BLAZING STAR
Blazing Star of SNK’s Blazing Star was of the best looking 2D sidescrolling shooter for the Neo Geo gaming system. It is a direct sequence to Pulstar, which was close kin to R-Type. In this game, there are a few animated cinematics spread all over its gameplay, and its pre-rendered backgrounds look great like a very detailed game. So, if the gamer is looking for the best shooting game then, this is one of the top contenders in retro games.
Cost: $0.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Download BLAZING STAR
Titan Quest
The DotEmu’s port makes Titan Quest a top-down action-RPG, which was released in 2006 on PC. This game is 13 years old, which is long enough to call it retro games. Titan Quest is a hack-and-slash, i.e., extreme violence game that moves around ancient Greek mythology, so it has a unique theme too. The name of the game is loot, and the player has to discover more than 1200+ items, which keeps people busy for some time.
Cost: $7.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Download Titan Quest
Gunstar Heroes Classic
Gunstar Heroes Classic is one of the other retro games in the SEGA Forever group on the Play Store. It is one of the best run-and-gun platforming shooters till now, and it has excellent gameplay. The Bluetooth controllers are good as the touchscreen controls don’t do justice to the game. The player has to quick movements, and do shooting very fast to win the game. The cross-platform multiplayer is supported across local wifi if the player is looking for a game, then they can play nearby with a friend.
Cost: free / contains ads / IAPs $1.99 a piece
Download Gunstar Heroes Classic
RAYSTORM
In the era of PS1, Raystorm was the favorite retro shooting game on the platform, and it works well on Android. Now, the physical controller support is added, and the touchscreen controls work properly. It is only the second title in the RAY trilogy, and if the players want Rayforce or Raycrisis, then they are also on the Play Store.
Cost: $10.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Download RAYSTORM
XCOM®: Enemy Within
2K’s XCOM: Enemy Within might be new in the list of the retro games, but it is always a favorite game of the players. It is one of the best strategy games ever made for the PC. The players are expecting that all of the content from the original Enemy Within will come back. The touchscreen controls can be a little bit critical, but it is good enough that the player can play the game without any problem.
Cost: $4.99 / contains ads / no IAPs
Download XCOM®: Enemy Within
The Bard’s Tale
The Bard’s Tale is not only an old console game from 2004, but it is also the high-tier Android RPGs that again started in 2012. It’s a classic 3D action RPG, which was developed by inXile Entertainment. The studio knows how to make a good role-playing game. But it is different because of its sarcastic dialogues, which makes the retro game more entertaining during the 14-hour battle.
Cost: $2.99 / no ads / IAPs from $0.99 – $4.99
Download The Bard’s Tale
Carmageddon
Carmageddon is a battle game between vehicles which was launched for PC in 1997. Despite an art direction that is now too old, still, this game contains a lot of fun. This game is a little different, not like most of the arcade racers, but here the players will run at pedestrians. Sacrifice is the name of this retro games, and Carmageddon fearlessly delivers on that front.
Cost: free / contains ads / IAPs $0.99 a piece
Download Carmageddon
Shining Force Classics
Shining Force Classics is the other SEGA Forever release, and more like the Phantasy Star collection. It collects Shining in the Darkness, Shining Force, and Shining Force II. The original title is a first-person prison crawler, and another two titles are strategy RPGs. Same as other Sega Forever releases, the player can pay to remove the advertisements in every game, which gives a better experience. The touchscreen controls of the game are working well as they are turn-based games. Still, Bluetooth controllers are supported if the player wants something more real.
Cost: free / contains ads / IAPs from $1.99 – $4.99
Download Shining Force Classics
Ys Chronicles 1
Ys Chronicles I is a remastered version of Ancient Ys Vanished: Omen, which has a new graphics, anime-style cutscenes, and full touch controls. It is a classic Japanese role-playing game. This series of action RPG was not a blockbuster game outside of Japan. But, it deserves the price for gamers who didn’t enjoy turn-based battles but want the old-school feel.
Cost: $5.49 / no ads / no IAPs
Download Ys Chronicles 1
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Recently, Konami’s traditional Metroidvania title Castlevania: Symphony of the Night was released on the Play Store. It is available for $2.99. This game is a beautiful 2D platformer that gives non-linear gameplay. The reason the game is in the list of today’s retro games is that the Android version is a port of the PSP release, which was a port of the PS1 version. The game has a new dialog and voice work, but the pixel-based graphics are the same, so that the retro look remains the same.
Cost: $2.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Download Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
SPACE INVADERS
Space Invaders is a retro game, and Taito thought that it is a fit game to bring for the Android. This cover shooter is very simple, and the touchscreen controls work awesome. The player can reach the highest levels in this release without any worry of slowdown or defect. Sure, the offered price is a little too high for this old game, but it is a solid port.
