Best Gaming Android App - 2016 Free

In our list of the best free Android games, we look at the some of the Play Store's most impressive free-to-play titles across a number of genres. We've recently updated our article to make it even easier to find the type of games you're looking for – head below to see what's going on. 

Dead Effect 2

It may not be wholly original or game-changing, but Dead Effect 2 brings the polish and shine of console first player shooters to Android. Wander around a space station that's riddled with the undead and test your problem-solving skills as you try valiantly to survive.

What really makes this game worthy of inclusion on our list is the graphics. They are simply stunning. If your device is up to the challenge, there's no way you won't be impressed the visuals that Dead Effect 2 has on offer. The controls and mechanics can be customized, so be sure to check out the options for doing that if they feel a little lightweight or clumsy to you.

Dead Trigger 2

Following the success of their first game, MadFinger Games released Dead Trigger 2, which is so zombielicious you’ll be asking for more blood and guts after just a few minutes of playing. You must travel through various undead-infested areas of the world, killing as many zombies with your jam-packed artillery of weapons. It’s positively disgusting, and that’s why we love it

Hopeless: The Dark Cave

Horror, comedy and cuteness combine to great effect in this shooter about a small group of incandescent blobs in the middle of a dark cave, trying to fight off an endless horde of dark-dwelling monstrosities.

There is no end to the game as such, you just collect coins to upgrade your weapons arsenal for the next go, and do your best to keep the cute little fellas alive. The game is not for the faint-hearted because watching the brave blobs get swallowed up one-by-one by the darkness can be heart-rending. 

SHADOWGUN: DeadZone

SHADOWGUN is the best multi-player shooter on Android, and will push powerful Android devices to the limit because of its demanding graphics. There are several classic shooter modes, including Deathmatch, and the Battlefield-style Zone Control. There is also an easy-to-use multiplayer voice chat, to help you better coordinate your team – or yell insults at your enemy.

Arena shooters are tough to implement on Android, but SHADOWGUN: DeadZone pulls it off

Plants vs Zombies 2

Sequel to one of the most successful free-to-play games ever, EA’s Plants vs Zombies 2 retains the spirit of the original while adding more zombies, plants and power ups. This colorful tower defense game will suck up a lot of your time (and potentially money, if you want to make use of its in-app purchases), but you are guaranteed fun along the way.

• Asphalt 8: Airborne

If you are into racecar driving, look no further than Asphalt 8: Airborne, a favorite arcade game among Android users. Why do we love it so much? It's free for a start, and you get to choose between real-life cars that you’ve always dreamed of driving – from Lamborghinis to Ferraris – ripping them down courses in various stunning locations.

If you have a competitive streak, you can drive in career mode, which takes you through eight seasons and 180 events.

Vainglory

This multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) is as good to play as it is to look at, and while there are the inevitable in-app purchases, the core game is free to play. The game makes it across to Android after a successful run on iOS, and if there's a better developer name than Super Evil Megacorp, we'd love to know what it is.

Vainglory comes to Android after lots of great reviews on iOS.