As Android phones and tablets have become more popular nowadays, the number of apps available for the platform has rocketed.
Which means more free Android games. There's a lot of junk out there but, fortunately, there are gems among the junk.
We've worked our way through a whole load of free Android games to reveal the ones you should download to your phone.
If we've missed your favourite free Android game, let us know in the comments.
1. Angry Birds Star Wars
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... a group of desperate rebel birds faced off against a galactic menace: the Empire’s evil Pigtroopers!
Rebel birds, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Imperial Pigs. During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire’s ultimate weapon, the PIG STAR, and are racing to deliver the plans to the Rebel Birds. Now they need your help!
Join an epic adventure with the Angry Birds in the legendary Star Wars™ universe! Use the Force, wield your lightsaber, and blast away Pigtroopers on an intergalactic journey from the deserts of Tatooine to the depths of the Pig Star -- where you’ll face off against the terrifying Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Pigs! Can you become a Jedi Master and restore freedom to the galaxy?
Time to grab your lightsaber and join the adventure! May the birds be with you!
2. Jetpack Joyride
Suit up with a selection of the coolest jetpacks ever made and take to the skies as Barry Steakfries, the lovable hero on a one-way trip to adventure! From the creators of the worldwide phenomenon Fruit Ninja comes the action-packed Jetpack Joyride, Halfbrick's most anticipated Android game ever!
Join Barry as he breaks in to a secret laboratory to commandeer the experimental jetpacks from the clutches of science evildoers. After lift-off, simply touch the screen to ascend and release to descend, raining bullets, bubbles, rainbows and lasers downwards as you fly towards higher and higher scores!
You'll start off with the legendary Machine Gun Jetpack to scatter the evil scientists of Legitimate Research, but throughout each game you'll collect coins and complete missions to earn cash and buy new gear in The Stash! Pick your favorite jetpack, snazzy outfit and stock up on items then get back out there!
Get a boost of speed and power using the Lil' Stomper, Profit Bird and Crazy Freaking Teleporter, just a selection of the vehicles pickups available - all playable with one touch controls.
Stay alive, get funky and lose yourself in Jetpack Joyride. There's so much to see and do, all the time in the world and more than enough jetpacks! As always, Barry Steakfries will provide!
3. IPL Cricket Fever
Play and experience the ultimate cricket game on Google play with major game play improvements and the addition of responsive and intuitive touch controls.
4. Temple Run
The addictive mega-hit Temple Run is now out for Android! All your friends are playing it - can you beat their high scores?!
You've stolen the cursed idol from the temple, and now you have to run for your life to escape the Evil Demon Monkeys nipping at your heels. Test your reflexes as you race down ancient temple walls and along sheer cliffs. Swipe to turn, jump and slide to avoid obstacles, collect coins and buy power ups, unlock new characters, and see how far you can run!
5. Plague Inc
Plague Inc. is a unique mix of high strategy and terrifyingly realistic simulation from developer Ndemic Creations and brought to you on Android by Miniclip. Can you infect the world?
Your pathogen has just infected 'Patient Zero'. Now you must bring about the end of human history by evolving a deadly, global Plague whilst adapting against everything humanity can do to defend itself.
Brilliantly executed with innovative gameplay and built from the ground up for mobile, Plague Inc. evolves the strategy genre and pushes mobile gaming (and you) to new levels. It’s You vs. the world - only the strongest can survive!
A global hit with over 150,000 five star ratings from around the world and features in newspapers such as The Economist, New York Post, Boston Herald, The Guardian and London Metro.
6. Infectonator
Infectonator is infecting mobile devices! From the popular Flash game hit, The Infectonator series is now mobile. New characters, awesome pixel-art graphics, and more! Best of all, it still has the same addictive chain reaction gameplay! Infectonator gives you all the awesomeness of Infecting people, turn them into zombies, and dominate the World once again from the palm of your hands!
7. Devil Hunter
Devil Hunter, the amazing physical and puzzle game!
