Looking for Android games that don't treat me like a golden retriever brain stem in a jar (help me find some strategy, sim, adventure, etc)
I'm looking to buy one or two GOOD Android games, price not a concern. I usually like simulation games, strategy, adventure. Not as much action and puzzles (although Monument Valley is amazing). I don't want the typical bubble gum, pay for premium BS.
I think the final nail in the coffin for me to make this post was SimCity BuildIt. Maybe it gets better as you go, but I just found it incredibly dull.
Things I like:
-
Depth...something close to Crusader Kings 3 would be sweet, or a gridless builder like Ostriv or Foundation
-
Simulation games
-
Collecting things in a catalog
-
Cars, trains, planes
-
Castles, history, building
-
I like driving, first-person, and third-person shooters, but not on mobile generally
Things I don't like:
- Ads (minimal are ok)
- Pay to play
- Super cartoony style...I know it's super common on mobile, I'm willing to overlook if the game has lots of depth
- Retro/basic graphics
- Lack of freedom
- Pop-up tutorial characters
- Sidescrollers/topdown (usually)
- Tower defense
Here's a list of some games I've wishlisted, I know it's all over the place, but curious if any are a good fit:
- Slice and Dice
- Terraria
- Stardew Valley
- Rusted Warfare
- ROME: Total War
- Forge of Empires: Build a City
- Fire Emblem Heroes
- Balatro
- Age of Dynasties: Crusader War
- TheoTown
- Mini Metro
- Thronefall
And here are some I'm more skeptical about, but I found intriguing:
- The Battle of Polytopia
- Townscaper
- Cell to Singularoity: Evolution
- King of Dragon Pass: Text RPG
- Dungeon Village 2
Posted Dec 1, 2025, 8:14 PM UTC