Tired of mindless mobile games? Craving the depth and immersion of classic PC titles? You’re in luck! Android offers a surprising selection of ported PC games, ready to rock your mobile world.
Retro gaming on modern hardware should be seamless, and even if emulation is required, you shouldn’t be able to see it happening. That’s why these games – from a collection of world-famous gaming franchises – are ideal for retro gaming on Android. You just find them in the store, pay, and install. There is no emulation, no complicated configurations – you just play!
This list features a variety of classic PC gaming genres to satisfy every gamer.
Action & adventure
- Grand Theft Auto Trilogy (GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas): Experience the iconic open-world mayhem of GTA on Android. Choose your criminal path across three sprawling, crime-ridden cities. In addition, “definitive” remastered editions of the games are also available on Android.
- DOOM and DOOM II: These legendary first-person shooters bring intense demon slaying to your mobile device. The fast-paced action and iconic visuals translate surprisingly well to touch controls. If you prefer to play for free, take a look at Freedoom — check our guide to playing DOOM on Android for more.
- Max Payne Mobile: This neo-noir action game puts you in the shoes of a vengeful cop battling against a corrupt system. Enjoy innovative slow-motion gunfights and a gripping story.
- Hitman: Blood Money – Reprisal: A stealth video game with a useful mechanism – the ability to make every hit look like an accidental death.
- Carmageddon: A vehicle-based combat racing game, this game fetaures 36 racetracks. You win by making it to the end first, or destroying all of your competitors!
RPGs & strategy
- Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition: Dive into a sprawling fantasy adventure with a memorable cast of characters and a rich world to explore. Build your party, complete quests, and experience the magic of classic RPGs.
- Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition: A continuation of the earlier game, and compatible with previously-created characters. This also includes four expansion packs.
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR): Journey to a time before the Skywalker Saga in this critically acclaimed RPG. Make choices that impact the story, build your lightsaber skills, and face the Sith threat. Both KOTOR games are also available via the Epic Games Store for Android, and available free until March 20th 2025.
- Star Wars: KOTOR II: The sequel to KOTOR is set five years later, with the Jedi facing extinction.
- XCOM 2 Collection: Command your elite soldiers in a desperate fight against an alien invasion. This turn-based strategy game offers deep tactical gameplay and a tense atmosphere.
- Planescape: Torment: Enhanced & Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition: These classic isometric RPGs offer unique stories, memorable characters, and vast worlds to explore. Perfect for fans of the genre looking for a deep experience.
- The Bard’s Tale: An entertaining RPG taking place across a vast world, you must embrace music to summon characters to fight on your behalf. This version includes the complete trilogy of games, The Bard’s Tale 1: Tales of the Unknown, The Bard’s Tale 2: The Destiny Knight, and The Bard’s Tale 3: Thief of Fate.
- Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced: A classic Dungeons & Dragons RPG, this includes the original campaign and six free DLC adventures, amounting to 100 hours of gaming!
- Runescape & Old School Runescape: This popular MMORPG lets you explore a vast open world, complete quests, and interact with other players. Choose between the latest version or a classic experience.
- Company of Heroes: Control companies of US soldiers in the European Theatre of operations, or buy the expansion packs to lead British or even German Panzers.
Follow Gaming Retro on Google News to get the latest retro gaming news in your feed.
Adventure games
- The 7th Guest: Remastered: This point-and-click adventure throws you into a haunted house filled with puzzles and unsettling surprises. Experience the thrill of full-motion video gameplay.
- Simon the Sorcerer: This comedic adventure game follows a hapless hero who must rescue a wizard and battle an evil sorcerer. Enjoy clever puzzles and a quirky sense of humor. Simon the Sorcerer – Mucusade is also available.
- Syberia: Explore the beauty and intrigue of Eastern Europe in this acclaimed graphic adventure game. Meet fascinating characters, solve puzzles, and uncover a captivating story.
- The Last Express: Embark on a thrilling mystery aboard the iconic Orient Express. This adventure game features branching narratives and stunning animation, all set against the backdrop of World War I.
Strategy & simulation
- Rome: Total War: Wage epic battles on a massive scale in this real-time strategy classic. Lead your Roman legions to victory across Europe, North Africa, and the Near East. Also available is Total War: Medieval II, which moves the action to a later period of history.
- Tropico: Become the ultimate island dictator in this city-building simulation. Build your Caribbean nation from the ground up, manage resources, and keep your people happy (or not!).
- Sid Meier’s Railroads!: Lay track between cities, transport goods, win patents, meet objectives, and defeat other rail moguls, in this reimagining of Railroad Tycoon. (The publisher has recently added a “try before you buy” mode, which I’d recommend.)
- RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic: I’ll be honest, I always preferred Theme Park, but RollerCoaster Tycoon is the game that people really remember. So, why not install it on your Android phone or tablet like it’s the heyday of PC strategy gaming??
Mobile Gaming Gets Serious
This list just scratches the surface of what’s available. New titles are added regularly… but occasionally, classic PC games are pulled from the Android store. For example, Syberia 2 was available, but not anymore.
So, ditch the casual fling and embrace the depth and complexity of these classic PC titles. With a controller or touchscreen controls, you can experience these timeless games on the go. Happy gaming!
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through those links. This comes at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Christian Cawley is a writer and editor who covers consumer electronics, IT, and entertainment media. He has written for publications such as Computer Weekly, Linux Format, MakeUseOf.com, and Tech Radar.
He also produces podcasts, has a cigar box guitar, and of course, loves retro gaming.
We collect the most important retro gaming news and articles and send them to you weekly, absolutely free.
