The best games for boys depend far more on age than on gender: toddlers love simple car and rescue games, while older boys go for runners like Subway Surfers and Sonic Dash Run. Check each game's content rating and ads labels first. Every game here is free to install from Google Play.
Type games for boys into any app store and you'll get a wall of racing cars, fire engines and running heroes. There's nothing wrong with any of them, but none of these games is only for boys, and plenty of girls will happily steal the tablet for them.
What really decides whether a game suits your son is his age and what he enjoys. So I read the Google Play listing for each game below and noted the content rating, the developer, how many installs it has, its ads and in-app purchases labels, and any offline wording.
The list runs from the toddler end to the older end, roughly, though it's not a ranking. Use the table to narrow it down, then read the short notes before you download.
Ratings and labels at a glance
| Game | Developer | Google Play installs | Ads / in-app purchases | Offline wording on the listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Block Blast! | HungryStudio | 1B+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | 'Play anytime without WiFi' |
| Subway Surfers | SYBO Games | 1B+ | Contains ads, 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 |
| Super Mario Run | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | 100M+ | No ads label, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Offline Games: No WiFi - FunOn | Fun Offline Games | 100M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | 'Play without internet at home, while traveling' |
| Stumble Guys | Scopely | 100M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Car games for kids & toddlers | Amaya Kids - learning games for 3-5 years old | 10M+ | No ads label, in-app purchases | 'Play without internet' |
| Robocar Poli: Games for Boys! | GlowCub Kids Games | 10M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| PBS KIDS Games | PBS KIDS | 10M+ | No ads label, no in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
Nine games boys keep asking for
Block Blast!
A calm block puzzle where you fit pieces on an 8x8 board and clear rows and columns. Its listing says it plays without Wi-Fi, so it's an easy one for the car.
Subway Surfers
The classic endless runner: you dash along the tracks, dodge oncoming trains and escape a grumpy guard and his dog. It's rated Everyone 10+, so it suits older boys best.
Sonic Dash Run
Another runner, this time with Sonic, Knuckles, Tails and Shadow. You collect rings, spin dash through enemies and take on bosses in fast 3D courses.
Super Mario Run
Mario runs forward on his own and you tap to time jumps, spins and wall jumps, so it works with one hand. It's free to download, but its listing explains that the full game opens up through in-app purchases.
Offline Games: No WiFi - FunOn
A bundle of mini games, puzzles, board games and card games in one app. It's rated Everyone 10+ and its listing leans hard on offline play.
Stumble Guys
An online party game where you race through obstacle courses and try to be the last player standing. It's built around online multiplayer, so it means playing alongside strangers.
Car games for kids & toddlers
For the youngest drivers, this toddler racing game stars Racer Raccoon and is aimed at ages 2 to 5, according to its listing. It shows no Contains ads label.
Robocar Poli: Games for Boys!
Based on the rescue team cartoon, children put out fires, find a lost cat and repair buildings around Broomstown. The listing aims it at four-year-olds.
PBS KIDS Games
Learning games with Daniel Tiger, Wild Kratts and other PBS KIDS characters, in English and Spanish. It's the only game here with neither a Contains ads label nor in-app purchases.
Matching a game to his age
For under-fives, the car game and Robocar Poli are built with small hands in mind, and PBS KIDS Games adds learning without feeling like homework. School-age boys usually move on to runners and puzzles, which are quick to learn and hard to put down.
Two games here carry an Everyone 10+ rating. That doesn't mean they're unsuitable for a younger child, but it's worth a look at the listing before you decide.
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Why one famous pool game isn't here
8 Ball Pool has huge install numbers and it's rated Everyone. I've still left it out, because its own listing says there are Coins at stake in every competitive match, and you win your opponent's Coins if you beat them. That's too close to betting for a children's list.
Online play and strangers
Stumble Guys is pure fun, but it's an online party game, so your son will be in matches with players he doesn't know. If he's young, sit with him for the first few rounds and check what chat or friend features the game offers.
The offline games here avoid that question completely, which is one reason they're popular with parents of younger children.
Five settings to check before the first download
- Turn on parental controls in Google Play.
- Set the device to ask before anything is added to the account.
- Read the content rating on each listing.
- Look for the Contains ads label and decide if you're happy with it.
- Try the game yourself for a few minutes.
For long journeys and rainy days
If you're heading off in the car, my guide to offline games for kids on a road trip mixes screen games with old-fashioned ones.
Got an iPad in the house as well? This list of free offline games for iPad and tablets covers the whole family.
And for a houseful of children at the end of October, these Halloween party games for adults and kids get everyone off the sofa.
Let him do the choosing
The quickest way to find a game he'll love is to show him two or three that pass your checks and let him decide. Children stick with games they picked themselves, and you've still kept the ratings and labels in your hands.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best games for boys on Android?
Popular choices include Block Blast! and Super Mario Run for older boys, and the car game and Robocar Poli for toddlers.
Which games here suit a toddler?
Car games for kids and toddlers says it's aimed at ages 2 to 5, and Robocar Poli is aimed at four-year-olds.
Which of these games work without Wi-Fi?
Block Blast!, the FunOn offline collection and the toddler car game all mention offline play on their listings.
Is there a game with no ads at all?
PBS KIDS Games shows neither a Contains ads label nor in-app purchases on its listing.
Why isn't 8 Ball Pool on the list?
Its listing says Coins are at stake in every competitive match, which feels too close to betting for children.
Are these games only for boys?
No. Nothing here is designed only for boys, and girls enjoy them just as much.
