Are you looking for a game that focuses less on its graphics and more on its immersive story and gameplay? These text-based RPG games for Android are sure to captivate and give you hours of entertainment. Whether you’re seeking gripping stories, deep character customization, or riveting adventures, these games will deliver.
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Grim Quest and Grim Tides
Grim Quest and its prequel Grim Tides are two of the best text-based RPG games for Android that you can find. Both are very similar in gameplay, with Grim Tides having a slight graphical and art edge over its predecessor. Each of these games has a robust character and stat system that allows you to tailor to several different play styles. Between the many different weapon types and various forms of magic, picking the right combination of upgrades, traits, stats, and clothing is critical for maximizing your character’s potential. The dungeons themselves are pretty basic but challenging nonetheless. They are simply square grids where you must explore each square. Combat is turn-based and different weapons, abilities, and magic allow you to target different numbers of enemies. Sometimes keeping things plain and simple is a good formula for a rewarding gameplay loop.
Both games have deep storylines that complement the game loop nicely and allow for a vibrant array of different enemies and bosses to appear. The first of the two, Grim Quest, takes place in a dark dreary world that is on the verge of collapse. In a search for power, a once great empire opened a terrible dimensional rift called the Tear. This released untold horrors into the world, resulting in the empire’s downfall. The only haven is Ashborne, and it is from this city that you will set out on your quest to rid the world of evil. Since Grim Tides is the prequel, it takes place before the opening of The Tear and the fall of the empire. In this game, you are a convict sent on an Imperial mission into untamed lands. Having few other options, you set out on your quest into a perilous wilderness hoping better fortunes await you.
Check out Grim Quest on the Google Play Store!
Check out Grim Tides on the Google Play Store!
Magium
If you’re looking for a fully narrative-driven experience from text-based RPG games for Android, Magium is an excellent choice. More of an interactive book than a game, it has a deep list of outcomes and options for you to explore. By weaving in a stat point system, it also finds a way to make you think more about your choices and what strengths you have. This is because you can make a choice and it does not tell you what stats it might require or even that a stat check is coming at all.
In Magium, you will often have to simply read between the lines or end up failing. Regardless, the game offers an adventurous story that you can put your unique mark on. Additionally, there are also many rich and deep characters that you can befriend and even engage in romance with. Your choices with each of the characters will carry on through several chapters and books.
Check out Magium on the Google Play Store!
Lifeline Series
While RPG should be applied loosely to this game, the Lifeline Series’ choice-driven narratives that allow you to role-play as someone’s only hope of survival are very unique. This interactive story features an individual in a dire survival situation, where you are their only source of communication. You will be given options for what to say to them to help guide them and influence their actions and decisions.
During your first play-through for a story, you may even have to wait for a response sometimes while a character is busy. This generates the impression that you are communicating with someone who is truly stuck in this situation and trying to survive. If the choices you make lead to the person’s demise, you will be brought back to a previous decision where you must retry and find a new path through the story. There are currently 8 Lifeline games, the first one centers around an Astronaut named Taylor who is stranded on a hostile foreign planet with only you to talk to. Can you get them out of their perilous situation alive?
Check out Lifeline on the Google Play Store!
CyberCode Online
Next on our list of text-based RPG games for Android is the cyberpunk-themed CyberCode Online. This game is an MMO that you can play with friends or make new ones as you go. You will gather items and gear as you traverse various dungeons and complete quests like the typical RPG. Dungeons can be played with other players so you can work together to defeat difficult enemies and bosses. The dungeons are simple ASCII character arrangements, so while they may not be pretty, they will be easy to navigate. All the locations, gear, and items are all cyber-themed. The currency is BTC and you will use futuristic weapons like lasers while crafting with various tech and computer parts. CyberCode Online is one of the best text-based MMO games for Android you can find. It is perfect for those looking for a multiplayer option.
Check out CyberCode Online on the Google Play Store!
