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[Biff]

Hi GAF,

I live in Soviet Canada where our telecom oligopoly does not provide cell service underground.

I'm looking for a new Android game that:

• Works without data connection (means it also needs to boot up without "checking in" to a server... I have "offline" games that won't boot without this which is idiotic)
• Great for short sessions, anywhere from 10-30 minutes
• Doesn't focus on story. Reading little text boxes is annoying as fk on a bumpy subway car
• Paid games OK. Prefer no IAP but not a dealbreaker.

Some games in the past that I've loved but played the hell out of (and can serve as recommendations to kick-start this thread):

• Plague, Inc (the disease simulator game) -- F2P -- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.miniclip.plagueinc&hl=en_CA
• Night of the Full Moon (Slay the Spire clone) -- F2P -- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ztgame.yyzy&hl=en_CA
• Any of the Geometry Dash games -- F2P
• Any of the Kairosoft games -- usually around $5
• WordScapes (letter jumble timekiller) -- F2P -- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.peoplefun.wordcross&hl=en_CA
• Mini Metro (subway map simulator) -- ~$2 -- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.codepoint.minimetro
• Great Big War Game (Advanced Wars clone) -- ~$3 -- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rubicon.dev.gbwg&hl=en

Thanks in advance

 

[Husky]

You like chess? This is my preferred app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.unbalance.android.chess
Mini Metro might offer you the fun you want https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.codepoint.minimetro

 

[kiiltz]

Simon Tatham's Puzzles on Android

Simon Tatham's Puzzles, ported to Android. Free, no ads, playable offline. All games are generated on demand with adjustable size and difficulty, so you'll never run out of puzzles.

chris.boyle.name

39 puzzles in one. Free, no ads and offline.

I only play about 4 but it's great for me if I need to sink 10 or so minutes when waiting.

EDIT: website says 34 but Google Play says 39

 

[kiiltz]

You like chess? This is my preferred app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.unbalance.android.chess
Mini Metro might offer you the fun you want https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.codepoint.minimetro

Thanks, I've actually been looking for a chess app.

 

[Biff]

You like chess? This is my preferred app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.unbalance.android.chess
Mini Metro might offer you the fun you want https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.codepoint.minimetro

Ahhh how could I forget Mini Metro - yes one of my faves. I will add to OP, thx

 

[MagnesG]

Minions Rush. A more premium Subway Surfer.

 

[Biff]

Simon Tatham's Puzzles on Android

Simon Tatham's Puzzles, ported to Android. Free, no ads, playable offline. All games are generated on demand with adjustable size and difficulty, so you'll never run out of puzzles.

chris.boyle.name

39 puzzles in one. Free, no ads and offline.

I only play about 4 but it's great for me if I need to sink 10 or so minutes when waiting.

EDIT: website says 34 but Google Play days 39

Thanks, downloaded, will check it out!

 

[Manus]

Pocket City - Apps on Google Play

A casual city building game. Become the mayor and create your own metropolis!

play.google.com

Pocket City is a great Sim City game with zero ads and IAP. Don't think it requires a connection.

Plus all of the Kingdom Rush games which are hands down the best tower defense games on the market.

 

[Clarissa]

Final Fantasy Tactics

 

[TwiztidElf]

Power of Coin, Pirates of Coin, Legend of Coin. All made by Yuji Naka.
There is something perversely amusing to me that my favorite phone games are Coin Pusher/Dozers.

Always: Happy Street, Pocket Trains, Jetpack Joyride, Drop7.
Plants V Zombies (original) is still free and decent for a revisit.
Another Eden is good for something a bit deeper.

Pandemic, Ticket to Ride, Jaipur are all decent paid versions of the board/card games.

And get a GBA emulator with Advance Wars & Advance Wars 2.

 

[SLoWMoTIoN]

Why not just carry a 3DS or Vita with you OP.

 

[mcz117chief]

Rebel inc. From the people that made plague inc. but this one is about stabilising a post-war region in the Middle East. It is awesome.

Spellforce: heroes and magic is like Heroes of Might and Magic but set in the Spellforce universe. Pretty solid game with an amazing ost ftom Spellforce 2.

 

[Pejo]

I've tried literally hundreds of games, but the only offline ones I ever play (on long flights, etc) are Hungry Shark Evolution and Final Fantasy IV.