Cost: $5.49 / no ads / no IAPs
Download SPACE INVADERS
FINAL FANTASY TACTICS : WotL
Another high-profile release of Square Enix is Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions. It is a little different from most of their titles. It is a clever game with a few RPG elements. This game is played like chess, where the player has to move their heroes in specific directions and use the special powers on which the heroes are dependent according to their class and race.
Cost: $11.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Download FINAL FANTASY TACTICS : WotL
Double Dragon Trilogy
It was the head of arcade brawlers for some time, and it also gets a few solid ports on the NES. This game has all three arcade titles. Each of the three games is having the original graphics and gameplay, but the new touchscreen controls can be a little unstable.
Cost: $3.49 / no ads / no IAPs
Download Double Dragon Trilogy
NetHack
It is an open-source game which is in development since its original (1987) release. It started as an ASCII graphical roguelike, and after the update in its design with a variety of new tilesets, it becomes more appealing. This particular release on Android has six tilesets, including the download, and it supports a lot of USB control options for the player who isn’t satisfied with the default touchscreen inputs.
Cost: free / no ads / no IAPs
Download NetHack
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
From all the Grand Theft Auto games on Android, Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is that which gives a great experience. In this, a player plays through a fictional Southern California as they try to make their way from a huge open-world to earn the place at the top of the food chain by any means necessary. If the player wants to play GTA III, Liberty City Stories, Vice City, or Chinatown Wars, so they can get it from the Play Store.
Cost: $6.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Download Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Phantasy Star Classics
Phantasy Star Classics was originally launched as Phantasy Star II in the Sega Forever moniker, but the game got an update and added in the third and fourth emphasis in the series. So, it means the player can play all the three titles in the RPG series free with ad support, but they can remove ads also for every game by individual in-app purchases. The touchscreen controls are a little rough, as many of Sega’s ports. But there is Bluetooth controller support.
Cost: free / contains ads / IAPs from $1.99 – $4.99
Download Phantasy Star Classics
METAL SLUG X
The game is a remake of Metal Slug 2 that fixes some issues that the original had with slowdown. This game is the 2D side-scrolling run and gun gameplay from Contra. It also has the most detailed pixel art graphics ever made. This retro game completes 19 years in the gaming world.
Cost: $2.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Download METAL SLUG X
Secret of Mana
Square Enix ported a lot of classic 80s and 90s RPGs to the Play Store. It is an action RPG that plays the same as the Zelda franchise. If the player is not used to playing action games, then the touchscreen controls can be a problem for them. But, it has the support of physical gamepads, so there is no problem now; the player can select any control option.
Cost: $7.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Download Secret of Mana
Streets of Rage Classic
Sega was busy publishing many classic games on the Play Store, and Streets of Rage also made it. As the game is built around physical controls, so the player should play with a Bluetooth controller instead of the built-in touch controls, as the game can be tough. The player can play the game for free, because of the title’s ad support. If the ads are annoying, then the player can remove them by a single in-app purchase.
Cost: free / contains ads / IAPs $1.99 a piece
Download Streets of Rage Classic
Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath
This game was the fourth game, which got released in the Oddworld video game series, and it is a third and first-person shooter, not like the first two titles. As Stranger’s Wrath was originally an Xbox game, its graphics were not touched for Android’s port. So, it makes this game a great release to highlight as a retro game as it was originally released fifteen years ago. If the player has high-end hardware, then they can able to enjoy this game.
Cost: $2.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Download Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath
GAROU: MARK OF THE WOLVES
The Android port adds support for the local multiplayer at Bluetooth, and external controllers give support to a proper button-mashing. It is a classic fighting game that can hold its own against some of the bigger titles out there.
Cost: $3.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Download GAROU: MARK OF THE WOLVES
Bully: Anniversary Edition
Bully: Anniversary Edition is the other popular title from Rockstar Games, but not like the GTA series. This retro games is more focused on the story and gameplay. It tells the story of a schoolyard bully who travels the social hierarchy of the corrupt and breaking prep school, Bullworth Academy.
Cost: $6.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Download Bully: Anniversary Edition
The World Ends With You
The World Ends With You was originally released for the Nintendo DS handheld, and its different action RPG gameplay offers something fresh but familiar with the genre. The art design of the game is unique, and its fashion-based gameplay is the same as the original.
Cost: $17.99 / no ads / IAPs $0.99 a piece
Download The World Ends With You
Raiden Legacy
Raiden Legacy receives Raiden, Raiden Fighters, Raiden Fighters 2 & Raiden Fighters Jet in one title, all because of Dotemu. The player can choose to play the top-down shooters in fullscreen or the original aspect ratio. The game also has two separate difficulty modes, and video filtering is added for those who want to remake the experience of the arcade.
