The 15 Best RPGs for Android in 2023

Powerful magics. Outlandish quests. Epic boss battles with loads of awesome loot. RPGs are truly the heart and soul of gaming, offering fantasy-inspired adventures that place you front and center.

It used to be that you could only experience role-playing games on PC and console. But nowadays, all you need is an Android smartphone, and entire new worlds are right at your fingertips. From beloved classics like Chrono Trigger to modern made-for-mobile titles like Eternium, there’s a massive selection of top-rated games out there. Not only that, but many of them are entirely free to play. Good luck finding prices like that on your PlayStation.

If slaying ferocious dragons with the tap of your fingers sounds like your kinda good time, we’ve got you covered. Read on to check out the 15 best RPGs for Android on the Google Play Store.

Top 15 Best RPGs for Android

Beginning with #15, let’s dive straight into our list of the best Android RPGs.

15. The Elder Scrolls: Blades

The best AAA RPG for Android

• Developer: Bethesda
• Initial Release: April 5, 2019 
• Website: www.elderscrolls.com

Set between the events of Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and V: Skyrim comes Bethesda’s latest title – The Elder Scrolls: Blades. Though it’s not a full-on open-world game like other titles in the series, Blades delivers the full ESO experience, thanks in large part to its multiple game modes.

First, there’s Town Mode, which is akin to the game’s primary campaign. Enter town to talk to NPCs, start and complete quests, and progress through the Fourth Era storyline. This is also where you can shop and upgrade your character as you see fit.

Next, there’s the Abyss, which is a roguelike mode where players traverse procedurally-generated dungeons in search of treasure and hidden secrets.

Lastly, there’s the Arena. Engage friends and foes alike in gladiator-inspired PvP spectacles to see who comes out on top. Use your melee, ranged, and magic attacks to deal maximum damage, and strike down your foes without hesitation.

Sound like fun? Download The Elder Scrolls Blades on Google Play and head to Tamriel to see for yourself.

14. Knights of Pen & Paper

The most innovative RPG for Android

• Developer: Behold Studios
• Initial Release: October 30, 2012
• Website: www.paradoxplaza.com

You and a group of friends are gathered around a table, the surface littered with map tiles and miniature figurines. At the head of the table sits your Dungeon Master, the all-powerful deity who narrates with painstaking detail the forsaken dungeon your team finds themselves in. Out of nowhere, a bloodthirsty beast jumps from the shadows and attacks your entire squad! It’s your move – what do you do?

In Knights of Pen & Paper, the game takes place within the setting of a traditional tabletop RPG. Take control of a group of friends like a puppeteer from above, and guide their entire in-game experience. You get an inside look at each character’s imaginations as they progress through the narrative, and then dictate their precise movements. You even control the Dungeon Master herself! Pretty cool, eh?

Knights of Pen & Paper is a beautiful and innovative mashup of genres that’s sure to satisfy traditional role-players and video game fans alike.

13. Titan Quest

The best hack ‘n slash for Android

• Developer: Iron Lore Entertainment
• Initial Release: June 26, 2006
• Website: www.titanquestgame.com

Do you enjoy hack ‘n slash RPGs with high-stakes combat? Lucky for you, Titan Quest is brimming with classic battle mechanics that are perfect for action aficionados.

Set in Ancient Greece, the game is all about exploring the lore of the Olympian Gods. There’s trouble brewing in the ancient village of Telos, as a demonic scourge has begun devouring the local crops. Assume control of a local warrior and embark on a quest to uncover the mystery behind this terrible occurrence.

Your journey will take you across the ancient world, as you fight tooth and nail against foul beasts and demigods alike. Gain mastery over different skills to aid you on your journey, and end the plague upon your lands once and for all.

12. Stardew Valley

The Best RPG Simulator for Android

• Developer: ConcernedApe
• Initial Release: February 26, 2016
• Website: www.stardewvalley.net

Quarantine got you down? Pick yourself up with Stardew Valley, the best RPG simulator ever to grace the Google Play Store.

The premise? Your grandfather has just passed away, leaving his old farmstead to you – his dearest grandchild. Leave the bustling city behind as your journey to the town of Pelican, where you’ll find the old farm waiting for revitalization. Explore the town and its surroundings, learning the tools of the farming trade as you can transform your run-down estate into a picturesque setting full of crops, flora, and farm animals. Make friends with local townsfolk, and settle into your new life as a farmer and country boy (or gal).

