Are you tired of being nickeled-and-dimed by freemium Android games? Had enough of gems and timers and boosts? That's certainly the popular opinion we get when we talk about freemium, so we've rounded up our favorite action games in the Google Play Store that do away with all of that, and provides the absolute maximum of product up-front.
We're focusing on reflex-driven games here, but we've got a few others kicking around in our global roundup of the best non-freemium Android games. Go ahead, dive in, and let us know what you think of our top ten action Android games without IAPs in the comments.
Super Hexagon
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Super Hexagon is an absurdly difficult action game where players have to navigate through a geometric maze that's continually spinning and collapsing in on itself. Simply put: get hit by a wall and you lose. The pulsing rhythm and constant spinning of the play area are a huge challenge, and an outstanding soundtrack will keep you on the edge of your seat. There are three stages plus alternate, insanely hard versions of each level after hitting certain goal times.
Super Hexagon is a fantastic game for gluttons of punishment.
- $2.99 - Download now (opens in new tab)
- Read our review of Super Hexagon
Modern Combat 5
Modern Combat 5 boasts bar-setting graphics, rich multiplayer, familiar first-person shooter experience and achievement progression, a dazzling array of weapon customization, and top-notch voice acting. You'll find hardware controller support here too, for those really looking to emulate the console experience. That's great and all, but there is one distinct difference in Modern Combat 5 which could easily stand as the sole selling point: there are zero in-app purchases.
Modern Combat 5 is without a doubt the best first-person shooter available on Android.
- $6.99 - Download now (opens in new tab)
- Read our Modern Combat 5 review
Dumb Ways to Die
In Dumb Ways to Die, players have to successfully get through a gauntlet of simple mini-games for as long as possible, though they progressively grow more difficult. These can range from shooing piranhas away from your crotch, swatting bugs, and holding onto balloons so you don't dive onto the tracks. You get three failures before it's game over. The art style fantastically morbid; cute little characters are constantly getting maimed in new and exciting ways. As you play, you unlock more of the victims/idiots for your collection. The best part about this game is that it's actually a kind of public service warning by the Melbourne transit association to make sure people don't do stupid things near the tracks. Well-played, Australia. Well-played. There are a few ads to put up with between games, but at least the game's free.
Dumb Ways to Die is a fantastic, dark (but cute) test of reflexes.
- Free - Download now (opens in new tab)
Unpossible
Unpossible is a fast as hell racing game where players have to steer around a stark tube and avoid incoming obstacles as long as possible. The fluid gameplay and sharp, slight Tron style to the game's visuals are both immediately impressive. The challenge ramps up to Super Hexagon levels very quickly. You can also try your hand at new daily challenges, or take it easy in zen mode.
Unpossible is a gut-wrenching ride that will have you constantly coming back for more.
- $1.99 - Download now (opens in new tab)
Osmos
Osmos at first feels fairly slow and plodding, but its tenuous pace demands a lot of intuition. Players control a cell that drifts through an organic soup, absorbing cells. The catch is that propelling yourself in a given direction ejects mass in the process, which in turn makes you smaller, and more susceptible to getting absorbed by larger cells. Things get particularly interesting when you try your hand at multiplayer mode.
If you're interested in picking up a thinking man's action game, Osmos is it.
- $2.99 - Download now (opens in new tab)
Alone
The premise of Alone is simple: drag up and down on a the screen to pilot an escape pod through a deadly gauntlet of galactic debris. You get two levels of shields that can soak up a bit of punishment. Go for as long as possible in order to unlock higher difficulty levels. The controls are razor-sharp. You drag behind the ship to push it up or down (the direction is inverted by default and feels great, but you can flip that in the options). The sensitivity for this is really high, so you're just rolling your thumb on the screen rather than swiping. This is perfect for playing on small screens, but scales up to tablets just as well.
Alone is a modern, fast, and polished endless runner you won't soon forget.
- $2.47 - Download now (opens in new tab)
Wave Wave
Wave Wave is an insanely difficult abstract one-touch runner game. Players are guiding a line through a gauntlet of triangular obstructions by tapping and holding the screen to climb, and releasing to dive. Constant flickering and warping effects pose a significant challenge and the intense 8-bit soundtrack won't be soothing your nerves. Despite its obvious influence from Super Hexagon, Wave Wave stands very much on its own thanks to a more fleshed-out progression structure, varied disorientation effects, and a two-player mode.
If Super Hexagon isn't quite challenging enough for you anymore, Wave Wave will kick things up a notch.
- $0.99 - Download now (opens in new tab)
Eliss Infinity
Eliss Infinity is a simple retro action game where players need to drag colored planets into target zones before the screen gets too cramped with new ones appearing. Every planet can be stacked on with like-colored ones to make it bigger, or split apart to become smaller, which is necessary to fit within the different target areas that pop up randomly. If different-colored planets are touching one another, it will take a bite out of your health, and of course if you lose too much health, it's game over. There's a campaign with a 25 levels, and an extremely challenging infinity mode.
Though the gameplay is simple, the frantic pace and minimal wireframe graphics of Eliss Infinity are a great hook.
- $2.99 - Download now (opens in new tab)
Dropchord
In Dropchord, players create a line that cuts through a circle by placing two fingers on the outside of it, denoting either endpoint. Players have to move their fingers around in order to push the line through goal points that appear for a limited amount of time, while avoiding cleverly-laid obstacles. Throw in a thumping soundtrack and some altogether electric visuals, and you've got a challenging, unique, high-energy game.
- $0.99 - Download now (opens in new tab)
Impossible Road
In Impossible Road, there are no power-ups, no in-app purchases, and barely any colors or shapes. All you have to do is keep a ball on a downward-spiraling track for as long as possible using left and right tap controls. If you fall off, you've got a moment to land on the track further down, but if you free-fall for too long, you've got to start all over. Players are scored based on how many checkpoints they pass through or skip by falling off the edge and recovering. The high contrast art style and minimalist music keep tension high for the fleeting seconds you manage to stay on the track.
If you have any unresolved childhood issues with Rainbow Road from Mario Kart or have an innate fear of heights to revel in, Impossible Road is a good place to start.
- $1.99 - Download now (opens in new tab)
Your favorite Android action games without in-app purchases?
Finding great games that don't try to upsell you is hard enough, nevermind ones that sit squarely in the action game category. Give a shout in the comments with your favorite action games on Android without the microtransactions.
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