Android

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1
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—REUPLOAD—Free Android Games (incl. FOSS ✅️) - no ads, no IAPs, no gacha. (discuss.tchncs.de)
submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by char_stats@discuss.tchncs.de to c/android@lemdro.id
64 comments fedilink
 
 

👉For my paid games list, please go here.

 

New list entries - updated October 2025:

Other recent entries

Introduction

NOTICE: I'm reuploading this as I lost my first account on lemm.ee. The previous version of this list is now deprecated.

I recently realized there are still, to this day, some actual "hidden gems" in the Play Store. Not the fake ones everyone talks about which, in a way or another, often have a catch or aren't very "hidden". I mean free games with no ads or IAPs of any kind that are fun to play.

So I was thinking maybe it's time to compile a list of them. Please suggest the ones you've found and enjoyed!

Edit: I'm now including free games (no piracy) from other sources beside the Play Store (which will be specified within brackets), such as GitHub or F-droid. If they're also FOSS, like all F-droid games, they'll have this green checkmark ✅️. For the games that have both F-droid and Play Store versions, the green checkmark is for the F-droid version.

I won't try them all as I did with my premium games list, because you could simply download and try them for yourself without spending a dime. I'll simply list them.

‼️Also, please do checkout MiniReview - Game Reviews for more free games that match the following criteria (use the "Browse" tab and select the correct filters). The same app for iOS - App Store - is here.‼️

I've saved this post so to keep it updated over time, for my own reference and for your benefit. So feel free to save it and check out new entries every so often.

Entry Criteria

  1. FREE
  2. NO ADS
  3. STRICTLY NO IAPs (except donation buttons, but I'll have to check first)
  4. NO PIRACY
  5. it has to be a legit, full game you've played and liked. No demos, no emulators (everyone knows RetroArch anyways)
  6. no entire repositories. You can recommend them in the comments if you want, but this list is for individual games you'd like to recommend
  7. if it's a Play Store game, it should be compatible with the latest Android version at the time of entry
  8. must include a link to the game, especially if from sources outside the Play Store. Not direct-download links, just links to the page
  9. sketchy sources won't be considered. Play Store, GitHub, and F-droid are welcome

[If you want to recommend paid games, without ads or predatory microtransactions, here is the list for you.]

 

THE LIST

 

Legend

✅️ - FOSS (Free and Open-Source Software). Listed on top in their respective categories

☕️ - includes option to donate, with or without minimal cosmetics only

~~[Game title]~~ - delisted

 

Note: for sourceforge links, please disregard the green download button and look for the most recent apk version instead. Nothing malicious, just a website design flaw.

 

Shooter

 

Stealth

 

Platformer

 

Rhythm

 

Arcade

 

RPG

 

Roguelike dungeon crawler

 

Deck builder

 

Adventure

 

Puzzle

 

Tower defense

 

Strategy

 

Management

 

Racing

 

Simulation

 

Casual

 

Visual novel

 

Educational

 

Extras and emulators/engines

  • Fabularium ✅️ (F-droid - engine and maker for text-based adventures, interactive books)

Delisted or outdated

 

Free games with minimal ads/cosmetic IAPs

 

Happy gaming ;)

ps: please let me know if there's any wrong information about the games included in this list (especially regarding the ones with free donations) so that I'll fix the post, if necessary.

2
75
Welcome to Lemdroid! Start here for resources and fresh communities 🪴. (lemdro.id)
submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by ijeff@lemdro.id to c/android@lemdro.id
10 comments fedilink
 
 

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3
77
The Librephone project aims to remove proprietary blobs from smartphones running an open-source OS (www.cnx-software.com)
submitted 8 hours ago by Blaze@piefed.zip to c/android@lemdro.id
3 comments fedilink
4
10
New Pixel theme: will this be in AOSP? (slrpnk.net)
submitted 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago) by boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net to c/android@lemdro.id
1 comments fedilink
 
 

Since the recent update of Android 16, Pixels have a new theme

  • symbols are less geometric and hard
  • some elements are rounded squares, others are round
  • the theme is generally very dark
  • the top panel is not visible by default
  • the battery looks very different, kinda like on iOS
  • the drawers have a blurry background instead of solid colors
  • the "recent apps" overview displays the app name in the top left corner of the preview window, instead of a round icon on top
  • icons and buttons in apps like GCam are also changed

Here are the screenshots

Generally the theme is way more complex and distracting and has quite some inconsistencies.

While I would like blur, the minimalist side of me is happy not to have it.

I wonder if this is one of the proprietary Pixel additions, or if this will be the default for AOSP too?

