I know the feeling – you want to play a quality game on your phone but you don’t want to fork up the money to do it.  It’s known that there aren’t many games out there on the Google Play Store that play like AAA console/PC quality games, let alone free ones.  In this list, we’re going to explore some games that you may be interested in playing because of their willingness to stretch your phone’s technology to the limits.  Here are the top ten free AAA console quality games for Android.

10. Madden NFL Mobile

Madden NFL Mobile is in my opinion the greatest football game to ever be put on mobile.  With stunning graphics and fun gameplay, Madden NFL Mobile combines the best features of the long running franchise with nuanced mobile features that seamlessly integrate touch capabilities.  Much like the console versions, Madden for mobile allows you to create your own all-star team of pro football players so you too can participate in a full season.  Moreover, the game’s Head to Head mode is really challenging and fun.  With its neat card pack system that gives gamers new players to add to their teams, this game adds a collection feature that I found really interesting.  the game still feels like a AAA title with its attention to detail and addictive gameplay. The graphics are much better than most other mobile games of the genre.  I had a ton of fun playing Madden NFL Mobile, and I’m sure that any football fan will definitely be able to enjoy the sleek gameplay and awesome multiplayer.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ea.game.maddenmobile15_row&hl=en

9. Asphalt 8: Airborne

Asphalt 8: Airborne is a step up from the rest of the mobile racing genre due to it’s extremely well crafted graphics.  The models for each car are so detailed that the game truly feels like it is a AAA title.  Sure, there have been a ton of other Asphalt games and Gameloft does like to show off this popular series, but Asphalt 8 takes the franchise to a whole new level.  The tracks are much more fun, the cars are much more customizable, multiplayer is still great, and the soundtrack is fantastic for a mobile game.  The controls are the same as most other racing games, but I think racing games get better as the colors and graphics become more advanced.  Still, there are some tweaks in gameplay that made the cars feel more real.  Asphalt 8: Airborne reminds us why racing games are fun in the first place.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gameloft.android.ANMP.GloftA8HM&hl=en

8. Implosion – Never Lose Hope

Implosion actually marketed itself as a AAA title – the very first line of the description is “Bringing AAA console gaming experience to mobile devices.”  Boy, do I agree.  Implosion is a hack and slash game with impressive visuals and fantastic animation.  This game presents us with a do or die situation – humanity is about to face extinction so we need to prove our worth by fighting a ton of monsters.  I really like how you have both a sword and gun as weapons to use in the game and that you have to strategically switch between your weapons to fight off specific enemies.  Implosion did a great job of immersing me in a content-rich world that felt intense… almost like I was gonna implode… okay I’ll stop.  Seriously, if you want to play the a great sci-fi hack ‘n slash on Android, Implosion is the game for you.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rayark.implosion&hl=en

7. Modern Combat 5: Blackout

I think that Modern Combat 5 is the best First Person shooter in the Google Play Store.  It’s the closest thing we have to a free mobile AAA Call of Duty (there is a Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies, but it’s $6.99).  The maps are similar, the gameplay is similar, and the game just feels like CoD on Android.  The multiplayer works great – I had a great time teaming up with random people to defeat random people.  While I think I’m underselling the game a tad bit, trust me, it’s fantastic.  If you like first person shooters, this is the perfect Android game for you.  The developers over at Gameloft did a great job of taking the scope of FPS and scaling it down while keeping the intensity.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gameloft.android.ANMP.GloftM5HM&hl=en

6. Injustice: Gods Among Us

Injustice is the pinnacle of fighting games on Android so far.  The game is a quality port of the massively popular AAA console version of the same name.  Like Madden NFL Mobile, Injustice also has a card system that I really liked because it added a sense of collectability.  While it’s features simple touch based 3v3 combat, I think that’s why the game is so fun – it takes full control of the capabilities of touch screens.  Some fighting games think it’s better to jam a ton of buttons in the game, but that makes the game more cluttered.  Injustice takes the simpler route and does it better with fantastic animations and a huge roster of all your favorite DC Comics characters.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wb.goog.injustice&hl=en