The devils came in, occupied the village and drove all the villagers out of the country. It's time that all of the survived villagers take weapons to fight with the devils.
Please help to Kill all of the devils and get their home back.
8. Wind-Up Knight
Wind-up Knight by Robot Invader is a high-end, action-packed, 3D side-scrolling adventure game, and it's here to show you how games are supposed to be played.
Guide your Wind-up Knight through devilish levels--over 50 in all--to rescue the Princess from the clutches of the evil Black Knight. Run, jump, roll, and slash your way to victory. Not your typical runner game, Wind-up Knight is the type of challenging game you've been missing in your life.
9. Dragon Warcraft
It's new definition of dragon hunter!
The best new tower defense game of FT Games. Enjoy the Clash of Dragons.
Assemble warriors! The evil dragon lord and his demon army are making devastating attacks at our castle! Time to fight back and smash their hearts! Take the ancient crossbows, unleash most powerful magic, yell at the enemies and release your anger!
10. Carnivores: Ice Age
Epic winter hunting finally on Android!
Carnivores: Ice Age throws you onto a recently discovered planet to test your aiming and tactical skills on a realistic ice safari. The game delivers an intelligent hunting experience and offers a lot more than a visit to a shooting range. Unrivaled possibility to wander around open 3D world without limits makes the process of finding prey exciting and the whole game endlessly replayable.
The hunter, equipped with weapons and all sorts of hunting accessories like camouflage and cover scent, needs not only to be quiet as a mouse when approaching a saber-tooth beast but also take care of details like wind direction not to end up as animal's dinner. Advanced AI of the animals turn them from dummy targets to aggressive hosts protecting their planet and add a shooter feeling to the gameplay.
Pack your things and start hunting in Carnivores: Ice Age if you are ready to explore the new huge world and think before you shoot.
11. Uberstrike: The FPS
If you're looking for a classic shooter, UberStrike is by far the best multiplayer FPS on Android!
UberStrike is, for lack of a better word, awesome. - Games.com
Over 8 Million Players worldwide!
12. Newton Lite
It's just you and your particle gun versus Newton's laws. Guide the particle towards its goal through levels filled obstacles.
13. Replica Island
Professor Kabochanomizu needs your help! He has created you--a small green robot with rockets for feet--to locate a mysterious artifact on a bizarre island. Fly, stomp, and roll your way through 40 challenging levels to 3 unique endings!
14. Brain Genius
If you're feeling that your brain has got a bit sluggish lately, why not revive it with Brain Genius Deluxe?
This brain training game for Android is designed to improve your mental powers in four areas: observation, memory, calculation, and reasoning. Brain Genius Deluxe sets a series of four exercises every day that put these aspects of your intellect to the test.
15. Cestos
Battle it out with anyone, anytime, anywhere in one of the first and only multi-player games on Android!
Win to gain experience, unlock new features, customize your avatar, and socialize with friends.
Will you be the last one standing?
16. Fruit Slice
The BEST FRUIT juicy game on MarketPlace, and it's FREE! Slice fruit by your finger, and enjoy fruit juice!
Can you be Master Shifu of Fruit?
17. Raging Thunder 2
Raging Thunder 2 will take you through abandoned temples, tropical beaches, snow-covered mountains, the Great Wall and a range of other breathtaking vistas the world over!
18. Trial Extreme 3
Play, challenge your friends, Win!
With over 40 Million downloads(!) and leading the games charts in hundreds of countries, Trial Xtreme series is BACK and it’s going to set the bar even higher.
Trial Xtreme 3, will take your breath away with its new innovations and amazing features. Tackle 76 completely original courses, fighting your friends for the race, win while carefully controlling your bike to ensure that you don’t fall victim to one of the many hundreds of mines, water pipes, or wrecked cars that are standing in your way.
Race against your friends and the world top Trials bikers head to head, shoulder to shoulder to prove to everyone what we already know- That you are #1! the best Trial Xtremist out there!
