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The best Android games for retro fun

The best Android games for retro fun
Maria Baeta

Maria Baeta

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If you love old-style games then you’ll love this new selection for Android. It’s all about retro games that can be played on your smartphone.

Current mobile games are fine, but they’re nothing like the old arcade, computer and console games. If you agree, then you’ll be pleased to know that a ton of those games that you played and replayed in the 80s and 90s are also now available on Android.

Shooters, platforms, adventure…none of the classic genres seem able to resist the lure of the touch format. Smartphones and tablets have welcomed new versions of originals or remakes of the most successful vintage games.The list is long, but today we’re bringing you five great retro games to get started.

Galaga Special Edition Free

Something from the shooter genre is probably one of the first games you played. One of the most famous in this style of games was Galaga, released in 1981, but now, over 30 years later, can be enjoyed from the comfort of your Android phone.

This special edition of Galaga has the classic 80s gameplay but with improvements to bring it up to speed for today: full-color graphics, some spectacular power-ups and no fewer than 25 levels for you to enjoy the most exciting space wars in the universe.

Download Galaga Special Edition Free

Galaga

Leisure Suit Larry: Reloaded

The Larry series, born in the late 80’s at the hands of Al Lowe, marked a whole generation of graphic adventure lovers. We accompanied Larry Laffer, a 40-something loser who wants to change his life around, and find a foxy lady in the process.

Full of wit and spice, along with its charismatic characters, the first Larry game is such a must-have that there’s now an HD remake supported by Android. In it you’ll experience the same adventures and dialogs from 1987 but with reformulated graphics and an orchestrated score that’s just perfect.

Download Leisure Suite Larry: Reloaded

Leisure Suit Larry: Reloaded

Sonic the Hedgehog

In the 90s, you were either Team Mario or Team Sonic. Unfortunately the famous Nintendo plumber hasn’t reached smartphones yet, but Sega’s famous Hedgehog has, not only with recent Android games, but also with the game that started it all, the legendary Sonic the Hedgehog for Mega Drive.

Unlike other games on this list, with their reformulated graphics, Sonic the Hedgehog has the same pixelated 1990s look. Of course, in addition to the original levels there are also some new features like being able to use more characters (like Tails or Knuckles) or the new time trial mode.

Download Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic the Hedgehog

Duke Nukem 3D

Duke Nukem is one of the classic first person shooters and a clear inspiration for many games that have come in its wake. Forget about the fiasco surrounding its most recent offering – it now returns to its glorious past with DN3D, a classic from 1996.

Duke Nukem 3D on Android retains the graphics which in the deepest, darkest ’90s seemed wondrous, as well as missions from the original game, creating the effect of having traveled back in time. The advantage is that you can be the Duke anywhere – with great handling and touch controls that make the classic mouse + keyboard combination look truly dated.

Download Duke Nukem 3D

Duke Nukem 3D

Dragon’s Lair

The term “interactive movie” now seems pretty normal, but in 1983 it really was something new and extremely well implemented by the mythical Dragon’s Lair, with its animations from Disney’s Don Bluth.

The game where you played the role of a knight became a landmark release and, after more than 3 decades, it arrives on Android, with a version that’s perfect for touch devices, since the gameplay is based on quick time events.

Download Dragon’s Lair

Dragon's Lair

It’s never too late to enjoy the classics

Clearly, if a game is really good, time won’t taint its charms. Just take a look at the games above  –  they’re “old school” but definitely not “old fashioned”, just like classic films or music.

Did you like this article? Then don’t miss the other installments of Best Android Games to...

… play on public transport

… play with your friends

get involved in a great story

relax

test your reflexes

…play with children

…train your brain

Maria Baeta

Maria Baeta

My first computer was an Amstrad CPC 6128 and so began my love for gadgets. Besides tech and games I love music (I'm a singer in two bands of swing, jazz and blues), cinema (watching and writing about it), gastronomy (cooking... but above all eating!) and alternative fashion. Do you follow the cult of The Rocky Horror Picture Show? Great, I'm sure we can get along.

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