (Free for Netflix subscribers) — Netflix brought Storyteller to Android in 2023which lets you drag and drop fairy-tale characters onto a virtual page. Both a puzzle game and just a fun experiencebut bugs and other issues do drag it down a bit.
• Monster Hunter Now (Free with in-app purchases) — Monster Hunter Now was an attempt by Niantic to bring another AR game to the world with fairly mixed results. Stillit’s worth a look for Monster Hunter fansas it’s free to play. 
• Dust & Neon (Free for Netflix subscribers) — This port is pretty solid but suffers from awkward touch controls. It is worth a play if you subscribe to Netflixthough. 

How did we decide on our picks?

There were a lot of great games released in 2023 and not all of them could make this listbut how did we decide our picks in the first place? Through a few factors:

• As the curator for our Weekly App Newsletter since about mid-SeptemberI’ve used a ton of new games and apps along the way. I used this to compile a Google Sheet of my observations and thoughts.
• I consulted over eight months of Android Authority‘s backlogged “best games of the week” articles to pick out some of the most notable.
• I came away with a list of hundreds of appsso I went through Google Play review scores and factored this into the selection process. I also removed anything ranking less than 3.5 unless there was a good reasonand only placed four-star apps into my first top ten draft.
• After narrowing the list to twenty gamesit was put out to the team for suggestions and to vote any of my game selections initial positions up or down.
• FinallyI spent a bit extra hands-on time with anything in our top selections to ensure the selections were solidand then I locked in the picks.

As with any best listthis one is obviously at least partially subjectivebut that’s our pick for the top ten best mobile games for Android released in 2023. Which was your favorite? Let us know in the poll below.