0 Android Games for Mid-Range Phones

See all 3 photos

So you have got an Android phone. Maybe it's last year's flagship, maybe it's a mid-range budget thing: you don't need anything more and the one you've got suits you just fine. Not everyone needs the latest and greatest like the Samsung Galaxy S2, HTC Sensation or an Nvidia Tegra 2 tablet! You probably weren't even thinking of gaming on your phone, of all things, when you bought that ZTE or Samsung Galaxy Mini, or even an older phone like the HTC Desire. But your commute time is lengthy, or you are waiting at the dentist's, or stuck in a conference and there's downtime. You are thinking you want something fun to kill time and look enviously at a friend's Motorola Droid Bionic. You wish you'd bought a high-end powerhouse of a phone after all, so you too can enjoy the latest in 3D HD gaming like Order and Chaos, Dungeon Defenders, and more - games with nearly console-like graphics quality.

Good news! Many games on Android are made to scale across different specs, models and price point: it's no good for a game developer to target the top-end minority, they need some love and revenue from you too. So let's look at a wide range of games that will run on just about any good ol' phone so long as it's running Android. I promise they will look just as good, and run just as butter-smooth, on your phone as it runs on your friend's Galaxy SII.

See all 3 photos Third Blade: side-scrolling RPG

Free! Free!

Most of these games operate on the "freemium" model, which is to say the game itself is free but you can buy extra items, dungeon packs and the like through in-app stores. For the sake of curating I won't be including most social games like World War or Mafia Wars, as these aren't so much games as timed click-a-thon with incentives to add people to your friendslist. Despite the freemium model however, these are generally still worthwhile free Android games where you don't have to purchase anything to enjoy the full experience.

• Cut the Rope - paid on the market, but free from GetJar. A neat little puzzle game that's achieved critical acclaim on the iTunes app store.
• Zenonia 2 and Zenonia 3 - retro-style RPGs with cute little stories, humorous dialogue and item collection.
• Inotia 3: Children of Carnia - like the Zenonia series, but arguably with better interface and gameplay mechanics.
• Illusia
• Third Blade - side-scrolling RPG/arcade hybrid.
• Robotek HD - turn-based strategy with robots.
• Pocket Legends - the one 3D MMO that works on older devices (though the absolute low-end won't run it well).
• Supermarket Mania 1 and Supermarket Mania 2 - time management games where you establish, upgrade and run supermarkets.
• WordFeud - a cross-platform multiplayer puzzle game where you can play against other Android users as well as iPhone/iPod Touch users.
• Angry Birds/Angry Birds Rio - the physics fling-them-all puzzle and a hit everywhere. All variants should run well on mid-end devices.

See all 3 photos Plants vs Zombies for Android

Paid Games

• Battleheart - a cute RPG/strategy blend with cartoonized 2D graphics and a fun mixture of leveling-up and mixing classes in your party.
• Grand Prix Story - a racing team simulation from Kairosoft using retro-style graphics. It might look dated at first, but get into it and you will find yourself draining your phone's battery out of sheer addiction.
• Hot Spring Story - like the above, except you run a hot spring/inn combination, and instead of managing cars and drivers you manage building layouts, customers, and land expansion.
• Game Dev Story - the original Kairosoft hit lets you control a team of game developers. Fun, surprisingly complex and singularly addictive.
• Pocket League Story - Kairosoft's quirky take on football team management. Hire players, coaches, build up your stadium and practice field, and pit your team against world-class rivals.
• Farm Frenzy - the Flash game on Android where you manage upgrades, pick up produce, and protect your farm animals against bears.
• Majesty: The Fantasy Kingdom Simulator - Paradox Interactive's foray into mobile gaming lets you manage a fantasy town, heroes, and take on evil necromancers.
• Gem Miner: Dig Deeper
• Plants vs Zombies - comes in several different versions: one for phone (with a UI optimized for small screens) and one for Tegra 2 tablets, with a more PC-like interface and enhanced graphical effects. The phone version can run on the upper end of mid-range devices without a hitch.
• Airport Mania - fancy trying it out as a flight director? Use your fingers to keep planes from colliding.
• Muffin Knight - an RPG/platformer hybrid with excellent polish, beautiful visuals, and not so demanding that it won't run on a newer mid-range phone.