Android is the 'other' handheld operating system, after iPhone. There aren't as many games for the Android as iPhone, because (a) people who buy Apple have proven they got more money to blow, (b) asshole phone companies lock their phones to their exclusive app stores, and make devs jump through hoops to get in, and (c) there's more variety of hardware that runs Android (i.e.: more than two), so testing is a bitch. Jailbreaking an Android smartphone is called "rooting."
Android Market - Default "app store" that every 'droid phone should have
AppBrain - the app store that gamers tend to install on their smartphones
There are a total of 9 trusted Android-based emulating apps. Some are available at the SlideME marketplace, some are on the Android market!
On the android marketplace, look up a developer named "Robert Broglia". Buy his line of emulating apps. They're fast, reliable, and very authentic to the original systems.
For the rest of the good stuff, download the SlideME marketplace (google it) and search for a guy named "yongzh". You'll notice that some of his apps emulate the exact same systems that some Robert apps emulate. I'm telling you this to save you dosh, don't buy the mirror yongzh apps. Robert is a faster developer. Anyways, buy all the other yongzh apps. With that, you will have all the best apps this /v/irgin could find after months of wasting money and looking around. Also, did I mention that there's no rooting required for these apps to work? Just install and play!
The List
Free Games
If a game is free to install, but pay-for-play, it goes in the other list. If the game has a free version or demo that's good enough you'd play it without ever buying the full version, it goes here.
Screenshot
Title
Genre
Description
Angry Birds
Puzzle
Small, no-brainer crush-the-castle game with cartoon birds. This is the cancer avian flu that is why so many apps have birds in their icons now; in the hopes that you'll download their piece of shit instead of this treasure.
Tricorder
Toy
It turns your smartphone into a genuine sci-fi sensor device, using real data from anything in your phone that measures things. Looks and sounds like it came off the set of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Was removed from the public because CBS threatened to sue, so the app has been killed. (If they come out with an "officially licensed" version, be sure to take a big steaming shit on it.) If you have a rooted phone, you can still get it through the Blackmart Alpha appstore.
Gimmie Friction
Puzzle / Shooter
Damn simple one-button game, timing is everything.
Reactor (2-player)
Puzzle / Multiplayer
Instant gameshow, anywhere anytime, just put the phone between you. This is the game you play with your girlfriend. There's a four-player version if you're willing to buy it, though better for tablets since smartphones are too damn small for four people to sit around.
Replica Island
Platformer
Good, polished free platform game. Puts the trackball to good use.(if you have one)
Simon Tatham's Puzzles
Puzzle
33 logic puzzles like the AZN stuff that gets published in newspapers: sudoku, lightup, loopy, kakuro, nonogram, you know what I mean.
Gun Bros
Shooter
Awesome shooter game with fairly smooth controls and a lot of levels.
Alchemy
Puzzle(ish)
A game which allows players to make up to 370 different elements using Air, Wind, Fire and Water.
Duckhunt
Bird killing
FUCKING DOG
Meganoid
Platformer
Avoid the spikes and enemies, get the orange diamonds and teleport to the next stage. Pretty simple game. Unfortunately it has a metric ton of levels and no continue. You also cannot grind for many extra lives.
Mystique
Horror Adventure
Free episodic games. You play as a girl with amnesia trying to escape from an isolated location
Robotek HD
Fighter
You're a robot that controls robots and you fight robots with robots with robotic powers. Requires in-game purchase pretty early on.
Gloomy Dungeons
FPS
A game that's similar to Doom. It has bad movement controls, but you will get used to it soon.
Dungeon Defenders: First Wave
Tower Defense
3D tower defense. You control a hero that summons defenses and runs around killing monsters. Has online multiplayer.
Zenonia / Zenonia 2 / Zenonia 3
RPG
Zenonia is like a Genesis or Super Nintendo ARPG which introduces fresh concepts to the genre like the day-night system and the great skill tree for customizing the hero. Highly recommend for both retro gamers and adventure fans. The sequel, Zenonia 2, fixes many small issues with the first game and is generally considered to be superior. "Zenonia 3", has sharper looking graphics, removes the hunger and inventory weight limits, and continues the saga. Each game contains different classes to play around with.
Buddy Rush
Hack-n-Slash
Simple hack and slash game playable on your android, ipod/iphone, and browser (as a facebook game), and you can use your characters on any system. Just run around, perform simple quests (often involving reaching the end of a map or collecting items. You even get to kill mummys for toilet paper).
Over 20 characters to choose from, all but 3 (4 if there's a special going on a character) cost in-game premium coins called chips. There are multiple ways to earn chips, but downloading apps (and immediately removing them) is a nice way to earn yourself a few new characters to play with.
Paid Games
Stuff that you pay to download, or subscribe to play online.
Screenshot
Title
Genre
Description
Battleheart
RPG
Recruit heroes, level up with skill trees, combat is entirely click-and-drag and ISN'T annoying about it, with bosses that need strategies.
Samurai II: Vengeance
Hack 'n' Slash
Play as a samurai that swings a sword around and kills bad guys. Beautiful graphics reminiscent of Okami. Pretty smooth controls.
Cut The Rope
Puzzle
Another physics-based puzzle game by the makers of Angry Birds ZeptoLabs, which had absofuckinglutely nothing to do with Angry Birds. Just as well-designed and addictive.
Game Dev Story
Time Management
Time management game where you create and manage your own video game company. The most addictive game on Android. Guaranteed to suck your life away. Similar games by Kairosoft like Hot Springs Story and Pocket League Story (soccer) are great as well.
Fruit Ninja
Arcade
Fruit appear on the screen briefly and need to be cut down before they disappear. A few different game modes and unlockables.