Stardew Valley is a relaxing adventure, with plenty of ways to play, and endless RPG content. But if you’ve already played Stardew, you may want to check out our Games Like Stardew Valley article for more possibilities.

11. Pocket Mortys

The best fighting RPG for Android

• Developer: Big Pixel Studios
• Initial Release: January 13, 2016
• Website: www.adultswim.com

Are you a fan of Rick and Morty? How about Pokémon? If you answered yes to one or both of these questions, Pocket Mortys may be the best Android RPG for you.

Pocket Mortys is essentially a Pokémon parody. Based on the R&M episode, Close Rick-counters of the Rick Kind, the game required players to round up wild Mortys by catching them and using them in battle. Progress through the story, catching Mortys, battling alien trainers, and making your way to the Council of Ricks. Beat them, and you win!

Oh, and remain on the lookout for The One True Morty. Its power is virtually limitless, and it all but guarantees your victory over the scourge of mortys.

10. Cat Quest

The best action RPG for Android

• Developer: The Gentlebros
• Initial Release: August 8, 2017
• Website: www.thegentlebros.com

Who doesn’t love cute little kitty cats? How about cute little kitty cats that double as fearsome feline warriors? Well, that’s what you get in Cat Quest! 

Loosely based upon the traditional JRPG format, Cat Quest boasts a top-down perspective, linear storyline, and – breaking the mold – real-time combat. Enter the magnificent kingdom of Felingard (get it?), and embark on an adventure to save your catnapped sister from the vile cat burglar. Along the way, you’ll encounter side quests, mysteries, and oodles of charming fantasy graphics. 

It’s all your favorite RPG elements rolled up into one adorable title.

9. Evoland

The best educational RPG for Android

• Developer: Shiro Games
• Initial Release: April 4, 2013
• Website: www.shirogames.com

Ever wonder what RPGs looked like over the years? Evoland takes you on that journey, from the genre’s first appearance on arcade machines and consoles to today’s action-packed titles.

You start the game in a dual-colored world with plain graphics and a simple 2D sprite. Everything’s been stripped down to the bare necessities, like a handful of NPCs, a few quests, and basic points of interest. As you proceed through the adventure, you unlock new features that resemble the progression of gaming over the last 40 years. Discover more colors, more complex storylines and mechanics, and the apex of RPG gaming itself – a leap to full 3D perspective!

Despite recycling the content of its predecessors, Evoland is one of the most innovative and inspiring RPGs ever created.

8. Battleheart Legacy

The best real-time RPG for Android

• Developer: Mika Mobile
• Initial Release: May 28, 2014
• Website: www.mikamobile.com

Explore the RPG genre in all its glory with Battleheart Legacy, a timeless adventure with hundreds of unique skills and masterful real-time combat.

Assume control of a common hero on the eve of his journey. Leave the comforts of home behind, and begin fighting low-leveled mobs and tackling simple quests to boost your stats. Over time, you’ll gain powerful new skills and equipment that are tough enough to take on the world’s most difficult challenges. The stakes reach their climax in an epic boss battle that’s unlike anything you’ve experienced before!

Think you can handle it? Battleheart Legacy beckons you forward.

7. Dragon Quest VIII

The best story RPG for Android

• Developer: Square Enix
• Initial Release: November 27, 2004
• Website: www.dragonquest.com

While there are several Dragon Quest titles on Android, nothing compares to VII: Journey of the Cursed King. First released on the PS2 way back in the day, this epic fantasy RPG is the perfect port over to mobile. 

Take control of Hero as he embarks on a journey to take down the cursed king, Dhoulmagus. Along the way, you’ll encounter all kinds of enemies that you must face off against in classic turn-based fashion. Assemble a team of friends to aid with your mission, and use your combined strengths – along with your unique abilities, items, and magics – to wipe out all foes that stand in your way.

Dragon Quest VIII an exciting 3D romp with a beautiful storyline and plenty of traditional RPG elements.

6. Final Fantasy VII

The Best RPG Series for Android

• Developer: Square Enix
• Initial Release: January 31, 1997
• Website: www.finalfantasy.com

Are you ready to embark on one final adventure? Then you’ve got to check out Final Fantasy VII, one of the most popular and highly regarded RPGs ever created.

