It is incredibly hard to find good mobile games that you can just pay for up front and enjoy without any strings attached.
If you spot a free-to-play game on your device’s app store, there’s a good chance it’s a “gacha game” in one way or another. That is to say, games that have you spending some kind of in-game currency you can buy with real world money to roll the dice on obtaining new characters and/or items. While “loot box” games have somewhat gone out of fashion in console games, these type of gambling-adjacent monetization models are still prolific in mobile games. And while some free-to-play games can be enjoyable if you can resist the temptation to spend, just playing a game without that psychological pressure is easily worth spending a few dollars up front in many cases.
If you’re looking for these kinds of mobile games, take heart: there are diamonds in the rough to uncover. Below you’ll find some of our favorite titles without any gacha systems or other in-game monetization aside from paid DLC content. Games that aren’t total one-and-done purchases will be marked as such below, but note these games were judged on their base content alone. We’ll continue to update this list with other great premium games as we find them, so make sure to check back and see what else we’ve played in the coming months!
Final Fantasy Dimensions
Technically speaking, you can consider this a recommendation for any classic Final Fantasy game. The first six Final Fantasy games are available as pixel remasters on phones everywhere, with Final Fantasy VI in particular being one of the best RPGs ever made. However, if you want a Final Fantasy game that’s you can only find on mobile devices, Final Fantasy Dimensions is the game for you.
Final Fantasy Dimensions styles itself after Final Fantasy V, which is a good thing for those who like to customize their party. And while it’s not necessarily going to give the main series a run for its money, its still a charming adventure that RPG fans should check out. It has the same contentious art style that the old Final Fantasy ports used to have, but since this one at least is an original work, it gets a pass.
Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls
Requires an Apple Arcade subscription
If you want the experience of playing a gacha game without any temptations to spend more cash, then Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls is for you.
Despite all odds, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls does a remarkable job giving an authentic sidescrolling Castlevania experience. Players can pick from series protagonists like Simon, Alucard, and Shanoa and make their way through a respectable amount of side scrolling stages. There are some RPG elements here, as you’ll level up characters, upgrade elemental weapons, and even collect side characters like Richter to tag in for you at a moment’s notice. This can make Grimoire of Souls a bit of a grind, but at least its one by design.
The “gacha” element of the game comes from spending in-game currency to obtain new weapons. However, I have to reiterate that, as an Apple Arcade game, Grimoire of Souls contains no microtransactions. This game actually was a more traditional gacha game before it originally shut down service, so that’s why the game plays like this. However, you can grind for specific weapons outside the fake gacha system, so you’re not totally at the mercy of random drops.
I highly recommend playing this one with a controller for the best experience. If everything here sounds appealing to you, then Grimoire of Souls will offer a surprisingly good time from the otherwise dormant Castlevania series.
One Deck Dungeon
Contains some paid DLC
One Deck Dungeon isn’t the most exciting board game adaptation ever made. However, as far as table top games go, One Deck Dungeon is one of the best solo pick-up-and-play games you can ask for. This simple game of dice manipulation is surprisingly captivating, which makes it a perfect game for mobile devices.
One Deck Dungeon tasks you with taking one or two heroes through randomized dungeons filled with baddies to fight and traps to disarm. Rather than using any kind of traditional turn-based combat, encounters are resolved though rolling lots of dice and using skills to manipulate those dice to hit certain thresholds. It takes a second to get used to, but once you have a hang of it, it becomes incredibly hard to put down.
If you want the kick of a campaign board game without the setup or time commitment those generally involve, One Deck Dungeon is for you.
Deemo
Contains paid DLC
Deemo remains, to this day, one of the most iconic rhythm games you can find on mobile devices. The piano-focused gameplay and soundtrack perfectly fit touch devices, and the song selection here is incredible. Sure, there’s a lot of DLC (as is to be expected from most rhythm games), but there are so many jams to enjoy here.
What really elevates Deemo above its competition is its setting. The game mixes some light exploration and puzzle solving elements in here, which all build a story that becomes surprisingly emotional at its climax. Whether you’re a rhythm game beginner or expert, there’s something for you to enjoy here.
While Deemo has since seen a free-to-play sequel and a semi-remake, the original game remains arguably the best due to its sheer variety of songs. But regardless of which Deemo you choose, you can’t really go wrong.
Monument Valley
Monument Valley is a short but sweet perspective-based puzzle game that I couldn’t stop playing from the moment I picked it up. It’s that right mix of accessible controls and brain-teasing challenges, with an abstract story that just has some captivating vibes if nothing else. There’s actually not a lot to say here, since so much of Monument Valley can’t really be explained with words, but just know that it’s an award-winning game for good reason.
Monument Valley received a sequel in 2017, which I’d also recommend if you like this concept. Apple Arcade users can also grab this game via Monument Valley+, so absolutely download that if you’re subscribed.
You Must Build a Boat
The RPG-puzzle genre is robust these days, but EightyEight Games’ You Must Build a Boat sticks out above the crowd. It’s a frantic and captivating take on the Match-3 formula, hitting that exact sweet spot of easy to play and difficult to master. And because each “run” of the game lasts until you lose, going back to your boat and unlocking upgrades with your winnings really encourages you to see how much longer you can go on your next run. It may not look like much, and it may only cost a few dollars, but the quality of the gameplay you’ll get here is absolutely sublime.
You Must Build a Boat is the sequel to 10000000, which features the same style of gameplay. While You Must Build a Boat is the superior title, I’d frankly recommend getting both games. You’re going to want more by the time you’re done.
Dragon Quest V
Much like the classic Final Fantasy games, the first six Dragon Quest are all available on mobile devices. These classic titles have nice mix of accessible dungeon crawling and pleasant exploration that really work well on your phone, whether you want to play for a few minutes or a few hours. While every Dragon Quest title is worth playing, Dragon Quest V is both one of the best games in the series and one of the best RPGs period.
All the charm of the Dragon Quest series is here, but what elevates this one is its surprisingly heartfelt story. Beginning from the birth of your player character all the way into old age, Dragon Quest V tells a tale that mirrors the ways our real lives change as we get older. We stumble into adventures, making unlikely friends along the way, only to realize later in life how much those bonds mean to us. It’s a story of love and revenge in equal measure, all while carrying that whimsy the Dragon Quest series is known for. It will stick with you long after its over, I can’t recommend it enough.
As another point in Dragon Quest V’s favor, the mobile version is really the only accessible way to buy the game in English nowadays. Your only other option is to track down a cartridge for the Nintendo DS, which would wind up costing you a pretty penny. And if you’re still not sold on Dragon Quest V, know you can also collect and train monsters Pokemon-style here too. This game really has it all.
Fantasian
Requires an Apple Arcade subscription
We’ve talked about a lot of classic RPGs on this list, but what about an all-new, top-shelf RPG exclusive for mobile devices? Enter Fantasian, a game that comes to us from the Final Fantasy creator himself, Hironobu Sakaguchi.
This isn’t just a nostalgia trip. Fantasian mixes classic RPG gameplay with new ideas to create an adventure that feels just as fresh as it is familiar. What’s more, Fantasian also features a soundtrack by the legendary Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu. The only real downside here is that Fantasian remains, to this day, an Apple Arcade exclusive title. Android users are out of luck, even years after the game’s original release. That said, if you don’t mind grabbing an Apple Arcade subscription, Fantasian is worth your time. It is as “Squaresoft” as any new game you’ll find these days, and that alone deserves a hearty recommendation
Published: Nov 8, 2023 10:16 am