 

[yet_another_alt]

Plenty of card games for phones. Personally I think Night of the Full Moon is the best of the lot but the update that added ads for bonuses has turned me off.
Card Crawl - Decent but not really that balanced.
Card Thief - From the same devs as Card Crawl but with entirely different goals and mechanics. It's a stealth card game.
Card Quest - Not related at all to the above 2 games. Probably the most interesting card game here but the text is a bit hard to read on smaller screen.
Meteorfall - Yet another rogue like deckbuilder. Easy to play with one hand. Multiple characters with multiple playstyles.
Underhand - Really short, really funny. Cultist Simulator-lite. (Cultist Simulator itself is probably better played on tablets.)

Kingdom Rush series - Tower Defense. Probably best in the genre for phones. IAP heroes are bullshit but still fun without them.
Iron Marines - Same devs as Kingdom Rush but RTS instead of tower defense. Same IAP problem as Kingdom Rush.
Slayaway Camp - Sokoban puzzler.
Friday the 13th - Another sokoban puzzler from the same dev. Essentially a reskin of Slayaway camp.
Rebel Inc. - Same devs as Plague Inc. About pacifying rebels then spreading peace and prosperity instead of plagues.
Star Traders: Frontiers - Freeform space RPG. Personal favorite but might be too much reading for your needs.
Templar Battleforce - Same devs as above (pretty much all their games are good). Strategy RPG. Think SRW and XCOM having a baby that looks like WH40K.

 

[Africa's Toto]

.

 

[MiyazakiHatesKojima]

Final Fantasy Tactics

A high quality game such as this doesn't deserve to be played in a subway but I'd still choose it over $1 mobile games anytime of the day!

 

[Biff]

And get a GBA emulator with Advance Wars & Advance Wars 2.

This is a fantastic idea. I remember Advance Wars fondly; I will definitely give it another go. Great Little War Game (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rubicon.dev.glwg&hl=en) and it's sequel Great Big War Game (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rubicon.dev.gbwg&hl=en) -- both ~$3 -- scratched this itch and I just double-checked that they are indeed offline-friendly.

Does anyone have other emulator game recommendations that meet the "quick session"/pick-up-and-play design of modern mobile games? This opens up a whole can of worms in a new and exciting way

 

[Stitch]

Sausage Flip


people say there are many ads but I've never seen any because I'm blocking them lol. Also you can pay a small fee to get rid of them.

 

[MagnesG]

This is a fantastic idea. I remember Advance Wars fondly; I will definitely give it another go. Great Little War Game (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rubicon.dev.glwg&hl=en) and it's sequel Great Big War Game (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rubicon.dev.gbwg&hl=en) -- both ~$3 -- scratched this itch and I just double-checked that they are indeed offline-friendly.

Does anyone have other emulator game recommendations that meet the "quick session"/pick-up-and-play design of modern mobile games? This opens up a whole can of worms in a new and exciting way

Or you could step up the game, download Drastic DS. AW Days of Ruin, FF Tacitcs A2 etc.

 

[dead_lighter]

Pinout: an endless pinball

Rymdkapsel: must play strategy game

you must build a boat: must play match 3 game

a quiet place collection: must play adventure games

Horizon Chase: driving game, Lotus esprit turbo style

Knights of pen and paper

 

[xPikYx]

Point blank on a psone emulator

 

[Riven326]

I thought you meant the restaurant.

 

[xPikYx]

I thought you meant the restaurant.

Hahaha nooooo, an old psone game by namco meant to be played with a light gun that fits perfectly on a touch screen situation

 

[Biff]

Shameless thread bump goooooo

Rebel inc. From the people that made plague inc. but this one is about stabilising a post-war region in the Middle East. It is awesome.

Spellforce: heroes and magic is like Heroes of Might and Magic but set in the Spellforce universe. Pretty solid game with an amazing ost ftom Spellforce 2.

I've played the tutorial and the first mission. This game is great! You can tell it's made by the Plague Inc guys but it's a really cool take on the epidemic genre.

Rymdkapsel: must play strategy game

Thanks for this recommendation, I'm enjoying it so far. Put about an hour into to it. Adding the random Tetris element to base building is an interesting and sometimes frustrating spin.

 

[mcz117chief]

I've played the tutorial and the first mission. This game is great! You can tell it's made by the Plague Inc guys but it's a really cool take on the epidemic genre.

I finished all missions with all governors on the highest difficulty and eagerly awaiting new content. Truly a masterwork of a game.

 

[brian0057]

A book.

 

[gspat]

Bacon, the game.

 

[Ceallach]

Thanks, I'm always looking for games I can download and play on field exercises, underways and stuff where I have no service

 

[Biff]

Happy Holidays everyone! Just bumping this thread back up to see if anyone's found any great games recently? Given a lot of us probably have extra time now off work or school to dive in.

I guess we don't have a functioning Android Gaming OT anymore? I tried to search but couldn't find.