

The graphics were also a big draw: one of the best-looking Android games of 2013. The original Dead Trigger was a made-for-mobile first-person-shooter by developer MadFinger Games, and its sequel amped up the action: more zombies, including bosses, and more weapons to dispatch them with. Some elements were familiar – ie all the shooting – but new twists included the ability to swap between first-person action and a more tactical third-person view to plot your squad's tactics. Call of Duty: Strike TeamĪctivision's latest Call of Duty game was made for mobile devices from the ground up. It's a platform-adventure set in an eerie forest, with beautiful visuals, slick physics and plenty of exploration. Badlandīadland was one of many well-loved indie games to make the leap from iOS to Android this year, as developers recognised the growing potential of Google's platform for games. This time round, you could play as both sides, and there's a range of Telepods toys that interact with the game too, Skylanders-style. This was the second Angry Birds game to be set in the Star Wars universe, with characters turned into birds and pigs, and 120 levels to fling them through. Photograph: PR ACTION Angry Birds Star Wars II

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for Android. Meanwhile, if you want a deeper dive into 2013's Android recommendations on this site, browse the archive of weekly Best Android apps roundups. The title of each game is a link to its Google Play store listing, so if your device uses another app store – Amazon's in the case of Kindle Fire tablets – you'll need to search for them manually to check if they're available. Disagree with the inclusions or think a favourite game has been cruelly left out? Make your case in the comments section.Ī roundup of The Guardian's 50 favourite non-game Android apps of 2013 can be found here. That said, there were some excellent paid Android games too this year, many of which feature in this roundup. It can be controversial, especially when previously-paid game franchises go freemium – Plants vs Zombies 2 and Real Racing 3 were examples of that in 2013 – but the model appears here to stay. Trends? As on Apple's iOS, the dominant business model for mobile games this year was freemium: you could play for free, but the games made their money from in-app purchases and ads (but mainly the former). From action and puzzle games to sports and strategy, Android was well-served with impressive and inventive games to suit all tastes. 2013 was a very good year for Android games, as more developers recognised the potential of Google-powered smartphones and tablets.
