Migrants at ICE jail in Miami made to kneel to eat ‘like dogs’, report alleges by char_stats in c/news@lemmy.world
Should there be cameras in the cockpit of airplanes? Why or Why Not? by char_stats in c/asklemmy@lemmy.world
[-] char_stats@discuss.tchncs.de 11 points 1 week ago

Yes, 100%. Storage shouldn't be a problem in this day and age on multi-million dollar vehicles. And the privacy issue could be worked around too, like video recordings only accessible offline or upon pilots consent, unless there's an accident and it's requested by the investigators. I might be ignorant with this, but I don't see the problem really.

More than 30 killed after Israeli forces open fire on people seeking food in Gaza, health ministry says | CNN by char_stats in c/news@lemmy.world
[-] char_stats@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 1 week ago

It's shocking how this is very clearly a terrorist attack, yet the 'terrorism' word isn't found anywhere in the article simply because it was committed by a US ally.

Noob question: How do you ensure that large executable files, such as .apks (different from apk), are safe? by char_stats in c/piracy@lemmy.dbzer0.com
[-] char_stats@discuss.tchncs.de 25 points 1 week ago

By making sure (as much as you possibly could) the source you got it from is safe.

You'll reduce the risk.

A year after Trump’s near-assassination, friends and allies see some signs of a changed man by char_stats in c/news@lemmy.world
[-] char_stats@discuss.tchncs.de 10 points 1 week ago

But also, when was he not deranged in the past 15 years?

60% of Teachers Used AI This Year and Saved up to 6 Hours of Work a Week by char_stats in c/technology@lemmy.world
[-] char_stats@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 2 weeks ago

I could give you a few real-life examples where it’s been helpful to me, but honestly, there are probably hundreds more depending on the person—as long as it’s used properly and not treated as flawless or final.

I’m a kindergarten teacher.

  1. I describe what we’ve done in class, and it turns that into a short caption for the school’s daily social media post. Saves a bit of time.

  2. For weekly assessments, I speak freely about each child’s week, and it generates a well-written comment. That’s a moderate time-saver, and I learn better phrasing from its output as I'm a non-native English speaker.

  3. It helps me brainstorm new daily activity ideas based on specific goals or parameters. I choose the ones that fit and tweak them as needed.

  4. When I’ve tried multiple strategies with a difficult child, I use it to get fresh suggestions for guidance or behavior management. I still apply my own experience to decide what works best.

  5. It helped me plan a trip based on location, time, and several other factors—and it provided a lot of useful details I hadn’t considered.

  6. It’s replaced Google for many tasks: it’s faster, often more accurate (if prompted clearly), and definitely more efficient for basic info.

  7. I also use it for translation, and in many cases, it gives better or more natural results than Google Translate.

  8. It helped me rewriting this very comment (till point 7) as I'm busy with something else so I saved time spellchecking and rephrasing.

—REUPLOAD—Free Android Games (incl. FOSS ✅️) - no ads, no IAPs, no gacha. by char_stats in c/android@lemdro.id
[-] char_stats@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 2 weeks ago

Added, thanks for the entry! I used the F-droid link as I believe it is more user friendly. Both F-droid and GitHub versions are on the same v. number.

—REUPLOAD—Free Android Games (incl. FOSS ✅️) - no ads, no IAPs, no gacha. by char_stats in c/android@lemdro.id
[-] char_stats@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Have you heard about ScummVM?

It's a virtual machine that can run old PC games, including Zork, Secret of Monkey Island, etc. Here's a list of games it should run: https://wiki.scummvm.org/index.php/Where_to_get_the_games

The other day I was playing The Curse of Monkey Island on ScummVM on my phone and it ran quite well.

