Apps – Android Authority
Android TV’s release was exciting. Here was a platform that was more stable than Google TV and the developer community responded in kind by developing some awesome stuff for it. A little time has passed and although the adoption rate isn’t quite there yet, the apps and games available for Android TV have only been improving. Here are the best Android TV games currently available! Please note, you’ll need a hardware controller or at least your Android TV remote for all of these! If you want to see more, you can find Google’s official list of Android TV games here.
It’s also worth noting that most games with controller support also work on Android TV as long as the box is compatible with it. That is a very difficult list to compile since some games may be available for Nvidia Shield TVs, but not Xiaomi’s Mi Box. Every game on this list should be compatible with most current Android TV boxes. You can also hit up our list of the best games with controller support here for more options.
The best Android TV games
Bridge Constructor Portal
Price: $4.99
Bridge Constructor Portal is a mashup between the popular Bridge Constructor games and Portal. Most of the mechanics are classic Bridge Constructor. You must build a bridge to make it to the end. However, the obstacles, characters, and theme are all Portal. Thus, the obstacles you avoid are mostly those creepy bots that shoot at you when they see you. The game comes with 60 levels, plenty of clever Portal humor, Google Play Games achievements, and more. It’s pretty good for its price and one of our favorites from the year it launched. This one is also free if you use Google Play Pass.
See also: The best simulation games for Android
Crashlands
Price: $4.99
Crashlands is one of Android’s best games and it’s also one of the best Android TV games. You crash land on an alien planet and must figure out a way to leave. The game includes a massive open world, tons of stuff to do and craft, and a bit of storyline to keep things moving along. There are also some niceties like a self-organizing inventory. This one features cloud saving and cross-platform play with PC and iOS so you can play it on multiple platforms with the same save file. Those who like open-world games should definitely try this one. Like Bridge Constructor Portal, this one is also free with Google Play Pass.
Crossy Road
Price: Free to play
Crossy Road is one of the most popular arcade games in all of mobile gaming. It’s also one of the best Android TV games. It’s basically this generation’s version of Frogger. You hop across roads, streams, and other places while avoiding obstacles. You lose if you are hit by traffic, fall in water, or other similar fate. This one has both local and online multiplayer. It’s simple enough for most kids and it’s just a good time all-around. It is just an arcade game, though, so don’t expect too much more than that.
See also: The best endless runner games for Android
Final Fantasy III, IV, V, VI, and IX
Price: Varies per game
Square Enix hit the mobile gaming landscape at a full sprint. They have a ton of games on Android. Some of them are even Android TV games. They include the ports of Final Fantasy III, IV, V, VI, and IX, according to Google Play’s Android TV games page. Other parts of the series may be compatible as well. Each game features 20-30 hours of storyline, multiple side quests, good soundtracks, and simple mechanics. The controller support is generally good with all of them as well. They are expensive. However, they are also among the best jRPGs on mobile. Doom and Destiny is another good jRPG on Android TV.
See also: The best Final Fantasy games on Android
Horizon Chase
Price: Free / Up to $2.99
Horizon Chase is a retro racing game and one of the better Android TV games. The games with right around 100 tracks along with a bunch of cars, various tournaments, and other content to play with. You get retro racing mechanics through and through, although we do appreciate the level of polish with this one. It feels like playing an old racing game for the Nintendo 64 but with better graphics and controls. The World Tour update also added nine new tracks, two new cards, and some extra stuff to collect. Real Racing 3 is another decent option if you don’t mind free to play games.
NBA Jam
Price: $4.99
NBA Jam is a classic arcade basketball game that was originally released in the 1990s. This game allows you to play two-on-two basketball where you score baskets, shove your opponents around, and hopefully go on fire. You go on fire by making three unanswered baskets by the same player and you’ll get a sizable stat boost for doing it. The game has online and local multiplayer modes along with a single-player campaign. It’s one of the best sports games on Android and it works great on Android TV.
See also: The best basketball games for Android
Machinarium
Price: $4.99
Machinarium is one of the classic puzzle games on Android. It received updates a few years ago to make it compatible with Android TV as well. The game revolves around a little robot. He lost his girlfriend and he wants to save her from the villains. You help him solve puzzles and do just that. It’s not an overly long game, but the puzzles are fun and the game design is quite far above average. It’s also a premium game with no in-app purchases or ads.