Customize your bike and rider to your own tastes, then hit the course and win the race by taking advantage of the brilliant new social media and offline multiplayer options, that allows you to challenge friends or random players even when they are off line.
19. Pool King
Pool King! Over 250 level waiting for you! Believe it you must love it!
20. Racing Moto
Racing Moto is a fast paced racing game. You never dare drive so fast in the real world! Control your moto with incredible fast speed during traffic rush time! Also enjoy beautiful view during the journey - desert, city, bridge, sea and forest!
21. Road Warrior
FREE for a limited time only! Road Warrior was a finalist on 2012 Unity Awards! Road Warrior is an addicting multiplayer combat racing game! Race against opponents and shoot them with your guns.
22. SteamPunk Racing 3D
In the realm of steampunk racing domination and destruction is a way of life. Each day we risk death for the rewards and thrills of our chosen path. We are the racers, the heroes of our war torn world. Our vehicles shield us, our weaponry brings forth our vengeance, the world is our playground, and the corporations that run things are a necessary evil.
Set in a war-torn and steam-powered industrial world where your very survival depends any means necessary in a no-rules, high stakes, high impact, steam-powered death race. You'll need to choose and customize your vehicle like the 4-Wheel Armored Classic, Heavy Tank Tall Boy, Agile Delivery, 3-Wheel Scarab, Dozenberg, Drag Racer, Zeppelin, Rough Truckin', Brutal Wagon, or the 6-Wheel LG04-Ohzma; each with unique features and capabilities. You'll also need weapons and elemental powers because, let's face it: playing fair is just no fun. Teleport ahead of your enemies, engage force fields, blast your opponents energy with an EMP wave, turn the world upside down or create a gravity bubble with a Gravity Vortex, or deploy our most devastating weapons like missiles, chain guns, high-speed mines and tar, poison fields, fireballs, drone blimp-bombers, satellite ray beams, chainsaws, and vortex technology just to name a few.
As you race through your journey through the online tournament circuit, look for big sponsors to make more money but beware as corporations like A.R.B sponsors many racers and are suspected of fixing the races to seize power. Choose your side!
23. Motoboy
You only need to accelerate or jump over the obstacles on the road and get the scores as possible as you can.
24. Rail Rush
Get ready for this epic adventure! Step into your cart and begin this mine exploring frenzy! Accelerate through these insanely fast rails while tilting and swiping to avoid the obstacles.
Your job is to collect precious stones, so get those gold nuggets and gems! There will be surprises along the way, and special gifts to earn if you're lucky! Break the rock eggs to reveal what’s inside of them and pick up all the gems for your personal explorer’s collection!
Find new and exciting paths to explore across the mine, and go through those special levels to earn more nuggets! Featuring 6 exciting environments: Caverns, waterfalls, spider nests, dead cities and mushroom halls, as well as surprise levels which will amaze you with their colorful scenarios.
You can also equip your cart with power ups to extend your chances inside the mine, while completing missions and ranking up, in order to become the ultimate explorer! Indiana Jones himself would envy you!
25.Garfield's Defense 2
Garfield is back, now with multiplayer! Join the fat lazy cat in this epic struggle against ridiculous alien overlords! Only Garfield can protect the world from the menace of the Food Invaders; these nasty aliens did not take kindly to their defeat in the first installment of this series and now they’re targeting the whole world! So begins Garfield’s Defense 2: The Food Invaders Strike Back!
Get ready for another alien-whacking adventure - FREE! Garfield’s Defense 2: The Food Invaders Strike Back is brought to you by Web Prancer, the people behind the original Garfield’s Defense, Feed Garfield, Garfield’s Diner, and other top-rated Garfield games.
26. Cut The Rope
Cut the rope to feed candy to little monster Om Nom®! 250 million downloads around the world of this phenomenal puzzle game. 325 levels and more to come!
A mysterious package has arrived, and the little monster inside has only one request… CANDY! Collect gold stars, discover hidden prizes and unlock exciting new levels in this addictively fun, award-winning, physics-based game!