The premise? Gaia is under siege by the Shinra Electric Power Company, a megacorporation consumed by its drive for profits. Unless they’re stopped, life on Gaia is all but doomed to destruction. That’s where you come in.

Assume control of Cloud as he sets out to save the world. Explore the overworld’s 3D environments (switching to 2D turn-based scenes during combat) as you journey through the storyline and uncover the secrets to saving the planet. It’s all up to your and your upstart band of heroes. Are you game?

5. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

The best sci-fi RPG for Android

• Developer: BioWare
• Initial Release: July 19, 2003
• Website: www.starwars.com

Inspired by George Lucas’s epic sci-fi adventure, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic features your favorite characters and mechanics from the acclaimed franchise. But in KotOR, you call the shots.

Journey to a galaxy far, far away, grab your lightsaber, and join in the legendary battle between Jedi and Sith. The stakes couldn’t be higher, as these two competing factions both hold influence over The Force, a mystical energy with incredible (some consider to be… unnatural) power. Every choice you make influences whether you lean towards the light side (Jedi), or the dark side (Sith) of The Force, and influences the entirety of the core campaign itself.

KoTOR’s story and combat mechanics are nothing short of legendary, and the game delivers an exciting playthrough every go ’round.

4. Runescape

The best Android MMORPG

• Developer: Jagex
• Initial Release: January 4, 2001
• Website: www.runescape.com

Runescape was one of the first MMORPGs ever made. Inspired by classic tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons, it combines simple controls with complex themes for an immersive journey like no other.

Create your character, complete Tutorial Island, and embark on a journey of discovery across the world of Gieliinor. You design the adventure, as there is no class system locking you down. Level over 20 different skills, ranging from Melee and Magic to Crafting and Slayer. Make new friends, explore the sandbox world, and engage in Runescape’s legendary quest system that combines challenging puzzles, fierce battles, and a good dose of wacky humor.

Runescape’s original point and click interface is a natural fit for mobile, and it’s the best MMORPG for Android, bar none.

3. Chrono Trigger

The best Square Enix RPG for Android

• Developer: Square Enix
• Initial Release: March 11, 1995
• Website: www.square-enix-games.com

Frequently cited as one of the best RPGs of all time, Chrono Trigger recently made its debut to the mobile platform. Now it’s your turn to experience the enchanting 2D world and classic RPG mechanics for yourself.

Set in a fantasy world resembling our own, Chrono Trigger’s campaign takes place throughout different eras, as the protagonist and his allies explore the intricacies of time itself. Assume control of Crono, the katana-wielding badass, and build a mighty team as you explore the overworld, complete puzzles, and take down your foes in chance encounters.

Chrono Trigger’s simple controls port beautifully to mobile, and it’s one game you don’t want to miss!

2. Battle Chasers: Nightwar

The best turn-based RPG for Android

• Developer: Airship Syndicate
• Initial Release: October 3, 2017
• Website: www.battlechasers.com

Fans of turn-based RPGs, rejoice! Battle Chasers: Nightwar is now available on Android devices.

Your airship has been shot down, and you’ve crash-landed on a strange island overflowing with mana and untapped magical resources. Assume control of the protagonist team that includes a golem, mage, rogue, and swordsman, and explore the isometric world across a linear timeline. Battle against enemy NPCs and use your combined might to take down the evil Daestra, a master sorceress with an affinity for world domination.

Do you have what it takes to win the Nightwar?

1. Eternium

The best RPG for Android overall

• Developer: DreamPrimer
• Initial Release: August 19, 2014
• Website: www.eterniumgame.com

At #1 on our list of best RPGs for Android is none other than Eternium. 

Designed exclusively for mobile, Eternium is an excellent choice for beginners and seasoned players alike. Jump into the world of Eternium to begin your adventure as a Bounty Hunter, Mage, or Warrior, and customize your character with dozens of different class-exclusive skills. Explore the game’s various acts, AKA quests, as you battle monsters in true hack ‘n slash fashion and collect legendary loot to boost your stats. Level all the way to 70, and you’ve done it! Champion tier unlocked. 

While Eternium’s graphics aren’t the most pleasing, they’re pretty swanky, considering the game comes from an indie development team. Besides, Eternium’s gameplay and RPG mechanics are a masterful blend of classic ideas and innovative experiments, and it boasts the player ratings to back it up.

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