23 best co-op games on Android in 2023
Tired of competitive games? Here are more than a few quality cooperative titles
Who remembers when mobile gaming was an isolated practice, enjoying great mobile apps with nothing but a leaderboard to indicate anyone else was playing? This seems almost ancient these days, with mobile games linking thousands of players online for awesome MOBA experiences and apps that show the PC platform how it's done.
15 great Android games you can also play on PC
Dust off the mouse and keyboard for these amazing games
You would be amazed at the crossover between the Play Stores best apps and PC, given how antithetical the two platforms can seem. PC's processing and graphical capabilities coupled with complex physical controls seems to come from a different planet to your new and improved gaming phone. Mobile development has gained such power and popularity that their inclusion on other platforms was inevitable, from refined experiences like Downwell to the many many quality Vampire Survivors clones that take over your life for brief periods of time. We'd like to share our favorite Android games that have made the leap to PC, for their peerless dedication, graphical quality, and immense popularity among Android and PC gamers alike.
Golf games translate curiously well to the mobile platform, considering their many surface-level differences from real-world sports. The experience of lining up a golf shot and making calls about swing force, wind drop-off, slanted terrain, and shot timing can be authentically emulated through these apps. In fact, the Play Store's best have been teaching these skills for years, with peerless tests of strategy on even the humblest Android phones. Golf games enjoy a great smattering of creative gameplay loops, including faithful 3D adaptations of the sport, 2D satires of game design, virtual mini-golf courses, and more. We'd like to share our favorites in this roundup of the best Golf apps we'd like you to take a swing at.
Match Group has destroyed online dating
I'm sick of pretending Match Group didn't ruin online dating by purchasing the competition
Dating apps can be extremely frustrating, especially for those who are familiar with their common tricks and gimmicks. What's especially galling is that the concept is so simple: connecting people within a specified vicinity and giving them the tools to quickly and efficiently appraise one another and allow matches deemed fitting by the selected filters. But there's a rather glaring issue with dating apps as a concept: maximizing user retention without betraying core principles.
14 best MOBA games on Android in 2023
Explore the best Multiplayer Online Battle Arena games in the palm of your hands
Bringing out a fresh MOBA app on the Play Store is a gutsy move these days, given the steep competition from other exemplary PVP focused games plying the same trade. The genres blend of RTS set dressing and RPG game features make it perfect for the compact screens of high power gaming phones; showing the best of Androids gaming library how it's done. MOBAs are also apps that frequently cross over with the PC platform, meaning high stakes PVP matches with potentially endless competition. AP loves itself some good competitive multiplayer, so here's our roundup of the best MOBA experiences the Play Store has to offer.
11 best farming games in 2023
Looking to relax with some peaceful farming games? You've come to the right place
Relaxing gaming activities pair well with brand-new Android tablets and phones. As part of the desired R&R package, many games turn into simulators involving peaceful activities, such as building, gardening, farming, or harvesting. However, the problem with activity-focused simulator games is that they can become too tedious and overwhelming if not cultivated properly.
Gaming on the go has never been more accessible, thanks to emulators that allow you to play classic console and arcade games on your Android device. Whether you owned an NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, Nintendo 64, PlayStation, or another system, today's emulators can return those fond memories with smooth performance. It's like taking a trip down memory lane! Sure, there are some fantastic modern Android games available, but can you really pass up the opportunity to play old-school favorites like Super Mario Bros., Sonic the Hedgehog, Street Fighter, Chrono Trigger, or GoldenEye 007?
Even a casual fan of nostalgic gaming experiences will be familiar with Lego apps, popularized by the classic Travelers Tales games for their inventive gameplay and hilarious mime retellings of movies that traumatized us as kids. But the Play Store's additions to the Lego gaming library cannot be understated, engaging with alternate gameplay styles and themes; although usually sticking with quality co-op coded experiences. Pulse-pounding racing games, very young kids' playgrounds, and even some classic building simulators for getting creative without remortgaging the house. AP keeps an eye out for the latest and greatest creativity toys on Androids' most reasonable phones, so here's our roundup of the best Lego games on the Play Store. Trust me, we're building up to something.
Epic's ruination of Bandcamp may have disastrous effects on the indie music scene
Has Epic gutted one of indie artists' best assets?
The music industry isn't exactly kind to upcoming groups and artists; breaking into such a competitive market can be a challenge even for the incredibly talented. This also obstructs fan engagement in terms of monetary support; it's hard to network when nobody can find your address. Bandcamp is the indie music cave of wonders, an app with countless artists selling their work and merch directly to fans. It's a haven for independent music creators, who can post, share, and generally sell their content, with the site taking a 15% cut of each sale — pretty reasonable.