—REUPLOAD—Free Android Games (incl. FOSS ✅️) - no ads, no IAPs, no gacha. by char_stats in c/android@lemdro.id
[-] char_stats@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

So, I checked those games:

  • Zombotron contains ads so I moved it to a bottom, hidden section for games with minimal ads/IAPs

  • Dock The Rocket added IAPs, so same as above

  • Shattered Pixel Dungeon has two entries in my list, and both match criteria. One is from the Play Store and has optional IAP for donations only—see rule #3 of criteria. The other entry is a link to the game in F-droid, so no ads or IAPs.

—REUPLOAD—Free Android Games (incl. FOSS ✅️) - no ads, no IAPs, no gacha. by char_stats in c/android@lemdro.id
[-] char_stats@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 3 weeks ago

Added now. Thank you!

—REUPLOAD—Free Android Games (incl. FOSS ✅️) - no ads, no IAPs, no gacha. by char_stats in c/android@lemdro.id
[-] char_stats@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I don't play idle, but in my premium games list some users suggested Magic Research and Magic Research 2—pretty much the only games in my idle section. They're both paid, but it's an upfront, one-time payment :)

Here's Magic Research 2 Demo so you can try for free.

—REUPLOAD—Free Android Games (incl. FOSS ✅️) - no ads, no IAPs, no gacha. by char_stats in c/android@lemdro.id
55
—REUPLOAD—My favorite PAID games on the Play Store (+ user recommendations 💬) (discuss.tchncs.de)
submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) by char_stats@discuss.tchncs.de to c/android@lemdro.id
7 comments fedilink

NOTICE: I'm reuploading this as I lost my first account on lemm.ee (the instance was shut down) so that I can continue updating the list through this new account. The previous version of this list is now deprecated—links to that post might no longer work.

 

Latest entries - 27 July 2025:

  • Dredge 🌟 🎮 120FPS - Fishing adventure

Other recent entries

Introduction

This is a list of all games, sorted by category, that I've purchased, loved, and finished (or played extensively) over many years and I'd like to recommend as they're all excellent and without predatory monetization or gacha system.

Edit: now I'm also including the most recommended titles by the community - which I haven't playtested yet or I'm not particularly interested in - marked with 💬. Please check entry criteria below before commenting.

Some of the games may be free with IAP's, but EXCLUSIVELY to unlock the full game, DLCs, or remove ads (no gacha or energy/gambling mechanics, "diamonds", pay-to-win, or any recurrent cash-grab bullshit of sort).

[Disclaimer: chances are some items in this list will inevitably be removed from Play Store as time goes by, or will not be compatible with future Android versions. I'll do my best to always keep it updated, but feel free to PM me if you come across any unavailable title and I'll make a correction]

I'm planning to keep the list updated for personal reference with the new games I'll play and like, or old games I've played that will come to mind later. So feel free to save it and check out new entries every so often.

My ultimate goal is to promote worthy content and honest/talented devs, hoping to see more quality games in the future, rather than the cancerous cash-grab machines the Play Store is regrettably riddled with. And, of course, to let everyone have a great time playing great titles ;)

Entry criteria for user recommendations 💬

  1. paid Play Store games compatible with recent Android versions
  2. no ads or infinite microtransactions. Allowed: ads-removal, full-game unlock, or proper DLCs
  3. you love the game and think it's worth the price
  4. must include link and, possibly, genre

I will still use my discretion and judgment to filter the entries, in an effort to try and keep the list's quality high.

[If you want to play or recommend free games, without ads or microtransactions, here is the list for you.]

