No console or PC? Here are 8 games from E3 that would make great Android games

E3 featured a few mobile game announcements, but most of the excitement centered around new console and PC releases. This is great if you have already invested in an Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, or gaming PC, but if you primarily game on your Android phone you might be feeling left in the dust.

The good news is that modern gaming phones and even mid-range devices are more than capable of delivering a solid gaming experience. We picked out eight titles announced at E3 that would make fantastic Android game ports with a few minor changes. For the record, we are talking about full-featured or nearly full-featured ports, not the watered down versions that tend to flood the Google Play Store.

Read also: Android Authority’s favorite announcements from E3 2019

Does this mean these Android game ports will happen any time soon? In most cases, probably not. Don’t count them among the upcoming Android games of 2019, but at the same time don’t be surprised if any of these games come to mobile in the near future. Without further ado, here are eight games from E3 2019 that would make great Android games.

1. Planet Zoo

Management and simulation games have already established a healthy niche on Android, and Frontier Developments’ Planet Zoo would fit right in. It’s the spiritual successor to the classic Zoo Tycoon, which was first released back in 2001.

Although Roller Coaster Tycoon and a few other simulation games from the era have been ported to Android, Zoo Tycoon has not. There are a few zoo management games on Android (including Gameloft’s incredibly popular Wonder Zoo), so at the very least there is an established audience for this type of game on mobile.

The realism featured in Planet Zoo would set it apart from its peers if it were ported to Android, although the graphics would surely take a hit. Frontier Developments has already ported a few of their Tycoon games to iOS, so it wouldn’t be out of the question to see the Zoo Tycoon franchise coming soon to Android.

2. Minecraft Dungeons

Minecraft Dungeons, from the creators of the immensely popular Minecraft, is another entry in the series after this year’s Minecraft Earth announcement. It turns the voxel-art world into an isometric dungeon crawler, like a my-first-Diablo for all ages.

The game was announced for PC, Xbox, PS4, and Nintendo Switch, but there is no reason why it couldn’t be ported to Android. The graphics are far from demanding, and the simplified gameplay would work well with on-screen touch controls.

Of all the games on this list, this is by far the best candidate for an upcoming Android release. It’s possible that the announcement was delayed to keep the wind in the sails of Minecraft Earth, but only time will tell whether or not it makes it to the mobile platform.

Read: Pokémon Go-like Minecraft Earth game announced, closed beta launching this summer

3. Dragon Quest Builders 2

Dragon Quest Builders 2 is another title that has a lot in common with Minecraft, but it takes place in Akira Toriyama’s colorful Dragon Quest universe. As such, it has more of a focus on story and world building than Minecraft, although it does share many sandbox and action RPG elements.

The first Dragon Quest Builders never saw a mobile release, although it did come out for the now-defunct Playstation Vita in 2016. Its peers Minecraft and Terraria have already had successful mobile releases, so it might just be a matter of time before this game is ported to Android.

Like Minecraft Dungeons, the Dragon Quest series already has a mobile game on the way in Dragon Quest Walk, so it could be some time before we see Builders hit the Google Play Store.

Read also: Dragon Quest Walk is a new Pokémon Go-style game with a potentially major caveat

4. Spiritfarer

Artsy games have had somewhat of a revival on Android and mobile platforms, and Spiritfarer could be the perfect addition to the roster. In it, you play the ferrymaster to the deceased, expanding your boat and exploring the world to guide your spirit friends to the afterlife.

Aside from the beautiful art style, Spiritfarer features relaxing gameplay that would be more than welcome on a mobile device. There is no need for quick controls or stressful game over screens. You can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ambience with a nice pair of noise canceling headphones on the subway.

Just think how incredible these animations would look on a smartphone with a great screen, like the OnePlus 7 Pro or the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus. This game’s console success will likely determine whether or not it sees an Android game port, but it’s definitely one to keep an eye on.

5. Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince

Trine 4 was announced a few months ago, but developer Frozenbyte showed off a new demo at E3 2019 (seen above). Like the previous games in the series, it’s action-platformer with a bigger focus on puzzle solving than other games in the series.

The graphics would need to be toned down for an Android port, but it could certainly be done. In fact, another game in the series, Trine 2, is already available on the Google Play Store. However it’s quite pricey, and it hasn’t been properly maintained by the developer.

Given Frozenbyte’s lack of focus on mobile games, it’s unlikely that we’ll ever see Trine 4 come to Android. Still, it the potential is there if priorities shift.

6. Evil Genius 2

The 2004 hit Evil Genius is finally getting a full fledged sequel, and it looks fantastic. In it, you flip the script on standard hero gameplay and play as the bad guy, building a base and plotting for world domination.

Some of you may remember that developer Rebellion put out an Evil Genius mobile game in Evil Genius Online back in 2015 after a short run as a Facebook app. However, it didn’t really deliver the same experience as the original, and was shut down in 2017.

The mobile gaming space has changed a lot since then, and a proper Evil Genius mobile game could be a smash hit. Other games like Breaking Bad: Criminal Elements have attempted to capitalize on the bad-guy premise, but a full-featured Evil Genius 2 port to Android would be the first to live up to the potential of the genre.

7. Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Ft. The Legend of Zelda

Cadence of Hyrule is the latest game in the unique Crypt of the NecroDancer series. If you’re not familiar with the series, they are retro-style roguelike games where you have to time your movements and attacks to the music.

Like previous games in the series, Cadence of Hyrule features a randomly generated overworld and procedurally generated dungeons. This means that each time you enter a dungeon it changes, providing lots of replay value. Plus, you can play as Zelda herself in addition to Link as you defeat bosses and collect items.

In a way, it’s shocking that none of the NecroDancer games have made it to Android yet. Both are already available on iOS, but a big name IP like The Legend of Zelda could be what finally pushes developer Brace Yourself Games to finally port the game to Android.

8. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

The classic 1993 Game Boy game the Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening is back and looking better than ever. Unlike Cadence of Hyrule, this game trades in its retro graphics for more modern toy-like designs.

Apart from the visuals, the game is fairly true to the original and subsequent remakes. Movement is still grid-based, classic weapons are still there, and even the color dungeon from the DX remake is present. Evoland and other have attempted to fill the gap left by the lack of Zelda games on mobile, but nothing beats the polish of the originals.

We heard that Nintendo was developing a mobile Zelda game back in 2017, but it has yet to be revealed. The Link’s Awakening remake probably won’t be that game, but at this point even an Android port of the original Game Boy game would be a welcome addition.

Read also: The Game Boy helped me become who I am today, even if I never had one

That’s all for out list of games from E3 2019 that would make great mobile games. What games are you hoping get and Android port? Let us know in the comments below!