5
16
Amazon will keep using Android on Fire TV as new Vega OS focuses on low-end devices (9to5google.com)
submitted 22 hours ago by baatliwala@lemmy.world to c/android@lemdro.id
1 comments fedilink
6
164
Uninstalling Google Play System updates is finally possible, right from your phone (www.androidauthority.com)
submitted 1 day ago by baatliwala@lemmy.world to c/android@lemdro.id
17 comments fedilink
7
16
nubia RedMagic 11 Pro review - GSMArena (www.gsmarena.com)
submitted 1 day ago by Blaze@piefed.zip to c/android@lemdro.id
0 comments fedilink
8
-1
Google Play announces its best Android apps and games of 2025 (9to5google.com)
submitted 13 hours ago by sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al to c/android@lemdro.id
4 comments fedilink
9
20
good phones for rooting? older than 2020. (discuss.tchncs.de)
submitted 1 day ago by urheber@discuss.tchncs.de to c/android@lemdro.id
10 comments fedilink
 
 

Must have: SD card SIM Good flashing and root capability Audio port

Preferred: Removable battery

Not have: built-in AI bullshit

Thxxx

10
17
[Solved] Can I dirty-install "MicroG for LineageOS" ROM over regular LineageOS? (programming.dev)
submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by muhyb@programming.dev to c/android@lemdro.id
3 comments fedilink
 
 

I have a Redmi Note 9 (merlinx) and currently have LineageOS 20 (which is the last official ROM). It's generally fine but I have some problems with a couple apps, so I need MicroG to fix this. I don't want to go bunch of hoops to install it on my current system if possible. Would dirty-installing the same ROM with MicroG pre-installed applicable? Or do I need a clean install if I want to go that way?

Edit: It seems it's not so feasible. I guess I'll just do clean install.

11
46
SailfishOS: Next gen Jolla Phone update - 11/25 (forum.sailfishos.org)
submitted 1 day ago by Blaze@piefed.zip to c/android@lemdro.id
2 comments fedilink
12
399
I’m tired of ‘free’ apps that are just trying to bully me into paying (www.androidauthority.com)
submitted 2 days ago by throws_lemy@reddthat.com to c/android@lemdro.id
62 comments fedilink
13
155
Moto G57 and G57 Power are now official and already on sale - they have a headphone jack (www.gsmarena.com)
submitted 3 days ago by Blaze@piefed.zip to c/android@lemdro.id
31 comments fedilink
 
 

This page can also be filtered by headphone jack availability

14
39
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 proves too hot for the OnePlus 15 (www.androidauthority.com)
submitted 2 days ago by baatliwala@lemmy.world to c/android@lemdro.id
5 comments fedilink
15
4
Honor Magic8 Pro hands-on review (m.gsmarena.com)
submitted 2 days ago by Blaze@piefed.zip to c/android@lemdro.id
0 comments fedilink
16
22
Google is preparing big Android 17 gaming upgrades for fans of real controllers (www.androidauthority.com)
submitted 3 days ago by baatliwala@lemmy.world to c/android@lemdro.id
4 comments fedilink
17
20
Here's a look at how Android 17 will make alternative app stores easier to use (www.androidauthority.com)
submitted 4 days ago by baatliwala@lemmy.world to c/android@lemdro.id
14 comments fedilink
18
168
Google will let ‘experienced users’ keep sideloading Android apps, even from unverified developers. (www.theverge.com)
submitted 5 days ago by ryujin470@fedia.io to c/android@lemdro.id
35 comments fedilink
19
239
Android will let ‘experienced users’ sideload unverified apps as Google makes case for verification (9to5google.com)
submitted 6 days ago by sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al to c/android@lemdro.id
54 comments fedilink
 
 

Seems the pressure is working.

20
39
Any news about Syncthing fork? (sopuli.xyz)
submitted 5 days ago by s08nlql9@sopuli.xyz to c/android@lemdro.id
12 comments fedilink
 
 

The github page is now 404.

https://github.com/Catfriend1/syncthing-android

Is there a good alternative?

21
131
Google's sideloading restrictions are being eased up somewhat (android-developers.googleblog.com)
submitted 6 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by Xylight@lemdro.id to c/android@lemdro.id
32 comments fedilink
 
 

Google has announced it is building a new way for 'experienced users' to install Android apps that haven't been verified.

test

22
20
Google rolls out Pixel Phone app Call Recording (9to5google.com)
submitted 5 days ago by baatliwala@lemmy.world to c/android@lemdro.id
7 comments fedilink
23
145
Tablet market stalls because there’s not much new to buy (www.theregister.com)
submitted 6 days ago by sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al to c/android@lemdro.id
49 comments fedilink
 
 

Honestly, I'm baffled by the tablet market. Everyone puts out underpowered devices. Even Google! How can you, in good faith, justify a tablet having a slower processor and less memory than a phone while trying to advertise it as the superior device, perfect for editing and whatnot?

24
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Google finally released the source code of Android 16 QPR1! (www.androidauthority.com)
submitted 6 days ago by ryujin470@fedia.io to c/android@lemdro.id
10 comments fedilink
25
33
Fairphone 6 in US (poptalk.scrubbles.tech)
submitted 6 days ago by scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech to c/android@lemdro.id
7 comments fedilink
 
 

My phone is definitely showing it's age, about 5 years old now, battery doesn't last more than 7ish hours. I've done research and if possible, I think I'd like to get the Fairphone. Does anyone have experience with it in the US? I know I'd have to import it, but using local carriers how well does it work?

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