44 best Android games with controller support in 2022

Who needs touch controls when you've got physical buttons?

The Play Store is all but useless if you want to know whether a game offers controller support or not, even after all these years. This is why we here at AP have taken it upon ourselves to compile a roundup of the best Android games that offer controller support. This is a hand-picked list that is constantly updated, and so today, we have two new titles (changelog at the bottom), bringing the total to 44. Of course, controller support is critical when it comes to games designed initially around precision controls, and since Android encompasses tablets and Chromebooks, controllers are also great for playing games on large screens that aren't comfortable to hold in hand. So if you're a gamer looking to see what games are currently available on Android that offer controller support, you've come to the right place. Enjoy!

Dead Cells

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

Monetization: $8.99 / no ads / IAPs $3.99 apiece

Rocket League Sideswipe

I was surprised to see that Psyonix managed to create a mobile adaptation of Rocket League. I was even more surprised to see that the game is absolutely fantastic. 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 just the right moments. Sure, the touch controls are good enough to have some fun, 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 a hoot.

Monetization: free / no ads / no IAPs

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.

Monetization: free / no ads / no IAPs

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, it's 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.

Monetization: $4.99 / no ads / no IAPs

Super Hexagon

Terry Cavanagh launched Super Hexagon on Android back in 2013, so it's been around for a long time. Well, the game is still seeing updates, one of which brought controller support to the title at the end of 2021. High framerates are supported too, which helps keep the twitch gameplay smooth as silk, and you'll need all the help you can get as this is a challenging arcade game. The goal? Don't let your little triangle get hit by revolving obstacles that are continually speeding up. While this sounds simple, it's anything but. So if you're looking for a proper challenge wrapped up in a simple yet pleasant package, Super Hexagon is a mainstay on the platform for a reason.

Monetization: $2.99 / no ads / no IAPs

DOOM pretty much started the FPS genre, and so many hold the game dear to their hearts. While I'm sure there are more than a few of you out there that 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, which makes 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.

Monetization: $4.99 / no ads / no IAPs

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.

Monetization: $2.99 / no ads / no IAPs

Sky: Children of the Light

Sky: Children of the Light took its time making its way from iOS to Android, but the wait was well worth it. This is a third-person exploration game that's similar in style to the developer's previous work, such as Journey and Flower. Thus, exploration is the key to success, and thanks to the game's co-op multiplayer aspects, you can explore the title's seven levels with a buddy or two quite easily. You can even play with a controller, which is great for tablets. Now, this is a free-to-play release, and in-app purchases are included, but they are hardly necessary to enjoy the game. While this can be a demanding title, you can still play on a low-end device, thanks to a bout of performance improvements that were released in 2020.

Monetization: free / no ads / IAPs from $0.99 - $49.99

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, and 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?

Monetization: $9.99 / no ads / no IAPs

Sparklite

Playdigious has a solid stable of games under its belt, with games like Dead Cells and Northgard. It's a solid publisher, and one of its newest releases is a port for Sparklite, a pixel-based roguelike that plays a lot like a classic Zelda game. Controllers are supported, of course, and the touch controls work well for this being an action-oriented game. As you would expect, you'll solve puzzles as you dive the depths of dungeons, and there are boss fights in the mix, making for a good balance of puzzles and action gameplay. What's really nice is that anyone can test the game for free, and if they like what they see, they can unlock the full title for $5, which is a steal for a 9-hour campaign.

Monetization: free / no ads / IAPs $4.99 apiece

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 itself 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.

Monetization: free / no ads / IAPs from $5.99 - $49.99

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.

Monetization: free / contains ads / IAPs $6.99 a piece

Oddmar

The developer behind Leo's Fortune created a more in-depth platformer called Oddmar, and it's a gorgeous game that improves on everything first fleshed out in Leo's Fortune. This means the game controls incredibly well with touchscreen controls, though if you prefer physical controls, you can bring your own controller to the party. Much like Grimvalor above, you can play through the first chapter of this game for free to get a feel for its mechanics. If you like what you see, you can purchase the entirety of the title through a single in-app purchase. Trust me. The game is well worth the asking price.

Monetization: free / no ads / IAPs $4.49 a piece

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.

Monetization: $4.99 / no ads / no IAPs

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.

Monetization: $14.99 / no ads / no IAPs

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.

