As winter nights grow long, dark, and full of terrors—often punctuated by relentless rain—nothing beats settling in with a riveting RPG on your Android device. The genre is renowned for its immersive adventures, breathtaking environments, and intricate systems that promise hours of engagement. Here, we've curated a list of the best Android RPGs to keep you company through those chilly evenings. If your favorite isn't listed, feel free to champion it in the comments section below.
With an abundance of choices in this genre, we've narrowed it down to premium games where everything is accessible right from the start. Gacha RPGs are excluded, as they are covered in our separate best Android gacha games list.
Best Android RPGs
-----------------Roll on the role-playing games.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2
A controversial choice to lead the list? Perhaps. But Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 offers a brilliant, touchscreen-optimized experience of a true classic. It's expansive, brimming with intriguing characters, and captures the essence of Star Wars perfectly.
Neverwinter Nights
If sci-fi isn't your thing, dive into the dark fantasy realm of the Forgotten Realms with Neverwinter Nights. This classic Bioware adventure, enhanced by Beamdog, is a masterpiece on mobile.
Dragon Quest VIII
Often hailed as the pinnacle of the Dragon Quest series, Dragon Quest VIII is our top pick for mobile JRPGs. Square Enix has meticulously adapted it for our devices, and its portrait mode compatibility makes it perfect for playing on the go.
Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger, a timeless JRPG masterpiece, naturally earns its spot on our list. While the mobile version might not be the ideal way to experience it, it's a solid option if other platforms are out of reach.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions has aged gracefully, remaining as engaging now as it was at launch. It may well be the ultimate strategy RPG, especially on mobile devices.
The Banner Saga
The Banner Saga is a close contender, though you'll need another platform for the third installment. It's a dark, challenging, and deeply strategic game, blending elements reminiscent of Game of Thrones and Fire Emblem. The entire series awaits your exploration.
Pascal’s Wager
Pascal’s Wager is a dark and atmospheric hack-and-slash ARPG that stands out as one of the best in its class, not just on mobile but across all platforms. Packed with content and innovative ideas, it's a must-play.
Grimvalor
Grimvalor is an exceptional side-scrolling Metroidvania RPG with stunning visuals and a Souls-like progression system, making it a standout release this year.
Oceanhorn
Oceanhorn is the best non-Zelda experience we've encountered, and it's one of the most visually stunning mobile games to date. Unfortunately, its sequel remains an Apple Arcade exclusive, but the original is a must-play on Android.
The Quest
The Quest is a criminally underappreciated first-person dungeon crawler that draws inspiration from classics like early Might & Magic, Eye of the Beholder, and Wizardry. With hand-drawn visuals and regular expansions, it's a hidden gem you shouldn't miss.
Final Fantasy (Series)
You can't discuss RPGs without mentioning Final Fantasy. Thankfully, some of the series' best entries, including VII, IX, and VI, are available on Android. With so many excellent titles, we couldn't narrow it down to just one.
9th Dawn III RPG
Don't let the name fool you; 9th Dawn III: Shadow of Erthil is the third, not the ninth, but it's a refined masterpiece of RPG excellence. This top-down game is vast, packed with content, and lets you explore, loot, recruit monsters, and even play a card game within the game called Fyued.
Titan Quest
Titan Quest was once a competitor to Diablo and now finds a home on mobile devices. While the port may not be the best, it's a solid choice for hack-and-slash enthusiasts with no other options.
Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth
Though less known than Final Fantasy or Chrono Trigger, the Norse mythology-inspired Valkyrie Profile series is exceptional. Lenneth is particularly well-suited for mobile play, with the ability to save anywhere, making it perfect for on-the-go gaming.
