Get in the game from just about anywhere with these fantastic mobile sports titles
Sports games have developed a bit of a negative stigma over the years thanks to aggressive monetization, and this has sadly affected public perception of some great games. Thanks to big players in the industry treating the genre like an easy "set it and forget it" platform for housing microtransactions, sports games are not only perceived as games for kids by some but have been given a bad wrap across the board. AP would like to do its part, so we've compiled a list of our favorite sports games on Android, many of which make up the best games on Android. So if you're a lover of sports games and are done playing patronizing titles that are designed to wring coins out of your pockets, here are some choice selections of mobile sports games that are well worth your time.
Good skateboarding games are getting rarer and rarer, and while Tony Hawk revivalists and EA's Skate fans certainly have games to play and look forward to, mobile is a bit more of a wasteland. That was until The Ramp was released in October 2021. This is not only a great little bowl and ramp riding game; it's totally free, and there are no ads or in-app purchases to be seen. Yes, the touch controls will take some practice, but since the game supports physical controllers, you have the option to play with something much more tactile than a glass screen. Don't sleep on this one, folks; it's the best skateboarding game on Android.
For those looking to get down to the basics, Golf on Mars (Desert Golfing's sequel) is a great title that's a joy to play. Despite the simple look and gameplay, it's pretty dang challenging. Much like the game that came before it, you'll spend your time shooting golf balls to try and get them to each course's goal.
The thing is, it grows increasingly difficult as the holes reach stranger and stranger spots. The game requires puzzle-like thinking to figure out how to shoot the ball to a location in as few shots as possible. Sure, the game is pretty minimal when it comes to graphics. Still, this does mean you can run it on just about anything, making the game highly versatile no matter what Android devices you own.
Football Manager 2023 is here to kick things off with its excellent soccer management gameplay. Unlike other soccer games, this is more of a business sim where you'll build your team from the ground up to see if you can take the top spot. This game offers simulation-like gameplay that requires strategy and planning. Keep in mind this is the mobile version of the game, so it is somewhat stripped down compared to the console and PC releases.
This premium game typically retails for $10, though some in-app purchases are included. Luckily, these IAPs only go so high, where purchases primarily exist for convenience items. Because Football Manager 2023 Mobile is a single-player game, what you choose to spend won't affect anyone else. More or less, this is a game with deep mechanics, fair monetization, and enjoyable gameplay. Best of all, it controls well on mobile.
8 Ball Pool is a simulation game focused on the titular sport. The gameplay pits you against the CPU and online opponents in top-down pool games, and you'll use touch controls to manipulate your cues position and your shot's strength. 8 Ball Pool utilizes a leaderboard system, which coincides with your current level and determines the gameplay difficulty, which can be increased by winning matches. The higher you rise in the leaderboard, the more skilled your opponents will be.
The game's matches are perfectly responsive and functional, accurately simulating real games of pool. Winning both one-on-one and tournaments yields coins which can be used to enter matches and brackets of higher skill and stakes, as well as for purchasing customization items. Ultimately, your enjoyment will be largely determined by how much the low-fi and more passively strategic tone of pool appeals to you. Check it out if you like the sport but want to avoid angry opponents with big sticks.
The gameplay in Table Tennis Touch is fairly straightforward, and may remind you of Wii sports. You control a mysterious (possibly haunted) floating paddle and move it with your finger to strike the ball back when it comes your way. The hit detection and weightiness of the ball are not quite realistic, having hit detection that borders on overgenerous and a seemingly statically maintained swing speed which can make the game feel a bit too easy.
Since this is an offline experience, Table Tennis Touch doesn't offer any PvP but compensates with a variety of modes, such as half table and skittles, which puts a bit of color back into the experience and presents an alternative if you somehow get board of table tennis. The game does trip up slightly with unnecessarily pushy tutorials that can't be bypassed, not even letting you play the actual matches until you've done them all. But aside from that, Table Tennis Touch is adequate for a mobile table tennis game, especially if you just like the idea of being really good at the sport. A perfect little time waster once that annoying tutorial robot gets lost.
If you prefer something a little more old school or are simply looking to relive your days playing Tecmo Bowl, you should definitely check out Retro Bowl. This game offers similar 8-bit graphics, but what sets it apart is strategic gameplay and team management, offering more depth than its inspiration.
The game is free, with a credit system in play. You'll upgrade certain features, like your stadium or training facilities, and in-app purchases are included, with a $0.99 unlock for unlimited gameplay. Also, there are optional credit packs for those looking to advance quickly. Still, seeing that this is a single-player game, what players spend won't affect anyone else. So as far as fairly-priced mobile football games go, Retro Bowl is easily a top contender thanks to its deceptively deep gameplay and fair pricing model.
Believe it or not, Virtua Tennis Challenge dates back to 2012 as a mobile release and was brought back to life as a Sega Forever game in 2017. You might not know it, but Sega used to hammer out quality tennis games back in the day. Virtua Tennis Challenge is the culmination of that effort, seeing that it's the last game in the series. So, you can expect polished gameplay, and even though the game is old, the graphics are plenty good enough.
Now, Virtua Tennis Challenge offers touch controls, and they work fine in a pinch. However, the game absolutely shines when playing with a controller, so it's the way to go if you have one handy. Like all Sega Forever titles, you can play the entire game free with ads. If you'd like to remove the ads, you can do so for $2. For a full-fledged tennis game that offers multiple modes to play through, ranging from singles to doubles, you can't go wrong with this one.
