10 Best Android Games with Controller Support
Mobile gaming has been on the rise over the past few years, and there are more games than ever to play on your phone or tablet these days. And if you’re playing games that use touch controls, it can be hard to beat the precision of having a physical controller in your hands—which is why so many game developers support Android game controllers. Here are ten of the best Android games with controller support!
1) Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
From Sony’s PlayStation and Sega’s Dreamcast to modern-day tablets, mobile games have expanded in scope and complexity. With that growth comes support for a range of devices, including controllers. Many will be familiar with Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto series, but did you know that GTA: San Andreas offers controller support on some platforms? If you prefer mobile gaming with a controller, here are 10 other games you should check out.
2) Modern Combat 5
This latest iteration of Gameloft’s Modern Combat series of first-person shooters may be a mobile game, but it’s as good as most other big-budget console titles—and perhaps even better, since it supports controller input. In terms of gameplay and graphics, you won’t find anything better on Android. If you’re looking for a console-like experience on your phone or tablet, look no further than Modern Combat 5. Even if you don’t have a controller yet (we recommend SteelSeries’ Steelseries Stratus XL), it’s still among our favorite FPS games on mobile platforms. You can download MC5 from Google Play by following that link.
3) Heavy Fire: Red Shadow
If you haven’t heard of Heavy Fire: Red Shadow before, think of it as a more action-packed version of Call of Duty. In Red Shadow, you control a turret gunner as you destroy enemy soldiers and vehicles. The mobile version is actually a sequel to a console game that was released back in 1996 for Sega Saturn and PlayStation consoles. As of May 2013, Heavy Fire: Red Shadow has been downloaded over 1 million times from Google Play and has an average rating of 4.2 stars out of 5 from over 17,000 reviews. It works on both tablets and smartphones running at least Android 2.3 (Gingerbread).
4) Asphalt 8: Airborne
The newest version of Gameloft’s mobile racing game Asphalt, Asphalt 8: Airborne brings some excellent graphics (for a mobile game) and new cars to Google Play. In addition to having controller support, it also includes both single-player and multiplayer races against other users or computer-controlled opponents. It’s one of our favorite racing games on mobile devices, and has a controller option that can’t be beat.
5) Dead Trigger 2
If you’re looking for an over-the-top mobile shooter experience, we can’t recommend Dead Trigger 2 enough. While it’s mostly known for its impressive graphics and massive arsenal of unlockable weapons, Dead Trigger 2 also shines because it supports a wide variety of controller types out of the box. This includes MOGA controllers and various third-party gamepads (e.g., PowerA), as well as virtually any HID Bluetooth controller available on Amazon or in your local electronics store. It’s also one of many games to feature NVIDIA Shield’s exclusive Gamepad Mapper feature that allows users to control their phone from their TV (and vice versa). If you’re looking for an immersive first-person mobile shooter experience, give Dead Trigger 2 a shot.
6) Marvel Contest of Champions
If you’re an NBA fan, you’ll love what 2K Sports did for its latest mobile game. It has controller support, which means you can just plug in your phone and play on your TV or monitor. It also has a pro locker code that gives you $1 million in currency to spend on players and items. One more thing: For a limited time, if you buy any of 2K’s other games, like MLB The Show 16 or Civilization Revolution 2 Plus, you get 50 percent off of NBA 2K16 Mobile. If that isn’t enough to sell you on it, I don’t know what is. – Shaun McInnis
7) NBA 2K16 Mobile
If you’re a fan of NBA 2K16 on consoles, then you’ll love it even more on mobile. Not only do you get all of your favorite modes—MyCareer, MyTeam, MyPark, etc.—but they also support controller play (which isn’t officially supported), allowing you to truly feel like you’re playing NBA 2K16 at home. Unfortunately, PC users are left out in terms of official support. But thanks to a workaround from modder Carbon-Based-Lifeforms, PC gamers can also have it their way by downloading and installing android_x86 (ABI) for NBA 2K16’s official APK file.
8) Xenowerk
Xenowerk is a shooter that focuses on fast-paced, strategic combat. It’s made by a developer who has plenty of experience working on top-notch mobile games, so you know it’s going to look and sound good. The game also offers controller support, so if you’d like to play it with an Xbox One or PS4 controller instead of your touchscreen, you can do that. There are plenty of weapons to unlock and upgrade, as well as leaderboards so you can see how well you stack up against other players. This one is free-to-play but definitely not a cash grab; it’s worth downloading just for its high production values alone!
9) Modern Combat Versus
We’re big fans of Modern Combat Versus here at The Verge, and it’s a great example of how to balance free-to-play games (it has no purchase IAPs) and controller support. It plays great on a touchscreen, but if you want to get serious about MCS and you have an Xbox controller (and an Xbox One or Windows 10 PC), then it offers just that extra level of control that can mean all the difference. Orcs Must Die: Unchained is another fine option — it was actually developed by one of our sister sites! It’s got some crazy characters who will grab your attention as well as solid gameplay, though you’ll need either a mouse + keyboard or a controller to play it.
10) Injustice: Gods Among Us – Ultimate Edition
If you’re an Xbox owner and have yet to pick up a copy of Injustice: Gods Among Us, now is definitely your chance. The popular fighter is available on Xbox One in the form of Injustice: Gods Among Us – Ultimate Edition. The game includes all previously released downloadable content, so you can jump right into fighting. Additionally, players who own an Xbox 360 can play against others using a controller instead of a touchscreen or mouse and keyboard. Regardless of which version you choose, there are no other versions of Injustice that support controllers, making it one of your best options for mobile gaming with controller support on Android. (Download for Windows Phone)