 

THE LIST

 

Legend

🌟 - top favorite  

👑 - top favorite and masterpiece status  

💬 - recommended by the community, but I haven't played it yet or not my favorite  

🎮 - controllers are supported and, usually, strongly recommended  

🎮❗️ - controller recommended but not supported—you need a controller mapping app like Panda  

📱 - portrait orientation (either exclusively or optional)

👥 - includes multiplayer

120FPS - 120 FPS on supported devices

~~[Game title]~~ - delisted, but you might still see it in the store if you've purchased it  

 

Action shooter

 

Action-adventure platformer/hack-n-slash

  • Grimvalor 🌟 🎮 120FPS (2.5D hack and slash medieval fantasy platform/RPG)

  • Shadow Blade 🌟 🎮 (2D hack and slash action platform)

  • Swordigo 🎮❗️ (2D RPG action-adventure platformer; requires controller mapping app if you want controller support - free with 2 IAPs that add compass or coin doubler, and either of them remove ads too)

  • Oddmar 🎮 120FPS (2D action-adventure platformer)

  • Ninja Arashi 🎮 (2D hack and slash action platformer - free with IAPs to remove ads)

  • SAMURAI II: VENGEANCE 🎮 (top down/isometric hack and slash)

  • Dead Cells 💬 🎮 120FPS (roguelite action platformer)

 

Platformer

 

Metroidvania

 

Beat 'em up

 

Turn-based RPG

 

Tactical RPG

 

Action RPG

  • Trials of Mana 🌟 🎮❗️ (it's a port from console/PC but critically lacks controller support. You can use Panda Gamepad Pro - recommended - or Mantis to achieve that)

  • The Bard's Tale (3D action RPG adventure - this game has some optional IAPs: they can easily be ignored but they're there. Also, some users experienced an auto-save bug that corrupts ALL save files, so I recommend disabling auto-save altogether. I'm keeping the game listed here for now as I still consider it a true premium game and I haven't personally experienced any bug)

  • Evoland 🎮 (action/adventure RPG with 2D and 3D graphics and a mix of genres. Touch controls work great)

  • Evoland 2 🌟 🎮 (action/adventure RPG with 2D and 3D graphics, mix of genres; controller recommended)

  • Pascal's Wager (soulslike) 💬 🎮

  • Star Wars: KOTOR 💬 🎮

  • Star Wars: KOTOR II 💬 🎮

 

CRPG

 

Text-based RPG

 

Fishing adventure

  • Dredge 🌟 🎮 120FPS (lovecraftian horror, RPG)

 

Roguelite (cards, dice, deck builder, action)

 

Action adventure/Zelda-like

  • Ogu and the Secret Forest 🌟 🎮 (unlocking the full game through IAPs is quite pricey on the Play Store so maybe check the Epic Store—I got it for free there)

  • Anodyne 🌟 🎮❗️ 📱 (lanscape/portrait. Adding controller support through Panda is a must if you want to finish the game)

  • Legend of the Skyfish 2 🎮 (Zelda-like with a fishing rod for weapon)

  • Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion 🎮 (humorous, Zelda-like, pixel art adventure; achievements didn't work correctly, but they might have been fixed after I played it)

  • Oceanhorn 🌟 🎮 (3D Zelda-like action adventure)

  • Afterplace 💬 🎮 📱 120FPS (landscape/portrait)

 

Puzzle adventure

 

Point-and-click adventure

 

Simulation/management

 

Worker placement survival

  • This War of Mine 💬 (DISCLAIMER: as of April 2025 multiple users still report crashes, but I'll keep the game here because it is otherwise worth it, and devs often donate part of the profits to victims of various wars)

 

Survival crafting

 

Survival horror

 

Racing

 

Sport

 

Tower defense

 

Idle

 

Netflix games

(require an active Netflix subscription)

 

Extras and emulators/engines

  • AppSales is an app that will make you save some money by notifying you when specific games (or apps) in the Play Store go on sale. Just add the games you wish to buy to the AppSales' watchlist and you'll get notified when the price gets cut.

  • Panda Gamepad Pro 🎮 is a tool that allows you to map your controller for touch inputs, practically adding controller support to those game that don't have it.

