Free platformer games on Android range from one-tap runners, where your hero moves on their own and you time the jumps, to classic side-scrollers with levels and bosses. Several listings say they play offline. Look at the rating and the Contains ads label before you download.
Platformers are where a lot of us started gaming: a little hero, a row of ledges and a jump button you learn to time perfectly. The good news is that the format works brilliantly on a phone.
I worked through the Google Play listing of every game below and noted who makes it, how many installs it has, its ads and in-app purchases labels, its rating and whether it mentions offline play. They're in no set order.
You'll notice that touchscreens have changed the genre. Many mobile platformers run automatically and leave you in charge of the jumps, which is far easier on glass than a virtual d-pad.
Platformers compared at a glance
| Game | Developer | Google Play installs | Ads / in-app purchases | Offline wording on the listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geometry Dash Lite | RobTop Games | 500M+ | Contains ads, no in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Sonic Dash Run | SEGA | 500M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Dan the Man: Action Platformer | Halfbrick Studios | 100M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | 'Game can be played offline.' |
| Super Mario Run | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | 100M+ | No ads label, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Incredible Jack: Jump & Run | BrainMount Ltd | 50M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | 'This free game works without Internet.' |
| Doodle Jump | Lima Sky LLC | 50M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Ninja Dash Run - Offline Game | Viva Games Studios | 10M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | 'No wifi required, so you can get a full offline game experience.' |
| Super Run Jump: 3D Adventure | Dream Cool Game | 5M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | 'Play the full adventure offline anywhere, anytime.' |
| Doodle Jump 2 | Lima Sky LLC | 1M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
Nine platformers worth a look
Geometry Dash Lite
A rhythm-based platformer where you jump, fly and flip through spiky passages in time with the music. It's the lite edition of a bigger game, has a practice mode for tricky sections and shows no In-app purchases label.
Sonic Dash Run
SEGA's 3D endless runner with Sonic, Knuckles, Tails and friends. It's more runner than classic platformer, but you still jump, dodge and spin dash through famous zones.
Dan the Man: Action Platformer
A side-scrolling action platformer with a funny story, upgradeable fighting moves and boss fights. It's rated Teen for its cartoon brawling, and there's also an online co-op mode.
Super Mario Run
Mario runs on his own and you tap to time jumps, spins and wall jumps, so it plays with one hand. The free download lets you try all four modes, and the full game opens with a single in-app purchase. It shows no Contains ads label.
Incredible Jack: Jump & Run
A classic-style platformer where Jack bounces on enemies, uses springs and faces seven big bosses on his way to rescue his family. Its listing is clear that it works without an internet connection.
Doodle Jump
You bounce up a sheet of graph paper from one platform to the next, grabbing jet packs and dodging black holes. Simple to learn and very easy to replay.
Ninja Dash Run - Offline Game
A cartoon ninja game where you slash, jump and dash past enemies and bosses, then dress your ninja in new armour. Its listing says no wifi is needed.
Super Run Jump: 3D Adventure
A one-handed auto-runner that brings old-school side-scrolling into 3D. You time taps for wall jumps and long leaps, and hold longer to jump higher.
Doodle Jump 2
The sequel to Doodle Jump adds new worlds, from cavemen and dinosaurs to space and a sleepy world full of pillow platforms. You collect stars to open new characters.
Auto-runners versus classic jump and run
An auto-runner moves your character forward for you, so the whole game is about timing. Super Mario Run and Super Run Jump: 3D Adventure work this way, and so do the endless runners such as Sonic Dash Run.
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Classic platformers give you full control, with left, right and jump. Dan the Man and Incredible Jack sit in this camp, with levels to finish and bosses at the end. They feel closer to the console games many parents grew up with.
If that nostalgia is the draw, my guide to where to play retro games legally covers the older classics too.
Spotting a platformer you can play with no signal
Four listings here say outright that they play offline: Dan the Man, Incredible Jack, Ninja Dash Run and Super Run Jump. The rest don't say either way, which doesn't mean they won't work, only that the listing doesn't promise it.
Before a long trip, switch on flight mode and open the game at home. If you'd like a fuller checklist, here's how to find offline games that don't need WiFi.
Signs of a fair platformer
- Practice tools: Geometry Dash Lite has a practice mode, which takes the sting out of hard sections.
- Clear labels: Super Mario Run shows no Contains ads label, and Geometry Dash Lite shows no In-app purchases label.
- Ratings: Dan the Man is rated Teen; Geometry Dash Lite, Incredible Jack and Ninja Dash Run are Everyone 10+.
- One-handed play: the auto-runners suit a bus seat or a sofa with a cup of tea in the other hand.
When you want to leave the platforms behind
Platformers and free-running games share the same joy of movement. If you'd like something where you vault over walls and rooftops instead of hopping between ledges, take a look at my parkour games page.
Frequently asked questions
Are these platformer games free?
They're all free to install from Google Play. Super Mario Run lets you try every mode and asks for a single in-app purchase for the full game.
Which platformer games work offline?
Dan the Man, Incredible Jack, Ninja Dash Run and Super Run Jump: 3D Adventure all say on their listings that they play offline.
Is there a platformer with no ads?
Super Mario Run shows no Contains ads label on Google Play. The others here do.
What's the difference between a runner and a platformer?
In a runner your character moves forward on their own and you handle the jumps. In a classic platformer you control the movement too.
Are these games suitable for children?
Most are rated Everyone or Everyone 10+, while Dan the Man is rated Teen. Check the label and try a level yourself first.
Is Geometry Dash Lite the full game?
No. It's the lite edition of a bigger game, and its listing points you to the full version for more levels and an online level editor.
