Free ghost games on Android run from cosy to downright scary: a ghost hotel manager, detective and hidden-object mysteries, and Teen-rated horror escapes with jump scares. Check the content rating first, because half of the eight here are rated Teen, while the hotel game is rated Everyone.
Ghosts are a strangely flexible theme. The same spooky premise can be a gentle management game for a ten-year-old or a jump-scare escape that keeps a teenager awake at night, and the icons on Google Play don't always make it obvious which is which.
So for each game I went to its Google Play page and wrote down the developer, installs, the content rating, the ads and in-app purchases labels and anything it says about offline play. Order doesn't mean anything here.
Two games came off the list. One ghost-hunting idle game says on its own listing that its shop includes random items, which works like a loot box, and another app is a ghost-detector toolkit rather than a game. Neither belongs on a family page.
Eight ghost games compared
| Game | Developer | Google Play installs | Ads / in-app purchases | Offline wording on the listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haunted Dorm | Mihuan Limited | 50M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| The Ghost - Multiplayer Horror | Gameplier | 10M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Haunted Castle - Ghost Game | Zin Games | 5M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Haunted Merge: Horror Story | WhaleJoy Game Limited | 1M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Ghost Case | Dark Dome | 1M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Haunted Story: Horror Puzzle | MegaJoy Studio Global | 1M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Idle Ghost Hotel - Cozy Games | 4th May Games | 500K+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Paranormal Files 7: Ghost Town | Elephant Games AR LLC | 50K+ | No ads label, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
The haunted line-up
Haunted Dorm
A horror-style tower defence game: you're stuck in a haunted dorm and have to build up your room's defences before the ghost breaks in. It's the most installed game here, past 50M installs, and rated Everyone 10+.
The Ghost - Multiplayer Horror
An online multiplayer horror where you and other players solve puzzles, find missing parts and escape haunted places before the ghost finds you. It's rated Teen and plays best with friends.
Haunted Castle - Ghost Game
You're lost in a castle after dark, so you run into an empty room, shut the door and hide in bed while a spirit prowls the corridors. Rated Teen, with jump scares to match.
Haunted Merge: Horror Story
A merge game wrapped in a ghost story: an orphan raised by a wandering feng shui master opens a locked box and starts digging into the past. Rated Teen.
Ghost Case
A detective mystery where Ren Larsen receives messages from the afterlife about an old, unsolved murder in Hidden Town. It's rated Everyone 10+ and leans on clues rather than scares.
Haunted Story: Horror Puzzle
Each level hides a creepy little story and a puzzle built on strange logic. Its listing says the puzzles are designed to confuse and scare you, so expect trick answers. Rated Teen.
Idle Ghost Hotel - Cozy Games
The cosiest game on the list. You run a hotel for ghostly guests who relax in hot springs, work out in the gym and dance the night away. Rated Everyone.
Paranormal Files 7: Ghost Town
A hidden-object adventure where you help Rachel and her team find a missing detective in a ghost town. It's the only game here without a Contains ads label, though it lists in-app purchases.
How scary is scary?
Think of these games on a dial. At the gentle end sits Idle Ghost Hotel, where the ghosts are guests with odd tastes. In the middle are the mysteries, Ghost Case and Paranormal Files, which are more about clues than screams. At the far end are The Ghost and Haunted Castle, where hiding from something in the dark is the whole game.
If you're choosing for a child, start at the gentle end and move up only if they ask. A scare that's fun at fifteen can be miserable at eight.
Reading the rating before the icon
- Teen: four of the eight, mostly horror escapes and scary stories.
- Everyone 10+: Haunted Dorm and Ghost Case.
- Everyone: Idle Ghost Hotel.
- Online play: The Ghost is a multiplayer game, so expect strangers in some lobbies.
- Shops: all eight list in-app purchases, so turn on approval for in-app purchases in Google Play.
Ghost stories for puzzle fans
Several of these are puzzle games first and ghost games second. Haunted Story twists your logic, Haunted Merge hides its story inside a merge board, and Paranormal Files is classic hidden-object searching. If you like the thinking more than the fright, that's your corner of the list.
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Puzzle-first ghost games also make good evening games, because they're spooky without being stressful. You can stop halfway through a level and nobody's chasing you.
Playing horror games together
Scary games are better shared. Sit together on the sofa, take turns with the phone and let the person who's less nervous handle the dark corridors. It turns a lonely fright into a funny evening.
For a group of friends who'd like the same thrill on a bigger screen, here's a list of co-op horror games to play with friends.
When the spooky mood wears off
If someone needs a calmer game after a scare, a quick runner helps; here's whether Temple Run plays offline for journeys.
And for a slower wind-down, this guide to picking an online puzzle game for relaxation will point you somewhere gentle.
Matching the ghost game to the player
Ask one question first: do they want to be scared, puzzled or charmed? Scared means a Teen horror escape, puzzled means a mystery or puzzle game, and charmed means the ghost hotel. Install one from that group, and keep the volume low the first time.
Frequently asked questions
Are there free ghost games for Android?
Yes. All eight games here are free to install from Google Play, and they all list in-app purchases.
Which ghost game is best for younger kids?
Idle Ghost Hotel is rated Everyone and is about running a hotel, not hiding from monsters.
Are ghost games scary?
Some are. Four here are rated Teen and use jump scares, while the mysteries and the hotel game are much gentler.
Is there a multiplayer ghost game?
Yes. The Ghost - Multiplayer Horror is an online game where players escape haunted places together.
Which ghost game has no ads label?
Paranormal Files 7: Ghost Town shows no Contains ads label on Google Play.
Why did you leave some ghost games out?
One listing says its shop includes random items, which works like a loot box, and another app is a ghost-detector tool rather than a game.
Can I play ghost games offline?
None of the eight listings promises offline play, so test a game in flight mode before you rely on it.