  • Gamedeck 🎮 (game launcher/front-end for controllers)

  • Beacon Game Launcher 🎮 (game launcher/front-end for controllers. Also optimized for emulators)

  • Retroarch 🎮 (emulator for almost all consoles) "jack of all trades" emulator, the only one that supports analog triggers for Xbox One S controller. It has a bit of a learning curve, and other individual emulators might offer better performance

  • Dolphin 🎮 best emulator for GameCube and Wii

  • DraStic DS Emulator 🎮

  • PPSSPP Gold - PSP Emulator 🎮

  • Delta Touch [9 x Doom engines] 💬 (engine for Doom games)

  • Quad Touch 💬 (engine for Quake games)

 

Delisted or outdated

 

Happy gaming ;)

ps: please let me know if there's any wrong information about the games included in this list (especially regarding IAPs or availability) so that I'll fix the post if necessary.

233
—REUPLOAD—Free Android Games (incl. FOSS ✅️) - no ads, no IAPs, no gacha. (discuss.tchncs.de)
submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) by char_stats@discuss.tchncs.de to c/android@lemdro.id
64 comments fedilink

NOTICE: I'm reuploading this as I lost my first account on lemm.ee (the instance was shut down) so that I can continue updating the list through this new account. The previous version of this list is now deprecated—links to that post might no longer work.

 

Latest entries - 8 July 2025:

Other recent entries

Introduction

I recently realized there are still, to this day, some actual "hidden gems" in the Play Store. Not the fake ones everyone talks about which, in a way or another, often have a catch or aren't very "hidden". I mean free games with no ads or IAPs of any kind that are fun to play.

So I was thinking maybe it's time to compile a list of them. Please suggest the ones you've found and enjoyed!

Edit: I'm now including free games (no piracy) from other sources beside the Play Store (which will be specified within brackets), such as GitHub or F-droid. If they're also FOSS, like all F-droid games, they'll have this green checkmark ✅️. For the games that have both F-droid and Play Store versions, the green checkmark is for the F-droid version.

I won't try them all as I did with my premium games list, because you could simply download and try them for yourself without spending a dime. I'll simply list them.

‼️Also, please do checkout MiniReview - Game Reviews for more free games that match the following criteria (use the "Browse" tab and select the correct filters). The same app for iOS - App Store - is here.‼️

I've saved this post so to keep it updated over time, for my own reference and for your benefit. So feel free to save it and check out new entries every so often.

Entry Criteria

  1. FREE
  2. NO ADS
  3. STRICTLY NO IAPs (except donation buttons, but I'll have to check first)
  4. NO PIRACY
  5. it has to be a legit, full game you've played and liked. No demos, no emulators (everyone knows RetroArch anyways)
  6. no entire repositories. You can recommend them in the comments if you want, but this list is for individual games you'd like to recommend
  7. if it's a Play Store game, it should be compatible with the latest Android version at the time of entry
  8. must include a link to the game, especially if from sources outside the Play Store. Not direct-download links, just links to the page
  9. sketchy sources won't be considered. Play Store, GitHub, and F-droid are welcome

[If you want to recommend paid games, without ads or predatory microtransactions, here is the list for you.]

 

THE LIST

 

Legend

✅️ - FOSS (Free and Open-Source Software). Listed on top in their respective categories

☕️ - includes option to donate, with or without minimal cosmetics only

~~[Game title]~~ - delisted

 

Shooter

 

Stealth

 

Platformer

 

Rhythm

 

Arcade

 

RPG

 

Roguelike dungeon crawler

 

Deck builder

 

Adventure

 

Puzzle

 

Tower defense

 

Strategy

 

Management

 

Racing

 

Simulation

 

Casual

 

Visual novel

 

Educational

 

Extras and emulators/engines

  • Fabularium ✅️ (F-droid - engine and maker for text-based adventures, interactive books)

Delisted or outdated

 

Free games with minimal ads/cosmetic IAPs

 

Happy gaming ;)

ps: please let me know if there's any wrong information about the games included in this list (especially regarding the ones with free donations) so that I'll fix the post, if necessary.

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char_stats

joined 3 weeks ago