27. Lost Temple 2
The must have running game for your phone in 2013! Funny and exciting with 3D game effect! Super smooth operation! Super gorgeous graphics! Perfect gravity sensing control system!!! Much more game characters with special design and amazing functions! You must get a lot of fun from this interesting and exciting Lost Temple!
28. Prison Break
Break jail from the famous prison in the world.
Can you break jail !?
Operation is easy. Flick the screen, a wall and a prison are moved and please extricate a hero !!
29. Australian Open
Tennis Australia and IBM are pleased to offer the official Android app for the Australian Open Tennis Championships, from 14-27 January, 2013. Follow the action LIVE during the tournament.
30. Soccer Kicks
PURE PASSION. TRUE INTENSITY. Experience the free-kick action of your favorite 3D soccer game like no other!
Champions aren't born. They're made. Do you have what it takes to be the Soccer Superstar? Play Soccer Kicks, the most intense free-kick soccer game to practice your free-kick skills on Android. This game will give you the highest level of complete control and pinpoint accuracy.
31. Bubble Blast 2
Bubble Blast 2 is a puzzle game in which you burst bubbles to trigger a chain reaction in order to eliminate them.
2 game modes are available:
- Puzzle mode with 10000 levels !
- Arcade mode to play freely
32. Ultimate Mission 2
The aliens have invaded everywhere over the world. As a super hero, you must grasp your weapons to fight and save the world.
33. Zombie Hunter
An awesome evolution of classic arcade game, more exciting,more fantastic!
Zombie Hunting is coming! Shoot'em and breed'em!
Zombie Hunting is a fantastic shooting game. You face lots kind of zombies, and shoot them with 4 different weapons. After you beat zombies, you can earn gold coins for reward, and even can capture a zombie that can be bred in your graveyard!
This game has a cute cartoon graphic and wonderful sound effect, and all zombie were fun designed and collectable! You may breed your zombie in your own graveyard, if you can take care of them, they would give you gold coins in return!
34. Rope Rescue (Ice Cream Sandwich Android 4.0 Fixed)
King Bat has kidnapped the baby birds for their feathers and it’s up to Rupert the parrot to bring them back, in this brain-teasing classic!
Drag a length of rope through a series of gears, and attach it to the cage to release your friends. Pesky enemies, fire, and other rope-wrecking obstacles threaten feathered freedom. Collect butterflies on the way for special bonuses, and try use as little rope as possible for maximum points.
35. Shoot the Apple 2
Shoot the Apple 2 is back with more challenging worlds, new game play and much better graphics!
Alien is still in love with Miss Apple. New obstacles emerged. But don’t worry! Alien has mastered new skills. Try your best to help alien reach the apple in each stage!
36. Fort Conquer
Waves of monsters have evolved and are rushing towards your territory. Build up your loyal troop and train them for the battle! You must defend your own tower and conquer the opponent's fort!
37. X Runner
Partake in this exhilarating runner game to feel the ultimate speed and challenge your agility! Try to avoid the barriers,go through the magic tunnel, jump over the space bridge... X runner is on the go!
38. Pinball Deluxe
Pinball Deluxe is a free pinball game featuring 5 different tables. Each table plays very differently and has a unique style: Brix, Wild West, Carnival, Space and Underwater.
39. Barr Lite
Manage your own pirate bar in this cute and quirky restaurant management game. Serve your pirates beer, give 'em tattoos or let 'em rock out on the guitar!
Rake up the doubloons with this fast-paced bar management game and try to get three stars each level!
40. Stick Cricket
At last! Stick Cricket® makes its debut on Android. “About time too!”, we hear you cry. Now you can carry the world’s most popular cricket game in your pocket. It’s all about shot selection and timing but only a master can hit every ball for six. Choose your team and face the world’s best bowlers as they try to get you out with some devious fast and spin deliveries. Watch out for those head-cracking bouncers!