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10 best IO games for Android to kill a few minutes
IO games are hard to define. They can be multiple genres, with or without complex graphics. However, they all have two things in common: simple mechanics and online multiplayer.
IO games started as arcade browser games, but now there are a ton of them on Android too. They don’t offer a ton of depth, but that’s okay. Generally speaking, IO games are great for killing a few minutes here and there, and that’s about it. Here are the best IO games for Android.
Due to the high number of IO games on Android, we very well may have missed one of the really good ones. If we did, let us know in the comments. We’ll be sure to look into them!
The best IO games for Android
Agar.io
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Agar.io is one of the most popular IO games on Android. It achieved viral success years ago, and plenty of people still play it today. You basically wander around as a ball, and the goal is to swallow smaller balls and avoid the larger ones. The game also lets you customize your ball. Most of the other objects floating around are other players. It’s quick, simple, and easy to learn.
See also: The best Android multiplayer games
Brutal.io
Price: Free
Brutal.io is similar to Agar.io but with an added mechanic. You play as a little flail and the goal is to beat players with a smaller flail than yours. Doing so lets you increase the power of your flail so you can take on larger opponents. There is also a mechanic where sentinels steal your energy if you get too complacent. It’s simple but challenging. It’ll kill a few minutes on the couch with no problems.
Deeeep.io
Price: Free
Deeeep.io is an underwater multiplayer fighter game of sorts. Players float around as little rectangle sea creatures. You try to take out the other players with the various tools you get as the sea creature of your choice. For instance, sharks can ram, while the squid can grab other players. It’s a little brighter and more active than other IO games. Plus, its 80 character cast actually introduces a bit of depth to the game — a rarity for the IO genre.
See also: The best fighting games for Android
Fidget Spinner.io
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Fidget Spinner.io works a lot like the other IO games on the list. You play as a fidget spinner that gets increasingly bigger as the game goes on. The usual applies: you need to defeat smaller players. There are various fidget spinners to choose from, and you can unlock more if you want to. They are strictly cosmetic, however. Skins won’t give you any buffs. Finally, there are missions, power-ups, and other things to give the game a tiny bit of depth.
Goons.io
Price: Free / $3.99
Goons.io is a hack and slash style IO game. You and a bunch of random people roam around a map and lunge at one another. The one with the better timing gets the kill, while dead player drops dots. These dots make your sword bigger, allowing you to become more powerful. Goons.io includes three game modes, including solo, teams, and a capture-the-flag mode. That gives it a bump over most single-mode IO games. Goons.io also includes various unlockable skins for a bit of customization.
Hole.io
Price: Free / $0.99-$3.99
Hole.io uses a lot of the same mechanics as Agar.io and similar games. However, this one adds in the ability to interact with the map. You play as a black hole and roam around the map eating things. It can be other players, whole buildings, and other objects as well. You grow as you eat until you become big enough to eat the whole map. There are bugs, and this one has some obnoxious ads. However, it’s otherwise a fun time killer.
Paper.io 3D
Price: Free / Up to $3.49
Paper.io 3D is another decent IO game. This one puts players on a 3D object that they must color in. You essentially start by drawing a closed-in shape, and it shades it in your color. You make the shape larger until you eliminate other players or you get eliminated. The premise is fairly simple overall. I experienced the occasional bug. For example, I died when another player should’ve as per the rules of the game. Fortunately, the bug doesn’t happen that often. Otherwise, it’s a good time.
Slither.io
Price: Free to play
Slither.io is one of the most popular IO games on mobile. It achieved viral success some years ago, and it’s one of the most recommended in this space. You roam around as a worm in a mass of other worms. Hitting another player kills you and if another player bumps into you, they die instead. You basically roam around trying to get other players to hit you. There are a lot of ads if you die a lot, but otherwise, it’s one of the classics in this genre.
Snowball.io
Price: Free / Up to $4.99
Snowball.io returns us to the brawler part of the genre. This one works a little bit like a low-rent Super Smash Bros. You move around with a massive snowball, trying to hit other players with it. Hitting them knocks them off of the map. This continues until only one person is left standing. The map also occasionally breaks off, restricting the play zone until all the players are gone except one. It’s silly, quick, and fun.
See also: The best arcade games for Android
Warbot.io
Price: Free to play
Warbot.io is a brawler-style IO game. Players join as a mech and try to take down opponents. The game drops various capsules that improve attack and defense mid-battle for an edge that everybody fights over. Plus, the game supports offline mode, a choice of five mechs, and some other stuff as well. The temporary, random upgrades add a bit of flair to the gameplay. Don’t forget that this is an IO game, though. It’s not the deepest mech battle experience.
If we missed any great IO games for Android, tell us about them in the comments! You can also click here to check out our latest Android app and game lists.
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