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The Best Android Games of 2022, According to Redditor NimbleThor

Redditor NimbleThor ranked 43 mobile games released in 2022. Here are his S-to-F tiers and what his subjective ranking does—and does not—mean.
Length3 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Redditor and game reviewer NimbleThor ranked 43 mobile games released in 2022, placing six in S tier and 15 in A tier. It is a personal retrospective—not a consensus award or an objective measure of quality. NimbleThor wrote, “This is naturally a subjective list of the games I have played.” The original Reddit post gives his full ranking and explains what he meant by “impact.”

What the 2022 Android games list represents

The ranking is NimbleThor’s selection of 43 games released in 2022, arranged from S to F tier. His idea of “impact” blended games he felt influenced the industry or did something notable with games that impressed him personally. He also considered negative effects on players, including monetization practices. The post does not set out a formal scoring system, so the tiers are best read as one reviewer’s judgments rather than comparable scores.

Droid Life’s December 21, 2022 coverage independently identifies NimbleThor as the list’s author, reports the 43-game count, and reproduces the S and A tiers. Its prices, like the post’s free, paid, and free-trial labels, describe the roundup at the time—not current store prices or availability.

S tier: NimbleThor’s six top picks

  • Super Auto Pets — Free
  • Gunfire Reborn — Paid
  • Vampire Survivors — Free
  • Hot Lap League — Paid
  • 20 Minutes Till Dawn — Free+Paid
  • Apex Legends Mobile — Free

A tier: 15 more highly ranked games

  • Dicey Dungeons — Paid
  • Streets of Rage 4 — Paid
  • Wreckfest — Paid
  • Road Redemption Mobile — Free Trial
  • Idle Research — Free
  • Knotwords — Free
  • Neoverse — Free
  • Pawnbarian — Free Trial
  • Xeno Command — Free Trial
  • Demon Survival — Free
  • Pixel Tribe — Free
  • Dungeons of Dreadrock — Free
  • Exoracer — Free
  • Marvel Snap — Free
  • Candy Disaster — Paid

The complete 43-game tier list

The labels below reproduce the original post. “Free” does not establish that a game has no in-app purchases, and trial or payment terms may have changed since 2022.

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#1 Best Overall
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Tier Games and original labels
S Super Auto Pets (Free); Gunfire Reborn (Paid); Vampire Survivors (Free); Hot Lap League (Paid); 20 Minutes Till Dawn (Free+Paid); Apex Legends Mobile (Free)
A Dicey Dungeons (Paid); Streets of Rage 4 (Paid); Wreckfest (Paid); Road Redemption Mobile (Free Trial); Idle Research (Free); Knotwords (Free); Neoverse (Free); Pawnbarian (Free Trial); Xeno Command (Free Trial); Demon Survival (Free); Pixel Tribe (Free); Dungeons of Dreadrock (Free); Exoracer (Free); Marvel Snap (Free); Candy Disaster (Paid)
B Isle of Arrows (Paid); Rocket Bot Royale (Free); Phobies (Free); Special Agent Cyberduck (Free); Monoposto (Free Trial); Urban Trial Pocket (Free Trial); Labyrinth Legend II (Free); Nordicandia (Free); Watcher Chronicles (Free Trial)
C Catalyst Black (Free); Dislyte (Free); Boom Beach Frontlines (Free; the author said it was canceled and should be ignored); Survivor.io (Free); Torchlight Infinite (Free; the author flagged pay-to-win concerns); Undecember (Free)
D Tower of Fantasy (Free); Chimeraland (Free); Disney Mirrorverse (Free); Crossout Mobile (Free)
E Diablo Immortal (Free; the author advised against spending money); NIKKE (Free)
F Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds (Free)

How to interpret the tiers and free labels

The tier is the author’s overall judgment, not a statement about a game’s current value, availability, or monetization. NimbleThor’s comments illustrate the personal criteria behind some placements:

  • He ranked Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds low partly because he disliked its pay-to-win monetization and automated gameplay, while noting that other players might enjoy it.
  • He described Vampire Survivors as the simpler option compared with 20 Minutes Till Dawn, which he viewed as a more involved twin-stick shooter.
  • He flagged pay-to-win concerns for Torchlight Infinite and advised readers not to spend money on Diablo Immortal.

These are the author’s opinions, not independent assessments of the games. If you use the list to choose something to play, consider genre, whether it was labeled free, paid, or trial in the post, and your own tolerance for in-app purchases as separate questions.

Rank #2
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  • 5M-Cycle Lifespan & Zero Drift: MC1 mobile gaming controller features a Hall-effect joystick with a 5M cycle lifespan, 2.5x longer than standard carbon-film sticks. Its innovative electromagnetic induction technology ensures drift-free operation, enabling precise character control in intense games and significantly extending this phone game controller durability
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  • 7-Color RGB Light Ring & 600mAh Battery: The mobile game controller features a 7-color adjustable light ring on the joystick(ABXY button lights can be turned off, but their colors are not adjustable). The lighting is vibrant yet eye-friendly. The built-in 600mAh battery provides up to 6 hours of battery life in brightness mode — enough for a full day of gaming
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What the list can—and cannot—tell you now

The original post links to Google Play listings and, for many games, MiniReview writeups or related AndroidGaming reviews. Those links provide a starting point for discovery, but this 2022 ranking does not establish whether every game is currently listed, supported, or available in your country. Check the relevant store listing for current availability, compatibility, purchase terms, and in-app purchases before downloading or buying.

Best Value
Bluetooth Mobile Game Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 & iOS & Android & Tablets, Wireless Gamepad Grip with Hall Effect Trigger Joystick, Ergonomic Phone Controller for iPhone, iPad Pro, Samsung
  • Bluetooth Mobile Game Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 & iOS & Android & Tablets, Wireless Gamepad Grip with Hall Effect Trigger Joystick, Ergonomic Phone Controller for iPhone, iPad Pro, Samsung
  • TURBO FUNCTION This MFi wireless controller has a turbo function, you can adjust the turbo button according to your needs and achieve one-click bursts, programming buttons are designed on the behind of the stretched gamepad, support macro programming, customise personalised game. making it easier for you to win in FPS games, and it is a good helper for you to play games.
  • Hall effect joystick and linear trigger: mobile controller is with hall effect joystick, high precision, stable performance, faster response speed and long service life. Linear trigger has such high fluidity and response speed that gives you a competitive advantage in any game.
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  • Supports controllers up to 11 inch: Scalable design supports most tablets such as 11 inch iPad Pro (M5), 11 inch iPad Air (M3), iPad (A16), iPad mini (A17 Pro), 11 inch iPad Pro (M4), 11 inch iPad Pro 4/3/2/1, for Samsung, Lenovo, Amazon, Huawei tablets etc. (Not compatible with the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and 13-inch iPad Air)
Rank #4
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Rank #3
GameSir X5 Lite Mobile Gaming Controller for Android & iPhone 15/16 Series (USB-C), Hall Effect Joystick, Lightweight Ergonomic Phone Controller- Play Genshin Impact & Zenless Zone Zero (Renewed)
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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