The best Android games with controller support in 2022

Mobile games often get a bad wrap, thanks to the plethora of free-to-play titles out there. However, there are also tons of quality ports and original titles, and many offer controller support. So we here at Android Police have taken it upon ourselves to round up the best Android games that offer native controller support. Whether you're looking for a bite-sized version of Rocket League or simply want to blast a few demons in Doom, today's controller support roundup has you covered.

Dead Cells

Dead Cells is one of the finest roguelike platformers released in the last few years, and the Android port is absolutely fantastic. You can select from 30fps, 60fps, and unlimited FPS in the game's settings, and there's also an HD graphics option, which means no matter your device, whether it's low end or high end, the game should run great. Having spent plenty of time putting this game through its paces, it's clear that it runs like butter at max settings on high-end devices. Best of all, controller support is included, which is where this game shines, thanks to its precision controls.

Rocket League Sideswipe

Psyonix has managed to create a mobile adaptation of Rocket League, and it's excellent. The twitch controls of the original remain, but no longer is the game 3D; instead, you drive the ball from one side of the screen to the other on a 2D plane. Controllers are supported, and if you wish to compete, you will have to play with one, as this is a game that requires perfect timing at cutch moments. Sure, the touch controls are good enough to have some fun in a pinch, but if you're looking to rank up, controllers are the way to go. All in all, this is a bite-sized version of the real thing, and it's an absolute hoot.

The Ramp

As a big fan of skateboarding games, The Ramp instantly appealed. This is a title that boils the genre down to its basics, where creating lines with smooth transitions is the goal, along with pulling off some awesome tricks. As the name implies, you'll be spending your time on ramps, and there are a few to choose from so things don't grow stale. Controllers are supported, and while the touch controls work in a pinch, the precision of a controller can't be matched. So this is a title that's best played on large screens with a controller in tow, though you can still eke out a few sessions on your phone if you prefer portability. The Ramp is hands-down one of the best skateboarding games on Android, and it's totally free, so make sure you don't miss out.

Townscaper

You may not have heard of it, but Townscaper is an excellent city-building game, and it offers a solid sandbox where there are no goals, no timers, no interruptions. You're free to build however you wish, and since building is as simple as tapping on the screen, anyone can play, even grandma. Not only is this a casual city builder that just about anyone can pick up, but it's also super-charming, with an excellent lighting system that is perfect for taking screenshots of your cities. You can even adjust the lighting to choose the amount and direction. Plus, there's controller support, which is why the game is in today's list, but don't fret; the touch controls work great too. All around, Townscaper is an excellent city builder that is perfect for unwinding after a long day.

DOOM

DOOM pretty much started the FPS genre, and so many hold the game dear to their hearts. While I'm sure more than a few of you out there would prefer to run the game through an emulator, Bethesda's official release on Android is a worthwhile port of the classic to mobile. Sure, the music sounds slightly off, but the touch controls are on point (thanks to a recent fix), and the support for Xbox and PS4 controllers is a welcome sight indeed. The game even supports keyboard and mouse controls, making this an excellent release for Chromebook users. Of course, if you're looking for the second game in the series, it's available on the Play Store for the same price as the first.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is a classic Metroidvania title from Konami, and its launch on the Play Store came as a bit of a shock to everyone, especially since it's available for $2.99, which is a fantastic deal. If you've yet to play SotN, it's a beautiful 2D platformer that offers non-linear platforming-based gameplay, so exploration is definitely encouraged. The primary campaign should take around eight or nine hours to beat, and since this port supports physical controllers, it's a perfect title for today's roundup. Seriously, don't sleep on this one. It's a classic for a reason.

GRID Autosport

If you're looking for a console-quality racer, GRID Autosport is it. The game arrived on Android at the tail end of 2019, and you can purchase the entirety of the title for $10. If you've yet to play this racer, it mixes many racing styles, ranging from dirt tracks to city streets, and of course, there are a plethora of cars to choose from. In comparison, most racers on Android are free-to-play, so they often contain questionable monetization systems. Best of all, the game offers a 30-hour campaign, controller support, and exceptional graphics. What's not to like?

Brawlhalla

The easiest way to describe Brawlhalla is to call it a Smash Bros clone since the gameplay is pretty similar. At its core, this is a free-to-play platform brawler, and so the title contains a cash shop for cosmetics as well as an optional Battle Pass subscription that will net users extra rewards over free players. The game is best played with an external controller (my preferred way to play), though touchscreen controls are in the mix and can be adjusted in the title's settings. All in all, the Android port of Brawlhalla holds its own, and thanks to cross-play support, you can easily play against your friends no matter their platform of choice.

Grimvalor

Grimvalor is an impressive hack and slash platformer. Not only does the game offer superb graphics, but it's also a premium release. This means you can expect physical controller support, and you can even test out the title's gameplay without going out of pocket since the first act is totally free. There's a reason the game's reviews have remained positive following the original release on the Apple App Store in 2018, and rest assured, the Android port looks and plays just as great as it does on iOS.

Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley is a farming and life simulator, a niche genre with a strong fanbase. You can easily spend hundreds of hours in this game. Sure, things start simple enough by planting a few crops and maybe raising a chicken or two, and that's all well and good if you prefer to play at a casual pace. But once you're diving deeper, you'll find a game with some depth, not to mention an endless campaign, making Stardew Valley my top choice in today's roundup, especially since the game supports gamepads reasonably well. While I can't say the controller support stacks up to the console versions of the title, for the most part, the Android port controls just fine.