I've been beating my drum over Grand Mountain Adventure for years now. Seeing that the game was recently released on consoles and PC, mobile is still a perfectly viable platform to play the game if you've yet to check it out. It's great in bite-sized bursts, thanks to its short challenges. Plus, controller support means you sit down for extended sessions, just like a proper console game. The graphics are on point, there is a ton of content to explore spread across several mountains, and you can even play with friends locally across devices.
The first mountain is free, and if you like what you see, you can unlock the full title for $10.99, including all the extra mountains added previously as DLC. Since the game retails on PC and consoles for $20, you're still getting quite the deal on mobile, especially when controller support is packed in.
There are tons of golf games on Android, ranging from Hot Shots knock-offs filled with awful monetization to minimal games that are tough as nails. OK Golf sits somewhere in the middle, offering arcade-like gameplay spread across a wide selection of low-poly courses. This isn't putt-putt; it is full-fledged courses with simple controls just about anyone can pick up within a few minutes. Essentially, it's a stylish game built for fun instead of maximum profit, which is how it easily stands out in the crowd.
OK Golf is a premium release that retails for $2.99, and there are no in-app purchases or advertisements. Thanks to the simple graphics, just about any device can run it, and with simple controls, just about anyone can play it. It's an accessible title that suits mobile well. If you're big into golf games, it's a must-play for sure.
When you think of board games, one of the last genres you'd think of would be sports. Yet, Bottom of the 9th is not only a well-reviewed physical board game that dates back to 2015, but it's also a digital mobile game that goes by the same name. This interpretation is easily one of the better baseball games on the Play Store, thanks to fair pricing and time-tested gameplay. And don't let the fact that this was originally a board game scare you away; the mechanics are taught through a Spring Training tutorial for batting and pitching, so all bases are covered.
What's great is that you don't have to jump into multiplayer immediately. The game has a solo play mode that you can familiarize yourself with before taking on live opponents. The gameplay is limited to two players if you want to battle your friends, so this is less a party game and more something two people can enjoy together. Best of all, this is a premium release that clocks in at $1, which is cheap enough that just about anyone can afford it. Pair that pricing with accessible gameplay, and you have a winner.
Even fishing games aren't free from the greedy grips of endless monetization. Even though there are endless fishing games to choose from, if you're looking for something with depth that isn't some quirky arcade game, your pickings are slim. Thankfully, Rapala Fishing is a quality contender that offers a variety of fishing locales along with all manner of fish to catch. The 3D graphics are pleasing, the controls are intuitive, and gameplay isn't restricted, even if you're a free player.
Of course, Rapala Fishing is a free-to-play game, so it does contain in-app purchases, though its only use is for purchasing in-game currency. You can use this currency to speed up your advancement, but it's optional. The game is easily enjoyed for free, though there will be more of a grind. Still, fishing is all about the peaceful grind, so this one that's easily enjoyed in your downtime when relaxing.
Management sims are a popular genre on Android, because like all great apps on the Play Store , they are easy to control with taps on the screen. Punch Club is one such game, but unlike the stat-heavy menus of Football Manager, this is a story-based game. You'll not only build your skills to become the best fighter ever, but you'll uncover who killed your father (see, I told you the story was important). Overall this is a lighthearted game that offers an enjoyable story, quality gameplay, and plenty of stats to dive into for all of you spreadsheet lovers out there.
Noodlecake has brought a similar game called Descenders to Android as a port, but performance is middling. While Trail Boss looks and plays similarly, it performs much better. It's your job to make your way down hills in the most stylish way possible, performing tricks at every opportunity. This allows your creativity to shine as you find the best runs for each hill. So if you were a fan of doing the same in games like the Pumped BMX series, then you'll more than likely enjoy what Trail Boss BMX has to offer.
Sports management games are all the rage, thanks to the wild success of Sega's Football Manager series. If soccer isn't your bag, then perhaps basketball is. Hoop League Tactics offers a mix of genres with SRPG's tactical gameplay and the mechanics of a management sim. Not to mention the gameplay of a typical basketball game. It's got it all, baby, with simple graphics that can run on just about any phone, making for a highly accessible basketball game that should appeal to a wide audience.
There's a season mode as well as a career mode. With season mode, you're running the entire team, while career mode is more of a personal journey for a single player. You can play for free, but if you'd like full team customization, along with imports and exports of custom leagues, then you can plunk down $4 for premium mode. Premium also removes the game's advertisements. Think of this release as a mix of chess and basketball, and you're getting close, with the option to go premium if you like what you see.
We always pay attention to the growth of genres and update our roundups to represent the best, all for your perusal. If however, you would like to contribute to that process, the comments below are a great place to discuss new additions. Also, there are plenty of great Android controllers out there if you're looking to get competitive and play with a little more precision. But if you're looking to keep things classicly mobile, we have some slick and handy gaming phones to optimize your play.
Matthew is the Games and Apps Editor at Android Police. He's been gaming his entire life since his first taste of a TI-99 at four years old. Matthew has been an Android user since the HTC Hero and has been covering roundups, reviews, and daily mobile game news coverage for over a decade. He's a person that holds a peculiar yet deep interest in all things to do with handheld gaming and constantly pushes to advance the state of the mobile industry beyond the bounds of its predatory monetization obsession. Matthew is a furious nitpicker and something of an (albeit amusing) curmudgeon, a writer that can instantly find fault in just about anything, yet he chooses to wield this power for good from the comfort of his armchair to ensure the best Android games and apps aren't lost to obscurity.