One of the primordial open-world games that left a huge impact, GTA (Grand Theft Auto) took the world by storm with its colorful worlds full of personality, unique missions, thrilling driving mechanics, seemingly endless avatar customization options, and versatile combat that makes consequence-free violence a barrel of laughs. The Play Store has made a substantial contribution to this list of great games, keeping GTA fans more than satisfied with their best Android gaming phone. We'd like to share our favorite apps like GTA that'll keep you on the edge of your seat. Read on and check out some great sandbox titles.
The Play Store has some brilliant apps for users who want thrills and excitement, as well as tricky puzzle games that keep you guessing, but the store also has wonderfully easygoing experiences designed for the best budget Android phones. These relaxing games are perfect for cozy days indoors, prioritizing soothing time wasters and serene puzzle games that lull you into a trance; perfect now that things are getting chillier outside. AP loves its downtime, so here is our roundup of the best chill games to play now the days are getting shorter and the temperature is getting lower. Read on for some snuggly apps.
Given its console origins, the Final Fantasy series is not often associated with the best Android gaming phones in general commerce, which makes sense to a degree. But Square Exix has been busy over the years, seeding the Play Store with both new original Final Fantasy games and ports of old ones, available right alongside the best apps around. The famous series of awesome RPGs hugely benefit from a touch interface, especially the older titles that had simpler inputs.
Gmail is one of those communication apps that is useful but chaotic, with crowds of messages, reminders, and ads streaming onto your most efficient Android phone every day. The recipient doesn't have much default control over where these emails go, you're just given the means to view their locations. While it's handy to have these things sorted for you, it can be a little confounding, as a lack of organization increases the chances of missing or misplacing things. How many times have you been told to check your spam folder?
10 best games like Vampire Survivors for Android
Now that Vampire Survivors is available on Android, here are a few alternatives to keep the fun times rolling
Even though Vampire Survivors wasn't the first game of its kind, its massive popularity has essentially established it as the benchmark against which all other similar games are defined. Vampire Survivors sets a high bar to clear considering it's one of the best Android games out there, but if you've plowed through the new Whiteout update and got your achievements back up to 100%, there are a few alternatives that you might enjoy. And if you're looking for a new gaming phone to play them on, we've got you covered there as well.
One of the Play Store's most tried and true gameplay philosophies is time-wasting, apps that offer users great gameplay loops that intellectually stimulate without becoming overbearing or needlessly stressful; ideal games to play during commutes or wait times. Hidden object games shine in this area, providing gameplay that tests nothing but your observation and problem-solving skills. Given this app genre's insane popularity, the casual Android phone user is spoiled for choice when it comes to hidden object games. So we've gathered our prestigious favorites in this roundup of the Play Store's best hidden object games, chosen for their intricate art, engaging gameplay, and passionate presentation. Read on, and keep your eyes peeled!
Payday Crime War was always destined for failure
Let's explore what happened with this doomed mobile adaptation
Released in beta in 2018, Pay Day: Crime War was an ambitious attempt by then-developer Starbreeze Studios to bring the illustrious series to the mobile platform. It provided bite-sized coop-focused first-person shooter gameplay with an emphasis on high-steak criminal heists. Essentially, the familiar cops and robbers action the series was known for.
5 best Halloween game events on Android in 2023
Get into the Halloween spirit with these spooky events on Android
It's that time of year when the weather gets cold, and the decorations get spine-tingling. Halloween is always a fun time for everyone, and your favorite games on the Play Store never shy away from sharing their spooky enthusiasm. Like most seasonal events on the best budget Android phones, Halloween events allow game developers to have fun with the holiday while introducing some new creepy game mechanics and set dressing.
How to use data connectors in Google Sheets
Keep your spreadsheets connected with these simple steps
Spreadsheets are great for managing information and data, especially the type that constantly changes or grows in size. However, spreadsheets can get confusing and messy, especially when moved around and traded by coworkers. Data connectors can be great for quickly acquiring information, bringing an offline spreadsheet file into the cloud, or sharing the details of a constantly updated group project without leaving the Google Sheets app. You don't have to leave your favorite circle of quality apps.
14 best arcade games on Android in 2023
Classic arcade style can be right at your fingertips with these great arcade games on Android
Arcade apps get us back to basics in terms of gameplay loops, graphics, and design philosophy. The arcade games of yore focused on refining simple gameplay concepts with cost-effective art styles and music, something that drove some great ideas into prominence in interesting ways. Developers of the best modern apps have more advanced assets these days, meaning that those great ideas have more wiggle room to be what they want to be. AP loves how well the best arcade games play on our favorite Android gaming phones, so here is a roundup of our favorites.
Nokia's enigmatic N-Gage is 20 years old: The first gaming phone was ahead of its time
Let's look back at Nokia's terrible 'good idea'
Back in the early 2000s, Nokia got an idea. Why not take the market leader in the portable gaming device market, the Game Boy Advance, and combine it with our latest Nokia phone? This would create a device that functions as a phone that can run great games at the same time. That idea spawned the N-gage, the first proper gaming phone. But was it a brand-new gold standard for mobile gaming and cell communication?