Best RPGs for Android 2020: Best Mobile RPGs

RPGs are the perfect companion for long, dark, dreadful winter evenings. Like the rain. A lot of rain. The genre is defined by long adventures in beautiful environments, with deep systems and mechanics to dig into. When you’re done, the spring will likely have lifted its head and you can go out and play again.

Here we are going to collect our favorite mobile RPGs so that you can have something to choose from. If yours isn’t represented on this list, head over to the comments and make your pitch.

Best RPGs for Android 2020

Best RPG: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2

A controversial choice at the top of the list? Yeah, probably. But KOTOR 2 is a glossy, tactile version of an absolute classic. It’s huge, filled with interesting characters, and looks like Star Wars.

Alternative: Neverwinter Nights

If science fiction doesn’t do it for you, Neverwinter Nights dark fantasy will take on the Forgotten Realms. This is another classic Bioware adventure that Beamdog released an improved version of, and it’s awesome.

Best JRPG: Dragon Quest VIII

Dragon Quest VIII is often considered the best DQ, and it’s also our favorite JRPG for mobile. Square Enix has taken a lot of care to make sure it works on our platform, and it works in portrait mode so you can play it while standing on a busy train.

Alternative: Chrono Trigger

Chrono Trigger is one of the best JRPGs ever, so of course the mobile port will be on that list. This is probably not the best way to play, but if you don’t have an alternative, you might as well check this one out.

Best Mobile Exclusive: Another Eden

Another Eden is a JRPG from the makers of Chrono Trigger, and it’s a fantastic mobile offering. There’s a lot of content to face and regular events to participate in, including a recent event featuring characters from Persona 5.

Alternative: The Elder Scrolls: Blades

The Elder Scrolls: Blades is not a mobile version of Elder Scrolls, much to our dismay. What it is though, is a brilliant dungeon crawler with lots of loot, a tactile combat system, and PvP.

Best Strategy RPG: Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions

Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions has held up very well over the years and is as fun today as it was at launch. It just might be the ultimate strategy RPG of all time – and it sure is on mobile.

Alternative: the banner saga

The Banner Saga is a close contender – although you’ll have to play the third entry on another platform. It is dark, difficult and deeply strategic work. Think Game of Thrones meets Fire Emblem.

Best Action RPG: Pascal’s Bet

A dark and gloomy hack and slash ARPG, Pascal’s Wager is not only one of the best action RPGs on mobile, he’s one of the best action RPGs of the period. Full of content and brilliant ideas, if you haven’t played it yet you definitely should.

Alternative: Grimvalor

Grimvalor is an excellent side-scrolling Metroidvania-style RPG that launched earlier this year. It has very sophisticated graphics and a Souls-like progression system.

Best Open World RPG: Oceanhorn

Oceanhorn is the best non-Zelda game we’ve ever played, and it’s also one of the best mobile games of all time. As with Cat Quest, the sequel is not available on Android as it is an Apple Arcade exclusive. Bah!

Alternative: Crashlands

Crashlands is another great open-world adventure, which combines RPG tropes with the creativity of Minecraft. This is an isometric experience completely designed for mobile and well worth a visit.

Best dungeon crawler: the quest

The Quest is a crime-overlooked first-person dungeon crawler that draws a lot of influence from classics like early Might & Magic, Eye of the Beholder, and Wizardry. The entire visuals are hand drawn and it receives regular extensions even today. Don’t miss this one.

Alternative: Nonstop Knight 2

A fast paced dungeon crawler that takes most of the control out of your hands. Not bad – Nonstop Knight 2 lets you get acquainted with the broken monsters in the cup.

Best Free: Eternium

Eternium doesn’t get enough recognition. It’s the best Diablo you’ll find on mobile, with plenty of dungeons to navigate, loot to collect, and monsters to beat. There is also a mobile-friendly control scheme that lets you draw shapes to perform skills.

Alternative: Dungeon Hunter 5

Dungeon Hunter 5 is a longtime Diablo from Gameloft. It’s a little too free to play for our liking (and by that we mean it encourages you to pay all the time), but it’s still a sleek and beautiful entry into the genre.

The best of the rest

They can’t all be a winner, can they? Below, we’re going to collect all the other cool Android RPGs that haven’t quite won big in a particular category.

Baldur’s Gate (and other Infinity Engine classics)

Baldur’s Gate, Baldur’s Gate II, Icewind Dale and Planescape: Torment all deserve a look. They serve as a great history lesson for the genre – especially for Bioware fans.

Final Fantasy (series)

Almost the entire Final Fantasy series is available on mobile, from the classic original to the XV. A few notable entries are missing, however, notably VIII, X and XII.

Dragon Quest (series)

Much like Final Fantasy, there are many entries in the Dragon Quest series available on mobile. Again, a few notable entries are missing, like Dragon Quest VII.

Evoland (Series)

Evoland and its sequel celebrate RPGs throughout history by literally taking you back in time in the form of gameplay.

Titan quest

Titan Quest was at the time a competitor to Diablo which is now available on mobile. It’s not a particularly great port, but if you don’t have anything else to play on and fancy a hack and slash, you can do a lot worse.

Battle Chasers: Nightwar

Battle Chasers: Nightwar is an open world RPG with a Diablo type combat system. There is a lot of replayability here, as you can replay dungeons at higher difficulty levels for better rewards.

Battleheart (Series)

The Battleheart series is all about doing cool things with the mobile touchscreen. In the first, you control a group of heroes by touching and swiping to move around the screen and perform actions. The sequel expanded on that while also being a spin-off aimed at providing a Diablo-like alternative.