Monetization: free / contains ads / IAPs from $0.99 - $99.99

Portal Knights

Picture a game like Minecraft, but it comes with a story mode. Now take a look at the pics for Portal Knights. Yep, this game takes the tried and true voxel-based survival gameplay of Minecraft and adds in an RPG-themed story that will surely provide its players with an added purpose. As you would expect of a port for a console game, controller support is included out of the box, and it works exceptionally well. You can still build all manner of crazy structures if that's your jam, but you can also take on a few boss fights or venture down into an enemy-filled dungeon. The choice is entirely up to you, which is why this game is so well-reviewed.

Monetization: $4.99 / no ads / IAPs $0.99 apiece

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.

Monetization: $9.99 / no ads / no IAPs

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.

Monetization: free / contains ads / IAPs from $4.49 - $6.99

Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition

Dandara is a wonderful Metroidvania title, and it has been updated to the Trials of Fear Edition, which brings with it a new ending, a new boss, new areas, and new weapons. The game, of course, supports touchscreen controls as well as physical controllers, and you better believe the controller support will come in handy since this is a challenging 2D platformer. So if you're looking for a Metroidvania title that isn't randomly generated while offering a solid challenge out of the box, then make sure to check out Dandara.

Monetization: $3.99 / no ads / no IAPs

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.

Monetization: $32.99 / no ads / no IAPs

Oceanhorn

Oceanhorn is one of the older releases in today's list, but it still stacks up. More or less, it's a game that heavily borrowed the style from the Zelda series, and so it plays similarly. This means you'll venture out into a colorful fantasy world to solve puzzles and fight enemies, and as you can see, the title's graphics are exceptional, plus the game supports physical controllers as well as the Shield TV, which makes this a great game to play from the comfort of your couch with a controller in hand.

Monetization: free / no ads / IAPs from $5.49

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 framerates. 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.

Monetization: $14.99 / no ads / no IAPs

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.

Monetization: $4.99 / no ads / no IAPs

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.

Monetization: $4.99 / no ads / no IAPs

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.

Monetization: $4.99 / no ads / no IAPs

Space Marshals 2

Space Marshals 2 is billed as a space-based tactical combat game, and it exudes a healthy dose of Western aesthetic. The game plays out in a top-down view, which is why tactical decisions are so important. So while Space Marshals 2 plays a lot like a twin-stick shooter, you'll have to think about your placement and attacks accordingly if you want to make it out of each session alive. Luckily gamepads are supported, which makes precision input that much more comfortable, something essential when playing through the more hectic levels in this tactical shooter.

Monetization: free / contains ads / IAPs from $2.99 - $5.99

El Hijo - A Wild West Tale

Stealth games don't seem to be as popular as they once were, but that doesn't mean there aren't a few dedicated devs out there creating worthwhile stealth games. As a matter of fact, El Hijo - A Wild West Tale is an incredibly accessible stealth title, and that's thanks to its non-violent gameplay. Not only are the graphics and music great, pulling from Sergio Leone's famous Spaghetti Westerns, but the gameplay holds its own, too. Plus, this is a title that was designed around controller support, which is the best way to play the mobile release. Sure, the touch controls will do in a pinch, but if you're settling down for a lengthy session, a controller is the way to go.

Monetization: $9.99 / no ads / no IAPs

Dadish 2

The original Dadish has found its way to many of my roundups over the last years, and that's simply because the platformer offers plenty of fun. So it makes sense that the developer wanted to follow up that success, with Dadish 2 being a quality sequel that landed in early 2021. In it, you can expect to tool around in vehicles, with all new enemies in the mix along with new bosses to take down. Heck, the game even supports physical controllers. Honestly, it doesn't get much better than this, so make sure to check this one out if you love platformers.

Monetization: free / contains ads / IAPs $3.49 apiece

VVVVVV

VVVVVV took the popular inverse gravity idea and built an entire game around it. But unlike the shallow endless-runners on the Play Store, VVVVVV is a no-frills, hardcore platformer where the main mechanic works by changing your blocky character's gravity orientation on the fly, forcing you to think in three dimensions. As you can see, the game offers very little in the way of art, though you better believe this is a challenging release. Basically, this is a platformer that pretty much requires a controller if you want to make it to the end.

Monetization: $2.49 / no ads / no IAPs

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