5. HIT

HIT allows you to hack and slash your way through hordes of enemies.  I think that the game has some of the coolest visuals ever put to a mobile game – the artwork for HIT is incredible.  The game features amazing Unreal Engine 4 visuals that most mobile companies don’t stretch to the limits.  I personally really liked the PVP arenas and the raids in the game – it’s like a mobile Diablo.  If you want to grind for rewarding loot in a mobile game, HIT is a cut above most of its competition.  I said most because HIT is just moments away from being the best RPG in the mobile industry if it weren’t for a few other games you’ll read about later in the article.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nexon.hit.global&hl=en

4. Marvel Future Fight

Marvel Future Fight allows you to assemble your own Avengers-esque team of heroes (and villains!) to fight the forces of evil.  I only put this game so high because it is a nerdgasm of a mobile game.  In the game, Nick Fury tells you that in the future the universe is collapsing and everyone has to save it before it happens.  The original story immerses you into an addictive game with fantastic visuals and easy-to-learn gameplay.  If you want to start something right now on Android and dive right into an investing game with all your favorite Marvel characters (seriously, this game is packed with characters), Marvel Future Fight is for you.  

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.netmarble.mherosgb&hl=en

3. Dungeon Hunter 5

Dungeon Hunter 5 is one of the most impressive mobile RPGs to date with its stunning visuals, compelling story, and diablo-style gameplay.  While HIT had that Diablo feel, I think Dungeon Hunter 5 perfected it for mobile.  The past Dungeon Hunter games were great as well, but this one stands out because of its graphics.  I kept asking myself: How are these visuals so freaking good?  The game definitely has that AAA title and the best part is: you don’t have to fork over a ton of cash to really enjoy the game.  Sure, you can pay to get awesome gear, but you can also earn that gear yourself.  Moreover, the multiplayer on this game is fantastic – you have to make it through your opponent’s castle defenses to even prove your worth to your opponent.  This game is truly the best dungeon game on Android, and it would be the best Android RPG if it weren’t for another game later on in this article.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gameloft.android.ANMP.Gloft5DHM&hl=en

2. Order and Chaos 2: Redemption

Order and Chaos 2 is the closest thing we have to a mobile World of Warcraft.  Please that sink in for a moment – a mobile WoW!  This game is undoubtedly the best RPG in the industry (let alone the best Android MMORPG), surpassing it’s great yet faulty predecessor (Order and Chaos Online) with updated graphics, a better story, more well written characters, more weapons, and much better gameplay.  You have five distinct classes to choose from in this game and all of them are so much fun to play around with.  Even the PvP system in the game is a ton of fun as it really makes you utilize the touch capabilities of the game.  Gameloft truly reached the summit with this game, which makes me want to delve into its immersion for hours – no other game makes me do that except for the #1 on this list.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gameloft.android.ANMP.GloftO2HM&hl=en

1. Hearthstone Heroes of Warcraft

Hearthstone is one of my favorite games period.  In my opinion, the game is the best card game in the gaming industry right now (surpassing even Magic: the Gathering).  While the game started out as a spinoff of World of Warcraft, its success was so massive on PC that Hearthstone is now going toe to toe with all of Blizzard Entertainment’s other properties (including WoW).  Hearthstone has some of the best strategy ever, phenomenal artwork and voicework, and one of the greatest player bases ever in gaming.  The community for this game is huge!  I know that the PC version came first, but there isn’t any difference between PC and mobile as Blizzard seamlessly integrated the game to mobile devices.  This is a game that has transcended its isolated genre to include gamers of all types and it’s a great testament to why I play games in the first place.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.blizzard.wtcg.hearthstone&hl=en

So those are my picks for the top 10 free AAA console quality games for Android.  Feel free to let me know what you think!  Thanks!

Twitter: @MohitPuvvala