15 best puzzle games for Android
Puzzle games used to be a simple genre with a simple idea. You solve puzzles for time killing enjoyment. However, the genre ballooned in a big way on mobile. In fact, it’s one of the most popular genres on the entire platform. It started with simple viral games like 2048 and evolved into genuinely enjoyable experiences like Monument Valley and Telltale Games titles (until they went under). These days, you can find some seriously good puzzle games on Android. Gone are the days of super simple mechanics and graphics with goofy ideas. Some of these games are actually fairly intense and complex with stories and even really good graphics. This list changes almost entirely every year and 2018 was no different. Here are the best puzzle games for Android.
Here are some more great mobile games to tease your brain!
All That Remains: Part 1 is an escape puzzle game. Players wake up in a bunker and have to find their way out before something bad happens. Each room in the bunker has a bunch of puzzles. You also communicate with the character's sister over a two-way radio. It's definitely the best escape room game by this developer. They do also have other escape style puzzle games as well if you want to try those as well. In any case, All That Remains: Part 1 goes for $2.49 with no in-app purchases or ads.
Amanita Design is a publisher on Google Play. They have three very excellent puzzle games with Samorost 3, Botanicula, and the popular classic Machinarium. All three games feature fun puzzles, a distinctive art style, and simple game mechanics. Basically, you wander around the game world in search of clues and puzzle solutions. They each have fun little stories as well. All three games go for $4.99 up front. However, there are no in-app purchases after you purchase the game.
Blue Wizard Digital is a developer on Google Play. They have two excellent puzzle games. The first is Slayaway Camp. You play a serial killer and you avoid the cops while you slaughter people. The second is Friday the 13th. It has a lot of the same ideas, but over 100 levels of gory goodness. These games are not for children or adults with weak stomachs. They otherwise make for outstanding horror-puzzle games. Slayaway Camp goes for $2.99. Friday the 13th is a free download with in-app purchases, but it's not a freemium game.
Bridge Constructor Portal is a cross-over game between Bridge Constructor and Portal. The game has primarily Bridge Constructor mechanics. You build a bridge from one end of the level to the other with a variety of strategy and parts. The Portal mechanics make each level more fun and difficult. It contains 60 levels (test chambers), plenty of Portal references (including voice acting), and some extra stuff like Google Play Games achievements. Bridge Constructor Portal goes for $4.99 with no in-app purchases or ads. It's an excellent puzzle game.
Faraway 3: Arctic Escape is another newer puzzle game from 2018. It features a variety of puzzles similar to console games like The Witness. You have various boards and each board needs solved. The game has 18 stages with a variety of puzzles in each one along with a story line. This is also the third game in the series and the previous two are pretty good as well. The three together should provide a decent amount of entertainment. The third one has nine free levels and the rest cost $3.99. The previous games are also fairly inexpensive.
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Hello Neighbor is one of the most unique puzzle games on mobile. Your neighbor is doing some weird stuff and you want to check it out. Thus, you break into the house over and over again. The neighbor sets up defenses after each break-in based on your entry and exist strategies. You have to adjust your strategies accordingly. This was a very popular game on PC and the mobile game plays about the same. This one is rather expensive. The criticism is a little more harsh due to its price tag. However, it's still a good game with a unique premise.
Life is Strange is an outstanding adventure-puzzle-drama game. It follows the life of a Max, a high school girl with special powers. She can rewind and replay various moments in her life. You rewind and redo various moments until you get the desired results. This is a port of a console game and a pretty good one, too. The graphics and mechanics are good and the story is entertaining. There is a prequel for this game available as well, but it might need an update or two before we would fully recommend it. This may not be a puzzle game in the classic sense, but the main mechanic is a puzzle element so we're counting it.
Monument Valley 1 and 2 are some of the most popular puzzle games on mobile. They use MC Escher-inspired puzzle mechanics. You twist and turn portions of the level in order to progress. The games aren't difficult. They boast a more relaxing experience rather than challenging. The Monument Valley games do look fantastic, though. The art style is definitely to be applauded. The first game includes a handful of levels along with the Forgotten Shores DLC ($1.99 extra). The second game is a bit longer but not by much. These are classics.
Part Time UFO is a goofy puzzle game from the developers of Kirby. Yes, the adorable pink puff ball that eats stuff. You fly around in a UFO while doing odd jobs for the village townspeople. Each job is a puzzle. The game has a variety of colorful characters, plenty of levels and puzzles, and even some stuff to unlock. It also has Google Play Games support for achievements. The game goes for $3.99 with no in-app purchases or advertisements. It's not the most graphically intense game out there, but we like it anyway.
Playdius Entertainment is another publisher on Google Play. Its puzzle games are some of the most unique. Included in their collection are A Normal Lost Phone, Another Lost Phone: Laura's Story, and Bury me, my Love. The first two are mystery puzzle games. You have someone's phone. Your goal is to search through it to find out who they are, where they went, and what happened to them. Bury me, my Love is a text game about a refugee. It's definitely something different, but also really fun. The Lifeline series by 3 Minute Games are also excellent adventure-puzzle games with text elements.
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Prune is another beautifully done puzzle game. The basic premise has you growing a plant. Your job is to shear the plant to help it grow into the light. You win when you make that happen. It includes 48 levels and you can sync your progress between devices. Aside from its minimal style, it also includes no in-app purchases. That means you can't pay your way out of a jam. It's one of the better, more underrated puzzle games out there. It's also family friendly.
realMyst is a port of the popular PC puzzle game from the 1990's. It's a faithful port and the game. You'll have the full world to explore, all the puzzles to solve, and everything between. It even includes some extra content. There are also some modern features such as remastered graphics. The game is a long, large experience with plenty of stuff to do. It's a great experience overall. It's one of the newer puzzle games, but it's still relatively bug free. You'll pay $6.99 for the game, but there are no in-app purchases. You can also pick up its sequel, Riven, for $3.99. Just search for it in Google Play!
Returner 77 is one of the more intense puzzle games. It has a post-apocalyptic narrative where the player is one of the last survivors of an alien attack. You explore the alien ship, solve various puzzles, and find out what happened to everybody. The game also features a heavy story line, cut scenes, and fairly excellent graphics. The developers say this is the first game in the series. We're excited to see the next installments if they ever make it to mobile. This one costs $4.99 with no additional microtransactions or advertising.
The Room franchise is one of the oldest and most successful puzzle game franchises on mobile. There are four games in the series at the time of this writing. The first two are classic puzzle games. You figure out puzzles to progress until you finish the game. The third game in the series introduced multiple endings and a slightly heavier narrative. Finally, the most recent game, Old Sins, takes place in a dollhouse. All four games have some similar elements, including outstanding graphics, escape room elements, and clever puzzle designs. They are also usually fairly short games. However, the inclusion of multiple endings gives the later titles some replay value. These are classics in the puzzle game space on mobile and we recommend them highly. The first game in the series is $0.99 and the most recent is $4.99. The other two fall between those two price tags. None of them have in-app purchases or ads.
Rusty Lake is one of the most popular puzzle game developers on Google Play. There are two different franchises by Rusty Lake. The Cube Escape series is a long-running series of puzzle games with escape room and hidden object puzzle elements. Most of those games are free except the most recent one, Cube Escape: Paradox (it costs $1.99 for the full version). The other series, Rusty Lake, is a more premium point-and-click adventure-puzzle game that takes place in the same universe as the Cube Escape series. These usually cost money, but never more than a few bucks. There are usually one or two new additions to each franchise every year and they're all pretty good.
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If we missed any of the best puzzle games for Android, tell us about them in the comments! You can also check out our most recent app and game lists by clicking here!
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