You'll find a vast assortment of genres among the best games on Android, including hardcore roguelikes, and expansive open-world titles. There's something for everybody, whether you want to explore an immersive RPG or unwind with a straightforward beat-em-up.
Casual games, on the other hand, cater to players who just want to unwind with their favorite Android tablet. But that's not to say they don't have their own degree of complexity to them. Some of the best casual games offer a unique experience while maintaining an easy-to-approach gameplay. In this list, we'll highlight games well worth your time and money.
1 Among Us
Among Us is a shining example of simple design at its finest. There's nothing particularly extraordinary about its gameplay mechanics. Most of the time, you'll complete mundane tasks, such as connecting cables, removing trash, or scanning keycards.
Its appeal lies in the game's novel impostor system. Every session plays around this feature as you'll try to figure out who's your enemy, who's your friend, and who's only pretending to be your comrade. It becomes even more nerve-wracking whenever you turn out to be the bad guy.
2 Unpacking
Casual games don't have to sacrifice a compelling narrative for relaxing gameplay. On the surface, Unpacking might seem like a simple drag-and-drop puzzler, but as you play, you'll uncover more about the unseen protagonist. It's the perfect game if you like your games to have an interesting story and gameplay.
Unpacking takes you through the protagonist's life as they move from place to place. Significant events will be marked not just by the presence of new objects but by the lack of old ones. It's a short and thoughtful story; while it may not last you for weeks, you'll think about it long after you're finished.
3 Usagi Shima
Beyond the bunnies, Usagi Shima might seem like a clone of Neko Atsume, but there are plenty of ways to differentiate the two games. Usagi Shima is geared towards creative players; there are different buildings and cosmetic items to place, and the game gives you near complete freedom over where you can put them.
But just like Neko Atsume, the core of the game revolves around collecting as many fluffy creatures as you can. Various types of bunnies will stop by your island, performing jobs, socializing, or just relaxing. Ensure your island is full of objects to keep the bunnies coming back, and photograph them when they do to save them to your gallery.
4 Monument Valley 2
With such a crowded lineup, it's hard to pick the single best casual game for Android, but the original Monument Valley is a long-time resident of our best games roundup. Its sequel, appropriately named Monument Valley 2, offers more of the same fantastic gameplay, so it's a must-play if you enjoyed the first.
Monument Valley 2 offers gorgeous graphics, calming puzzles, and a captivating story. It's ideal for casual gamers who want to see the best of the genre. Don't worry if you haven't played the original either (although we would recommend it!), Monument Valley 2 is a completely standalone game.
5 Godus
Godus incorporates elements from multiple genres to create a charming and enjoyable god game. While there's a lot to handle here, calming graphics and simple building mechanics make Godus an ideal casual game. It's perfect for people who want to build something over time in their own time, and if you get bored, you can always smite your population and start again.
6 WorldBox
WorldBox knows that sometimes you don't want to build something or explore a new world. Sometimes you want to play God. WorldBox offers a pixilated world where you can choose to nurture life as it grows or razes it all in a fiery apocalypse. Unlike Godus, you won't get attached to your people. While you will inevitably decide to destroy your budding civilization, observing your civilization grow is fascinating.
While WorldBox is free, it is clear this is meant to be a trial for the premium version. At $7.99, it might seem pricey, but a massively expanded roster of creatures, god powers, and tools such as time control makes it an easy purchase.
7 Townscaper
Townscaper doesn't have missions, achievements, goals, or unlockable content. What it does have is the cleverest building mechanics in any mobile game. You interact with the game by placing colored blocks on an irregular grid, and Townscaper's algorithm combines the blocks into houses, bridges, towers, gardens, or stairways as you place them. It sounds simple, but it's amazing to watch in practice.
While there isn't any more to Townscaper than placing blocks, its flawless execution makes it well worth the price. Play this if you're looking to relax with a beautiful building game, but don't expect it to last you for hundreds of hours.
8 Pocket City
Pocket City is a scaled-down city builder, perfect for the casual gamer. If you like the idea of a city builder but often find them too challenging, it's ideal. It has zero microtransactions or long cooldown times on building features and is playable offline.
You won't find features like advanced traffic controls or spectacular civic events here, but you'll quickly find that Pocket City provides plenty of content. Trigger disasters, expand your city with recreational zones, and manage civic services to build a beautiful city.
9 Desert Golfing
There are a lot of golf games on Android, including the fantastic puzzler Golf Peaks, but sometimes you need to get back to the roots. Desert Golfing has endless levels with no obstacles, powerups, or tricks; just a ball and a hole.
Desert Golfing is deceptive in its simplicity. It's challenging enough that you won't get a hole-in-one each time but just easy enough to think you'll be able to do it next time. Desert Golfing might not be the best golf game around, but there's beauty in its simplicity.
10 Railbound
Created by the aforementioned Golf Peaks developers, Railbound is a puzzler whose challenges are only matched by its charm. Tasked with transporting two dogs by rail, you'll utilize different railway infrastructure elements to achieve your goal.
Many puzzle games can leave you frustrated at a tricky level, but you can't help but smile when your carriages bounce indignantly off each other. Play this if you enjoy a good puzzler that doesn't take itself too seriously.
11 Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector
A strangely addictive game, Neko Atsume lets us all achieve our greatest dream of collecting kitty cats. While your property will start sparse, purchasing additional toys and providing a steady food supply will bring all the cats to your yard.
There's not a lot going on here, but it won't take long before you're checking your phone every hour to see if your favorite cat has returned. Before you know it, the highlight of your day will be finally having enough money to buy a new cat tree. In some ways, it's the perfect casual game, pointless but completely addicting.
12 Resonance of the Ocean
Resonance of the Ocean is a short but sweet puzzle game that, as the name suggests, is not a game to play on mute. It's a point-and-click experience that, while relaxed, requires careful concentration to progress through the levels.
This might be the shortest game on this list, but it's one of the most memorable. So grab your best pair of headphones and delve into this stunning auditory adventure.
13 Fishing Life
Fishing Life might be a casual game with bare-bones controls, but it's a thoroughly rewarding experience. While some RPG elements are involved in unlocking better rods and boats, these feel more like milestones than actual upgrades.
In Fishing Life, you'll catch everything from whales to penguins (yes, really) while attempting to recapture the childhood joy of fishing with a parent. It's another game that shouldn't be played on mute, as all the ocean sounds meld together into a soothing melody.
Choose the best casual game to unwind with
You'll notice that casual games rely heavily on puzzle mechanics but tend to be relaxing rather than challenging experiences. But if you want a puzzle game that will force you to think outside the box, try one of the best puzzle games for Android.