Like many new graduates struggling to find their place in the corporate world, I suffer from an acute case of no-money-ness. Side effects include, but are not limited to, cannot-afford-internet, no-money-for-better-phone, and occasional bouts of why-is-[everything I want]-so-expensive?!
A sub-par phone and no internet connection are only minor hindrances to my gaming experience on my phone, however, as there are many games that can still run without an expensive new phone with 2GB RAM, 16GB internal memory and octa-core Snapdragon 801 (*weeps*). Here are the top 5 free lightweight Android games that do not require monies or internet connection.
5. Infectonator
The objective of this game is to turn as many human beings into zombies as you can within the allotted time. It promises hours of fun and is only 56.7MB large. Okay. That’s a little bigger than anticipated, but it should be able to run well on your phone nevertheless. Infectinator is a simple point and tap game where you release a batch of virus on the selected spot on the screen and watch your new born zombies omnomnom their way through the city. And then you loot the cold, dead bodies for monies so you can buy upgrades!
The zombies die out fairly quickly in earlier in the game though, so choose where you release your virus carefully for maximum contagion effect! The quirky game and customized languages for different countries (“Alamak!” for Indonesia. Hehe.) promises endless hours of amusement.
4. Gyro
At 3.36MB, this game barely makes a dent in your phone’s memory. This is a game of reflex where you take control of a wheel that looks like a Google chrome logo and match the colours with the incoming balls of varying colours and sizes. It is gorgeously designed and highly addictive in its simplicity.
The game gets more and more challenging as you play, with faster and faster coloured circles coming towards you. There are also special power-ups or viruses that you have to watch out for. It is ultimately a game requiring fast reflexes and impeccable timing and hours and hours of practice (and fun!).
3. League of Evil Free
While there is a paid version of this app, the free version (16.8MB) works just as well to keep you entertained for a fair amount of time. I clocked in an impressive three hours before I decided I was most definitely stuck and suck at this game and promptly gave up. That doesn’t mean you have to though!
In League of Evil, you play a bionic warrior sent to kill the evil scientists from carrying out their evil deeds in their evil lair. The abundance of the word ‘evil’ in the previous sentence should show you just how evil they truly are. This is a platform game and your goal is to double jump and punch your way through obstacles (evil scientists standing still). If you enjoy the game though, you can consider forking up $0.99 to open up more content.
2. Hoplite
Hoplite is a strategy turn-based strategy game that’s only 5.5MB large. It requires you to log into your Google account the first time you open it, but won’t need wireless connection henceforth. It has a simple and clean design that should be easy to grasp. Your goal is to obtain the Fleece of Yendor from the underworld. The floor is made up of hexagons that your hero will move around on.
Attacks are made not by running into enemies, like other common RPG games, but rather by moving certain ways around the enemy. If the enemy attacks you successfully, you lose one of your three hearts. Lose all three and you get to start all over again. The good news is, your enemies move in a predictable fashion so you can use that to your advantage. The bad news is, the closer you get to your goal, the more the enemies that will get in your way.
There is a shrine on each level where you can heal or power-up (at a cost). In addition, unlocking achievements grants you new abilities to choose from at the shrine. Stripped bare with its gameplay, this app is not hard to master and win but will take up lots of your time while you’re at it. It has a premium feature that is accessible provided you are willing to part with $1.99. I find the game equally fun without parting with my coffee money though.
1. Pixel Dungeon
This game is taking over my life. I am quite obsessed with this game. It requires very little space on your phone (2.84 MB) and is one of the few games that downloads without any additional permission (it has a small button on its menu that lets you donate to the developer of the game if you want to). This is an adventure dungeon crawling game with one of the simplest user interfaces. To move around, just tap on the location and your hero will sprint towards it.
You play one of four heroes (Warrior, Mage, Rogue, Huntress) and attempt to fight your way deeper and deeper into the dungeon against diseased rats, giant spiders and a myriad of other monsters. There’s a range of items to help you along the way, or impede your process. All items are unidentified when you first get them and you would have to either risk it, or wait to obtain an identity scroll. That purple potion could be a healing potion to bring you back from the brink of death, or just as likely kill you off in a burst of flames.
I have won this game a grand total of 4 times out of 482 plays. I am not proud of myself. There is even a pixel dungeon wiki page to help you along the way.
As you can probably tell, I am partial to simple RPG (roleplaying) adventure games. What do you play on your phones other than CandyCrush and Clash of Clans, readers? Let us know in the comments section!
Also read: 7 Creepiest Dating Apps of All Time