Cost: $5.49 / no ads / no IAPs
Download Raiden Legacy
Star Wars™: KOTOR
This Star Wars-themed RPG was released fifteen years ago for the Xbox. After eleven years, Bioware’s Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic was ported into Android by Aspyr Media. The players can play this classic from their phone or tablet. It can be played by using the default touchscreen controls, and it also supports the external controllers for those who want more real.
Cost: $9.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Download Star Wars™: KOTOR
1942 MOBILE
1942 Mobile is an old top-down arcade shooter game from Capcom, and the game is updated for the support in Android devices. The pixel-based graphics remain the same after the update. The controls are solid, and there is no HID support, so it means everything is limited to the touchscreen controls. The game has two modes to choose from.
Cost: $0.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Download 1942 MOBILE
DRAGON QUEST II
The retro games has a sharp pixel-based graphics, and still, it needs a lot of filing. It is as classic as the player can get when it comes to JRPGs, and as a portrait game. The game works well for one-handed play. The games suffer from the portrait orientation, and II is so simple that one-handed play is almost unreal.
Cost: $4.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Download DRAGON QUEST II
Sonic The Hedgehog 2 Classic
It was released as a part of the SEGA Forever program, but for some time, it was how Sega published their classic games on Android for free. The company did it by putting a lot of ads into this game. The player has to pay $1.99 for a one-time in-app purchase, and the ads will be removed.
Cost: free / contains ads / IAPs $1.99 a piece
Download Sonic The Hedgehog 2 Classic
Simon the Sorcerer
This retro games was originally released in 1993, staring the so-called Simon as a fish who is moving out of the water and discovering magic in a Narnia-style hidden world. The game has original graphics, but the player can choose to play in HD, and this happened because of the new graphics mode for the modern devices.
Cost: $3.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Download Simon the Sorcerer
R-TYPE
R-Type is one of the most well known 2D sidescrolling space shooters ever made. All the level has an amazing design, and every stage has a big fight at the end for that lot of practice is required. The skilled weapon system allows the player to attach their guns on the fly in two different directions.
Cost: $1.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Download R-TYPE
Crazy Taxi Classic
It is another retro games Sega port that got re-released under the SEGA Forever program. It is a taxi racing game that gives tasks to the player to deliver the passengers in a specific time limit. So, the player drives fast around the city due to the time limit. The soundtrack of the game is good, and the arcade mode is perfect.
Cost: free / contains ads / IAPs $1.99 a piece
Download Crazy Taxi Classic
DARIUSBURST -SP-
This game is a little-known side-scrolling shooter series on the PlayStation Portable. The Android port features all the bullet actions that a player expects from this kind of shooter. The graphics are very high, so the player should have the required specs. If the player doesn’t want to play this retro games with touch controls, then they can use the Bluetooth controllers.
Cost: $9.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Download DARIUSBURST -SP-
Beyond Oasis Classic
The action RPG gameplay didn’t change, but the touch controls will take some time. It is still a solid port, but it was initially created with physical controllers. It is one of the best retro games.
Cost: free / contains ads / IAPs $1.99 a piece
Download Beyond Oasis Classic
Ghosts’n Goblins MOBILE
Capcom released a few classic games in the few years on the Play Store. It is mostly an improvement of the earlier Mega Man ports, so no need to worry about any framerate issues. It is a difficult game, and the touch controls may not be close enough for some of the players.
Cost: $0.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Download Ghosts’n Goblins MOBILE
Ms. PAC-MAN by Namco
Ms. PAC-MAN of Bandai Namco is much better than the original retro games. The main character has a bow on his head, which doesn’t have any point. The second difference is that the stages turn into different colors. Also, many of the mazes have two escape tunnels.
Cost: $2.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Download Ms. PAC-MAN by Namco
CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.)
Square Enix’s Chrono Trigger is the best turn-based JRPG of the 90s. Recently, a major update was pushed by the company that develops the controls, graphics, sound, and adds in cloud saving support. There are many new areas to explore with the Dimensional Vortex and Lost Sanctum dungeons.
Cost: $9.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Download CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.)
Karateka Classic
The games are very same, and the player has to fight with the crowd of annoying guards so that the player can save his girlfriend from the evil clutches of the warlord Akuma.
Cost: $0.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Download Karateka Classic
RollerCoaster Tycoon® Classic
Atari may take a role over the RollerCoaster Tycoon franchise, but it doesn’t mean the earlier games aren’t worth playing. RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic is still announced as the best, and it has a mobile port available on Android. The graphics might not look good at this retro games when it is compared to the new games.
Cost: $5.99 / no ads / IAPs from $1.99 – $5.99
Download RollerCoaster Tycoon® Classic
SAMURAI SHODOWN II
It is one of the best fighters retro games ever made, and now the players can play it on their phone. The only problem with this port is that it doesn’t support online play.
Cost: $2.99 / no ads / no IAPs
Download SAMURAI SHODOWN II
Leave a Reply