Are there any good casual/low-stress mobile games that aren’t filled with microtransactions? For example: easy puzzle games, match-3 games, low-difficulty adventure games, or clicker-style games.
So far, the only good examples I’ve found are Monument Valley, Suika Game, and (sort of) Vampire Survivors.
I’m personally looking for games that have more progression or variety, but any suggestions are welcome.
Pixel Dungeon: Roguelike, infinitely replayable. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.watabou.pixeldungeon
Auralux: A simple real time strategy game. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wardrumstudios.auralux
2048: Simple to learn, difficult to master puzzle. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.androbros.puzzle2048eng
The first link says not found :( maybe not available in Canada? Seems this one is a good replacement, will try it out? https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.shatteredpixel.shatteredpixeldungeon
Other ones say it was made for an old version of Android or incompatible, and can’t be downloaded (I have a pixel 5 with android 14)
Install from computer:
adb install --bypass-low-target-sdk-block FILENAME.apk
https://liliputing.com/how-to-install-old-apps-on-android-14/
Or the well-maintained and developed derivative:
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.shatteredpixel.shatteredpixeldungeon/
I use Privacy Friendly versions of Sudoku and Minesweeper on the F-Droid store. I also really enjoy Nonograms (aka Picross), and haven’t found a good foss app for it, but the app “nonograms.com” has been a good experience for me. I paid like $5 for the ad free version and that’s been it, nothing else.
I’m using Simon Tatham’s Puzzles for nonograms.
It’s basically this webpage in app form: https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/puzzles/js/pattern.html
It doesn’t result in a pixel art picture when you solve it, if you care for that, but the solutions do have contiguous regions.
First one coming to mind for me is Pillar Hop. Very simple, chill, and just had ads iirc (I block them, but I’m pretty sure it does, anyway.)
I have a 2048 clone from F-Droid and a Solitaire-like games collection from F-Droid that keep me busy on flights, etc. No stress, easy, entertaining.
Nonograms Katana. I guess there are micro transactions for useless crap but it’s not pay to win. If you’re on iOS, it’s just the puzzles but if you’re on Android, it includes a “mini game” where you…build out a village? And fight monsters in dungeons? It’s really weird…but I’m in it for the puzzles.
Nonograms are great for puzzles that are hard enough to be satisfying when you solve them, but easy enough to be relaxing. I use Picture Cross Color on iphone.
This one is good but Hungry Cat Nonograms is the best mobile picross game imo. Thousands of puzzles, amazing controls, beautiful art. It has ads which can be removed with a single in-app purchase. Been playing for almost 8 years and they’re still releasing weekly content.
I certainly don’t want to argue about which is better as I haven’t played that one but Katana also has 155k puzzles! Users add a ton each day and you can follow your favorite artists. No purchase necessary and no ads (unless you watch one for some of the aforemented useless stuff)
I will say that there’s plenty of garbage puzzles due to them being user-generated. And a good portion are color nonograms which I don’t like all that much