Alien: Isolation

Feral Interactive has a knack for developing some of the best ports on Android and Alien: Isolation is one of the finest yet. This is the full game, and it includes all seven DLCs, along with controller support and cloud saves. The graphics are indeed superb, with several settings for a solid range of support across mid-rangers and high-end devices. So not only is this one of the best survival horror games ever made, it runs beautifully on Android, and since the mobile port is currently the cheapest version available, if you've yet to play, you should definitely think about picking up this fantastic release.

Call of Duty: Mobile

When it comes to mobile first-person shooters, Call of Duty: Mobile is one of the best FPS games on the platform. While I can't say I'm a fan of the title's questionable monetization, loot boxes, and premium pass, the shooting feels great, especially when running and gunning through your favorite stages with a controller. Thankfully, the touchscreen controls work well enough on their own, but there's nothing quite like a physical controller when precision is needed. Sure, the included controller support doesn't quite stack up to the mobile version of Fortnite or the console versions of CoD, but it's still better than being limited to touch controls in a shooter.

Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap

Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is a console-quality port, and it began its life as a 1989 Master System game. In 2017 the original title was remade for modern consoles, and thanks to its newfound popularity, DotEmu brought the game over to Android in 2019, complete with physical controller support. More or less, the game is a classic 2D platformer, and you can switch on the fly from the old pixel-based graphics to the new hand-drawn art, which is a really cool feature. As you would expect of a lovingly made port, this is a feature-packed release that sports more bells and whistles than I can list, but honestly, I simply love this game because it's a fantastic platformer.

Grand Mountain Adventure: Snowboard Premiere

Hands down, Grand Mountain Adventure is the best winter sports game on Android. Originally the title arrived on the platform as a testing release, and over time its developer has added lots of new stuff, such as snowboarding, twin-tip skis, new mountains, a plethora of new tricks, controller support, and a leaderboard for those looking to compare race times. Best of all, this is a free-to-play release that offers the first mountain for free, which makes it easy to decide if you like the game before you spend any money on the title. Rest assured, Grand Mountain Adventure is indeed worth the $4.99 in-app purchase that unlocks the entirety of the game.

Disgaea 1 Complete

If you love tactical RPGs, then Disgaea 1 Complete is what you're looking for. The Android version is a port of the remaster that made its way to consoles in 2018. The title's graphics have been improved over the original Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, and controller support is included. Plus, the newly-added touchscreen controls work well too. Cloud saves are also in the mix, and really, the only problem with this release is the fact that it costs $33, but what you get in return is currently the best version of this SRPG in existence, thanks to a wide range of QoL features that you won't find anywhere else.

STAR WARS: KOTOR II

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II took a long time to get here, but now that six years have passed since the first title in the series was released on Android, I'm sure plenty of gamers are eager to know if the port of the sequel stacks up. It's fantastic. After testing diligently on an OP8 and Tabs S7, it's clear the game is optimized well. On top of this, physical controllers are supported out of the box. You can even unlock the framerate, which is handy for devices that support high frame rates. I'm telling you, it's a great port, and it's a heck of an RPG too. Knights of the Old Republic II offers a minimum of thirty hours of content that could easily stretch into a hundred. Oh, and best of all, the game supports mods.

Rush Rally Origins

Back in 2014, a top-down racer called Reckless Racing 3 hit the Play Store, and to this day, it's one of my favorite racing games since few others have come close. That was until Rush Rally Origins sped its way to Android in mid-2021. Hands-down, Rush Rally Origins is now the king of top-down racers on the platform. Not only does it offer fantastically responsive controller support, but the touch controls work well, too, and there's even a tilt steering option. The title supports 60FPS gameplay, and it holds solid. The physics are also superb. All around, Rush Rally Origins is one of the top racers on Android, especially if you dig anything that's top-down.

Terraria

Much like Minecraft, Terraria hardly needs an introduction. Sadly Terraria has had a bit of a bad rap on Android, thanks to years of neglect from the dev, but luckily the game was completely rewritten for mobile, and this new version works wonderfully and is still receiving updates. As you would expect of a monumental update, it brought many new features, such as physical controller support, reworked touchscreen controls, 800 new items, an expert mode, and new biomes. And again, much like Minecraft, LAN co-op is supported, which makes this an extremely deep game to dive into if you're looking for some enjoyable co-op play with friends.

LIMBO

LIMBO started its life on the Xbox, and it's now considered to be one of the best indie platformers out there. It's a game that's so creepy that it will give you recurring nightmares, but the thing is, the game's atmosphere and puzzles are what make it so great, which is why many up-and-comers have copied this title's black and white formula. Still, I find it's best to stick with the original, and for a good reason. LIMBO is easily one of the best indie platformers currently available on the Play Store, though this could change if the developer ever decides to bring its followup Inside to the Play Store. Here's hoping my gaming prayers will one day be answered.

Teslagrad

Teslagrad is a fabulous indie puzzle-platformer that offers hand-drawn art, a unique steampunk story, and enjoyable platforming gameplay. The game's touch controls work fairly well, and there's also physical controller support, should you need it (you probably will). The title's gameplay resembles that of a Metroidvania, so expect to pick up plenty of new skills as you wind your way through the game's gorgeous steampunk environments.

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