Top 10 Mobile Games That Aren’t Pay to Win

There’s nothing more infuriating than downloading a game that seems really fun, only to find out 30 minutes in that the game is riddled with microtransactions. Instead of playing those, here’s a list of the top 10 mobile games that aren’t pay to win that are actually worth your time.

The Top 10 Mobile Games That Aren’t Pay to Win

1. Offline Games

• Cost – Free
• Ads – Minimal
• Developer – JindoBlu

As the name implies, Offline Games is an entire cohort of free games that you can play even when you don’t have an internet connection. The app does contain ads, but those are few and far between. With dozens of games to choose from, there quite literally is something for everyone.

2. The Battle of Polytopia

• Cost – Free (Contains DLC)
• Ads – None
• Developer – Midjiwan AB

The Battle of Polytopia is a charming 4X game that’s a rare diamond in the rough. The only paid content in this game is the DLC tribes packs, but even those aren’t pay-to-win as everything is remarkably balanced. If you’re craving a turn-based 4X strategy game, then The Battle of Polytopia is just about the best game to sate those cravings.

3. Monument Valley

Cost – $3.88 (Contains DLCs)

Ads – None

Developer – ustwo games

Remember that scene from Labyrinth (1986) where everything’s inverted? Well, Monument Valley offers something similar to that. From moonlight gardens to sky-high castles, each has its own unique puzzles and challenges. It’s a remarkable game that will challenge your imagination and leave you richer in the end, rather than poorer.

4. Super Auto Pets

• Cost – Free
• Ads – None
• Developer – Team Wood Games

Super Auto Pets is a light-hearted auto battler that has you collecting a roster of cutesy pets, after which you duke it out with other players. The game is completely free, has no ads, and doesn’t have any paid DLC. It’s a truly free game in every sense, which is quite rare nowadays.

5. Identity V

• Cost – Free (Has Microtransactions)
• Ads – Minimal
• Developer – NetEase Games

Identity V is an asymmetric survival horror game where one player plays as the killer and the other four have to survive his attacks. It’s a pretty fun experience, although it does tend to stutter a bit on older devices that don’t have the best internal components. The only microtransactions in the game are purely cosmetic, so there’s no need to worry that other players will stomp you just because they have a bigger bank balance than you.

6. Underhand

Cost – Free

Ads – None

Developer – Spoopy Squad

Underhand is a card deck-building game that has you playing as a Lovecraftian cult leader whose goal is to summon unspeakable horrors from beyond the void. Although simple, it’s an incredibly atmospheric game. The only downside to the game is that it’s relatively short, and after playing it for a while you will have practically seen all there is to see.

7. Freedoom

• Cost – Free
• Ads – None
• Developer – mkrupczak3

Freedoom is a faithful recreation of one of the most popular games of all time—Doom. It’s not an exact 1-1, as that would be illegal. Still, it recreates the original Doom feeling just enough so that it’s a certified classic right from the get-go. Unfortunately, the game isn’t being developed anymore, however, it’s still available for download and it’s as good as it ever was

8. Shattered Pixel Dungeon

• Cost – Free (Has Microtransactions)
• Ads – None
• Developer – Shattered Pixel

Shattered Pixel Dungeon is a traditional dungeon crawler where the only thing that’s set in stone is the dungeon itself and the five heroes that you can play as. Everything else is randomized and procedurally generated. It does have some microtransactions, however, they only change your appearance or the name of your weapons. Everything else you have to earn the old-fashioned way, by playing the game.

9. Pew Pew Live

• Cost – Free
• Ads – None
• Developer – Jean-François Geyelin

Pew Pew Live is a retro-looking bullet hell that has five different game modes as well as LAN co-op support, something that is practically unheard of in 99% of modern mobile games. The game is a passion project of a single developer who hopes to make the game his “Sistine Chapel.” Regardless if he makes it or not, it’s undeniable that the game is a work of art and definitely something worth keeping an eye on.

10. Pathos: Nethach Codex

• Cost – Free
• Ads – None
• Developer – Callan Hodgskin

If you’re a fan of Dungeons and Dragons and you’ve never heard of Pathos: Nethack Codex, you’re missing out. Pathos is a roguelike adventure game inspired by the 1987 game NetHack. It uses similar rules to its inspiration, it’s procedurally generated, and it’s free of any microtransactions. No two playthroughs of it are the same. You can play it for years on end and not get bored of it.

That’s it for the top 10 mobile games that aren’t pay to win. Make sure to check out our mobile games hub for even more exciting mobile games to sink your teeth in!