Science fiction is fundamental to gaming and has been part of gaming culture from the beginning. Today’s science fiction games have evolved significantly from the early classics like Asteroids and Zaxxon. No longer is the genre confined to spaceships and blasting things (although there’s plenty of that to be found!). Instead, it’s expanded into themes like exploration, isolation, and revolution, to name a few. The best part is that these incredible gaming experiences (which are amongthe best Android games) are available to play on your phone orshiny new Chromebook.
21 best RPGs on Android
Lose yourself in a brand new world
10Lifeline
Lifeline is, without a doubt, one of the most original games on Android. The basic idea is you receive texts in real-time from a marooned space traveler asking you for help. The plot (written by Dave Justus, best known for his work in comics) plays out like a choose-your-own-adventure story, with you guiding the decisions of the unfortunate castaway. Playthrough once, and you can set the game to fast mode and progress through it at your own pace.
9Out There: Ω Edition
Out There is a brooding space exploration game that offers rogue-like elements and an intriguing story. You probably won’t survive your first few play-throughs, but that’s okay; the universe is big, and it’s not very forgiving. As you explore the cosmos, managing your limited resources and looking for a way to return to Earth, you’ll find a captivating story that emerges as you encounter alien life and upgrade your starship. Exploring the stars has never been more fun!
8Ticket to Earth
Are you ready for a sci-fi RPG with a unique art style and puzzle-based combat mechanics? If so, Ticket to Earth is your game. Combat takes place on a square grid that you’re able to only traverse by moving on same-colored tiles. Different colors buff different powers, and the more tiles you can traverse, the more damage your attacks do. On top of this original combat system is a story of revolution and revenge in a dystopian colony world in the far future.
7Star Trek Fleet Command
Fleet Command might have one of the best twists in the collectible RPG genre. Like most games in the genre, you’re essentially playing with action figures, but where Fleet Command excels is in wrapping the package up with an engaging story while not bogging you down with a daily grind just to keep playing. As you build up your base and fleet of ships, you have to navigate resource management, space combat, and the delicate politics between the Federation, Romulans, and Klingons.
6Iron Marines
Despite the limitations of mobile gaming, Iron Marines is a full-fledged RTS. It’s never hard to move your units around and coordinate their actions, unlike many RTS games that come from PC. In addition to the typical mainstays of the RTS genre, like grunts, snipers, and turrets, you also can choose from multiple Hero units to deploy and upgrade. Don’t get too frustrated when you die because it’s going to happen, and you can retry a level as often as you like or turn down the difficulty.
5Space Marshals 3
Space Marshals 3 is, without a doubt, the best western-themed, space-based, two-stick, tactical shooter on the Play Store. The game continues the story from the previous two titles, but you don’t need any of that background information to pick this one up. The gameplay consists of traversing a level to accomplish a goal, all while taking out the bad guys on the way. What makes Space Marshals special is the fact that you can play it with guns blazing, tackling your problems head-on, or you can take your time by using the environment to your advantage for a more stealthy approach.
Morphite is a first-person shooter with the same vibes as Metroid Prime or No Man’s Sky. You play as a young woman exploring her small bit of galaxy who stumbles on an adventure that leads her to unlock the mysteries of her past. The controls are tight and customizable, the graphics are low poly and don’t chew up my RAM, and the humor is quirky. There’s a lot of game here between cataloging plant and animal life and shooting aggressive monsters to save your skin, but only the first two missions are available for free. The full game is only $5 and removes the ads as well. There are some other upgrades as well that aren’t required to play the game (Quick Scan, Hover Boots, and Fast Refuel), but might be worth the $3. The game has been out for a few years but it’s still receiving updates and is definitely worth it if you missed it the first time around.
Icey is a super stylish 2D hack-and-slash set in a robot-filled, dystopian, cyberpunk setting. On the surface, the game is pretty simple. Jump, dash, and slash your way through enemies, taking out bosses and buying upgrades for your cybernetic body, all while listening to a narrator guide you through the game. And here’s where it gets weird. You don’t have to listen to the narrator. In fact, if you don’t, he might start to get frustrated. It’s this meta-interaction with the game that really sets Icey apart from the crowd.
2Shadowgun Legends
If you’re in the mood for some first-person alien-shooting action, you’ll probably want to give Shadowgun Legends a look. It has a solid single-player story to keep you busy in your down time, as well as social aspects like friends, co-op, and PvP. The game doesn’t do anything exceptional or unique, but what it does do, it does well. It runs smooth (even on my Pixel 4a), there are tons of customization options, and the monetization doesn’t get in the way of the game. Who could ask for anything more?
1Starborne: Frontiers
Frontiers is another collectible RPG that takes a different tack than Fleet Command. It takes place in the same universe as the Starborne: Sovereign Space MMO, but whereas Fleet Command leans into the themes of exploration, Frontiers focuses on combat with a tactical twist. Before a battle you can see the placement and composition of the enemy fleet. Your goal is to choose the right ships in the right positions to dominate the battlefield. As you progress you’ll have to recruit new ships to your fleet and strategically upgrade your pilots and ships. Although the combat isn’t deep (it’s an auto-battler) it is rewarding and quick, so you can jump in for a quick battle on your lunch break, or settle in for longer and work your way through the campaign.
To infinity and beyond with the best sci-fi games on Android
Don’t think for a moment that this list is exhaustive. There’s a whole universe of great games out there that we didn’t have the space to touch on likethese great Star Wars games. Of course, if you’re in the mood for something besides science fiction, you should check out our list of thebest retro games ported to Android.