Oddmar
Price: Free demo / $4.99
Oddmar is a platformer from the developers of Leo’s Fortune, another excellent Android TV game. Oddmar is a disgraced Viking who wants to make a name for himself. You help him do that by conquering various levels. The mechanics are simple, the graphics are above average for a platformer, and it comes with modern niceties like cloud saving. You can play a bit of the game for free before you buy the whole thing for $4.99. Leo’s Fortune also costs $4.99 if you want that one too.
Orbia
Price: Free / Up to $15.99
Orbia is a neat little arcade game. You shoot little puff balls through obstacles and to the targets. You hit the obstacles and you lose. It’s a fairly basic premise but it’s executed well. The game features colorful graphics, hundreds of levels, various characters, and multiplayer. Of course, it works well on Android TV as well. This one doesn’t actually require a hardware controller. Any remote should be sufficient to play this one. This one is also free via Google Play Pass if you have it.
See also: The best arcade games for Android
PBA Bowling Challenge
Price: Free to play
PBA Bowling Challenge is one of the few decent bowling games on mobile. It also has Android TV support. The game features above average graphics, simple controls, and more. You get three game modes. There’s a multiplayer mode, a career mode, and a quick play mode along with leaderboards and all kinds of other things. There are also tournaments and special events. It’s a freemium game and that isn’t optimal. However, this is another family-friendly game with tons of stuff to do. Plus, it’s bowling. Who doesn’t like bowling?
See also: The best bowling games for Android
PewDiePie: Legend of Brofist
Price: $4.99
PewDiePie: Legend of the Brofist is actually a pretty decent little platformer. It features voice acting from the venerable YouTube star along with cameo appearances from other YouTube stars. The game also requires a bit of skill to play, but you’ll get better as you progress. It features epic boss fights, unlockable characters, some decent retro-style music, and various difficulty levels to keep things interesting. It’s a lot of fun, has no in-app purchases, and more. It’s definitely one of the better Android TV games.
Teslagrad
Price: $4.99
Teslagrad is one of the newer Android TV games on the list. It’s also a fairly decent puzzle platformer. The main mechanics are platformer. However, as you play, you unlock various powers that help you complete the puzzles throughout the game. It also features very little text so you don’t have to read endless dialog like some other games. Aside from the occasional bug, the game is otherwise quite good. Teslagrad is also free with Google Play Pass if you use it.
See also: The best puzzle games for Android
Thimbleweed Park
Price: $9.99
Thimbleweed Park is one of the more expensive Android TV games, but it’s still pretty good. It’s a puzzle-thriller with a bunch of crazy people and some dark story elements. Your job is to track down the clues and solve the mystery. There are five playable characters, various puzzles, two difficulty levels, a hint system, and voiceovers. It’s actually quite modern feeling despite its retro-style graphics. Thimbleweed Park is yet another game on this list that is free with Google Play Pass.
This War of Mine
Price: $14.99
This War of Mine is one of the best Android games available today and was our choice for the best Android game of 2015. In this survival game, you play as innocent civilians caught in the grips of a city at war. Your job is to survive the encounter while losing as few people as possible. The game forces you to make some tough decisions and some pundits have even said the game “isn’t fun”, but totally worth playing anyway. It’s a little expensive, but it’s an unforgettable experience and is among the best Android TV games available, period. This one is actually pretty expensive, but it’s free to play with Google Play Pass.
See also: The best Android survival games
Unkilled and Dead Trigger 2
Price: Free to play
Unkilled is among the best FPS games released in the last couple of years. It’s a zombie shooter which means most of your gameplay will be missions where you must go and destroy some bad guys. It features a ton of bad guys, zombie bosses, and hundreds of levels to play through. Updates in 2016 added in online multiplayer support so you can now get online and play with others if you choose to. The graphics are phenomenal and we all know that first-person shooters are better played with actual controllers. It’s a freemium game, but it’s still pretty fun. Madfinger Games’ Dead Trigger 2 is another excellent zombie shooter on Android TV.
If we missed any of the best Android TV games, tell us about them in the comments! You can also click here to check out our latest Android app and game lists!
Thank you for reading! Check these out too:
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