SimpleMMO
If you are looking for another multiplayer option, SimpleMMO is worth considering. Featuring both PvE and PvP, this game has plenty of content and complexity to it even though it is text-based. There is some charming pixel artwork and small animations to complement the simple gameplay. The main premise of the game is to journey from town to town by taking steps to gather gold, experience, and gear. You can do it alone or with other players to earn more quickly. While taking steps you can also encounter random enemies or other players.
Outside of traveling, there is a battle arena where you can fight PvE enemies or engage in PvP battles with other players. SimpleMMO also allows the formation of guilds. This gives the game its main goal, which is to contribute to your guild. Your guild will give you other people to travel with and a team to battle alongside in PvP group battles called guild wars. If you’re looking for text-based RPG games for Android to play with your friends, give SimpleMMO a try.
Check out Simple MMO on the Google Play Store!
Sorcery! Series
This four-part RPG series is based on the original adventure gamebook series “Steve Jackson’s Sorcery!” and delivers an exciting D&D-style experience. You are a hero on a quest to retrieve the magical Crown of Kings that has been stolen by an evil archmage. You will use combat and magic to fight all sorts of monsters and lawless evil as you travel. Both the magic and combat systems rely on stamina which also acts as your health. You lose stamina when hurt in battle or by doing magic spells, and if you run out of stamina it is game over. The magic system involves memorizing letter combinations for each spell and using the available letters during encounters based on the phase of the moon to cast them. Some spells will also require certain items or equipment to cast them.
The combat system in Sorcery! involves trying to predict your opponent’s next move. The goal is to choose a strength of attack each turn that is greater than your opponents. The catch is that you have a limited amount of strength and using some up means you will have less for the next turns. If someone chooses to use no strength and only defend, they will receive reduced damage from the incoming attack. This means that if a large amount of strength was used in the attack, it would be a waste. If you can predict someone is going to defend, you can use a very weak attack to conserve strength but still deal damage. However, if they do not defend and instead use a stronger attack than your weak attack, you will instead take significant damage. It boils down to a rock, paper, scissors-type mind game.
Check out Sorcery! on the Google Play Store!
Lone Wolf Saga
Here is another gamebook-to-app conversion that deserves recognition among text-based RPG games for Android. Lone Wolf Saga is based on the Lone Wolf books by Joe Dever. You are a warrior monk known as a Kai Lord who must save the fictional world of Magnamund. At the beginning of the game, you roll a combat skill level and an endurance level. You will then pick five Kai disciplines for your character that will give you various advantages. From there you set out on your quest and face various decisions.
When facing an enemy, your combat skill will be compared with the enemy’s, and a combat ratio will be given to determine how much damage will occur when rolling for attacks. The more the combat ratio is in your favor the less damage you take and the more you deal. To attack, you roll a number 1-10 and based on the combat ratio, damage will be dealt to you and the enemy. The higher the number, the better the result.
Check out Lone Wolf Saga on the Google Play Store!
Path of Adventure
Path of Adventure is a fantasy adventure that is sure to please. As far as text-based RPG games for Android go, this single-player gem has everything you would expect: a riveting tale, plenty of treasure, a diverse array of weapons, and monsters to vanquish. Like most of these text adventures, you follow the narrative making choices along the way. The weapons and equipment have offensive and defensive values. The offensive values can be used to take on enemies, while the defensive values will reduce incoming damage when used to block. Additionally, the game has several classes that impact the game in various ways. Path of Adventure has a lot of replayability due to the different classes and because of its difficulty settings. Once you start playing, it will be hard to put it down.
Check out Path of Adventure on the Google Play Store!
Life in Adventure
The final game on our list of text-based RPG games for Android is Life in Adventure. This interactive adventure is accompanied by wonderful pixel art. You will set out on a D&D-style adventure that you make your own. There is the option to either play a random adventure or customize your own. Customizing your own allows you to choose your name, avatar, trait, stat distribution, and weapon set. You will be faced with various events, opportunities, and encounters that you will have to make careful decisions about if you are to make it to the end of your adventure in one piece. There are various DLCs that you can buy to add additional storylines and subplots to the game, however, the free base experience is very enjoyable. Life in Adventure is a wonderful and vibrant experience.