Every weekend, as you know, we review the new games that are enjoying the most download success, but it's also interesting to have the opportunity to take a look at a selection where quality is paramount , at least according to the users who have tried them: what are the best-rated Android games on Google Play?
Surprise ?: Angry Birds is the clear dominator
One thing that's clear at a glance is that Rovio , and more specifically the Angry Birds franchise , has placed no fewer than four titles in the Google Play selection , including the original game and its official sequel , as well as some of the more recent releases like Angry Birds Blast and Angry Birds Evolution . It's certainly worth acknowledging that with download numbers like theirs, maintaining such high ratings and such consistency across virtually all their games is a challenge.
Other big download hits that have made the cut
Angry Birds isn't the only bestseller that has proven its ability to rack up millions of downloads and rave reviews, and Google 's selection includes other major hits with legions of devoted fans. Supercell's Clash of Clans and Clash Royale stand out , but we also find several from Madfinger ( Unkilled and Dead Trigger 2 ), both the free and premium versions of Cut the Rope , Star Wars Galaxy of Heroes , and Asphalt 8 , a classic racing game. Just behind in popularity are titles like NOVA and UFC.
Many of our highlights in 2017
In this selection, it's clear that Google has prioritized more recent titles, and while older games are also included, it's evident that this year's releases have a stronger presence. In fact, many of the games we included in our compilation of the best free games of 2017 so far have been featured, such as Yellow, Sky Dancer, Soul Knight, Iron Blade, Injustice 2, Last Day on Earth, Battle Bay, Magikarp, and CATS . We also find some names that have appeared in our recent weekly top 5 lists, like Star Wars: Droid Puzzles , Ninja Arashi , Redbros, and Card Thief.
There is no shortage of indie classics
Of course, a few classic indie games had to make this list of top-rated titles, and you can probably guess some of the names that made the cut: Limbo, Monument Valley, Out There, Badland, Alto's Adventure, Mekorama… We're actually surprised not to find more, but that's probably because Google prioritized free-to-play titles, and most of the best indie games are paid (though often without in-app purchases, which is often preferable). On the other hand, we're sure that more than one of the more recent indie games included on this list will eventually be considered classics, as is already happening to some extent with the more recent Mekorama (which, by the way, is also among the top picks on Google Play).
There is still room for surprises
We have to say that despite seeing so many familiar faces, we still came across a few surprises, such as Madrid Zombie , a title that appears classified as a role-playing game, but is more of an interactive novel, Good Knight Story , which is more properly an RPG with a retro touch and quite a bit of humor, I Love Hue , a puzzle game that tests our perception, or Lonewolf, a shooter with a story that carries more weight than usual in the genre.
Neither are all who are, nor are all who are
Clearly, this isn't a simple ranking of the highest-rated games on Google Play . Instead, a selection has been made from games that reach a certain rating threshold. While it's understandable that some cuts had to be made and many highly-reviewed games were left out, it is perhaps a little surprising that some games with less favorable user scores were included. In any case, you can check out the complete list yourself, and if you're still hungry for more, check out our selection of the best tablet games by genre. And as always, we keep you updated daily on the latest and most interesting Android gaming news.