Google Play Pass has finally launched in the US, giving access to a slew of apps and games for a low monthly price. But with more than 350 titles on offer, it can be hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. To help, we’ve put together a list of the 10 best Play Pass Games currently available.
Read also: Google Play Pass games and apps: All launch titles announced so far
Just with the titles below you’re looking at more than $70 worth of the best mobile games around for $5 a month (or $2 a month for the first year). If you’re worried about recurring subscriptions, you can pay for the service with your Google Play balance. Just pick up a $25 prepaid card to take advantage of a full year of service and forget about ever being charged again.
Best Google Play Pass Games
1. Stardew Valley ($7.99)
Let’s kick off our list of the best Play Pass games with one of the greatest indie ports on Android. Stardew Valley originally came out on Steam in 2016, and has since made its way to just about every platform under the sun. Thankfully, the touchscreen controls are excellent and it supports bluetooth controllers, as well.
Our verdict: Stardew Valley review: Breath of fresh air for Android farming games
If you somehow haven’t already played it, it’s an incredibly open-ended farming simulator/RPG. Your character inherits a farm from his/her grandfather, and it’s up to you to turn it into a money-making machine, or just a beautiful garden for you and your spouse. You can even grab a sword and slingshot and head into a cave to take down baddies and mine valuable minerals.
There is just so much to do in Stardew Valley, and if you enjoy Harvest Moon or similar titles you can easily sink hundreds of hours into it (like I have on several platforms).
2. Mini Metro ($0.99)
Not everyone wants deep gameplay experiences on the go, and Mini Metro is the perfect way to get your gaming fix in a rush. It’s a minimalistic strategy game where you need to connect subway stops in an ever-expanding city. If too many passengers are delayed, it’s game over.
Inspired by the iconic London Underground tube maps, Mini Metro won a number of awards for its audio, visuals, and game design when it debuted in 2016. The game has since been ported to other platforms, and a sequel was just released for Apple Arcade. It’s a shame the sequel will never make it to Android, but it doesn’t build all that much on the original.
3. Sorcery! 1-4 ($5.99 each)
Sorcery! is a series of stellar graphic adventure games based on Steve Jackson’s choose-your-own-adventure novels of the same name. When the first game was released back in 2013, it was an early testament to the power and versatility of short story-telling games on mobile platforms.
The games are beautiful and engaging, but drew criticism for their short length. Thankfully, all four Sorcery! titles are included with Google Play Pass, so you can get the full adventure for a fraction of the price. The full series would normally cost you nearly $24, which is the cost of a full year of Play Pass.
4. Monument Valley 1 & 2 ($3.99 & $4.99)
Monument Valley is another fantastic but short mobile series, making it the perfect choice for Play Pass. The award-winning original and its equally superb sequel are mind-bending puzzle games where you have to manipulate the scenery in physics-defying ways to make it to the next screen.
The family-friendly adventures are widely lauded as some of the best mobile games of all time, and now you can grab them both with Google Play Pass.
5. Reigns: Game of Thrones ($3.99)
Next on our list of the best games on Google Play Pass is another series of mobile games. Reigns trades in fancy graphics for solid gameplay and replayability, which made it a breakout hit in 2016. You are charged with keeping the three powers of your kingdom in balance, and the only gameplay mechanic is a tinder-style swiping system to make decisions.
It sounds simple, but it’s surprisingly difficult. The most recent game in the series is based on Game of Thrones, but the entire series (a $9 value) is available on Play Pass.
6. Limbo ($4.99)
Limbo is yet another console-quality game to make it to our list of the best Play Pass games. It’s a 2.5D side scrolling puzzle game where you play as a young boy trying to find his sister in a treacherous forest.
Related: Google Play Pass vs Apple Arcade: The battle of the curated app subscriptions
Sure, there are thousands of side scrolling puzzle games out there, but this one is made truly unique thanks to its chiaroscuro-style visuals. This incredible aesthetic paired with gruesome death sequences give Limbo an eerie atmosphere that hasn’t been matched by other mobile games since.
7. Agent A: A Puzzle in Disguise ($6.99)
Agent A: A Puzzle in Disguise provides a more traditional take on point and click adventure games. You play as a secret agent tasked with infiltrating an enemy spy’s hideout, and you’ll need to solve puzzles and interact with the environment to unlock the game’s full secrets.
What makes this one of the best games on Play Pass isn’t necessarily the gameplay (which is good), it’s the style. The game uses a retro cartoon art style, compete with furniture and accessories straight from the era.
8. This is the Police ($7.99)
This simulation/management game will make you feel even worse about the police than you already do. You play the role of Police Chief Jack Boyd (voiced by Jon St. John, the voice of Duke Nukem), and your goal is to make $500,000 before retiring in 180 days. How do you make that money? Completely up to you.
The game is truly immersive, and the decisions you make have an effect on the storyline. A sequel was released in 2019, but it isn’t included in Play Pass (yet). Hopefully we can add it to the list soon!
9. Lumino City ($4.99)
Lumino City is the second family-friendly title to make our list of the best Play Pass games. This award-winning puzzle game plops you down into an incredible hand-crafted town to rescue your grandfather.
And when I say hand-crafted, I mean that the creators actually built the miniaturized city out of paper and motors, then filmed the scenes for the game. This one is an absolute must play, and it clocks in at a very generous 8-10 hours of gameplay.
10. Terraria ($4.99)
Although the mobile version well behind the PC version when it comes to updates, the level of replayability in Terraria earns it a spot on our list of the best games on Play Pass. It’s essentially a 2D side scrolling Minecraft, with tons of areas to explore and hundreds of weapons to collect.
As of 2019, online multiplayer also works on mobile, so you can play with up to eight people. Controls have been optimized for touchscreens, but the game also works with bluetooth controllers if you’re looking for a bit more precision.
Best Play Pass games: Honorable mentions
There are so many great launch titles on Play Pass that it was hard to pick just 10 (technically we picked 16 with sequels). Here are a few of our favorites that could easily make the list of the best games on Play Pass.
- Lichtspeer — This stylish and viking-filled action game is a lot of fun, just make sure you play with the volume up.
- Star Wars: KOTOR — KOTOR is a classic, and although it’s a slightly shaky port, it’s still a must-play for Western RPG and Star Wars fans.
- Pocket City — A Sim City-esque mobile title that will keep you building for hundreds of hours.
- 80 Days — Another great adventure game from the makers of the Sorcery! series.
- Game Dev Tycoon — Want to see what these game developers go through? Get a taste with Game Dev Tycoon.
That’s it for our list of the best games on Google Play Pass. We’ll keep this list updated as new games are added to the service.