How many Android gamers here have gotten onto Amazon Underground? I was turned on to it recently by a friend of mine and there are some damn good games for free on there. The mechanism is one of the usual "lose money on it until we own the market" Amazon strategies, but for now it's a good way to get some awesome Android games for free (and the developers still get paid). You even get unlockable content for free too.

Anyway, this isn't a sales pitch for Amazon Underground, but rather a place to highlight games worth getting on there. I'll kick it off with two I like.

Monument Valley - A beautiful Escher-inspired game where you rotate parts of the level to defy the laws of geometry and create new paths. A short game (finished it in one go) but so very lovely. Also has an expanded second set of levels which are free as well.

Dark Incursion - A stylish side-scrolling platform shooter. Takes me back to the glory days of the Sega Genesis. Good fun!

Please share your own recommendations as well!

Raiden legacy.

They are regular Android app market apps, just ones which have decided to participate in the Amazon Underground scheme. Basically Amazon pays the devs a per-minute-played rate on behalf of the gamers. No one knows how Amazon makes money on that scheme, so it's probably a stepping stone to something down the way. Whatever the app itself normally contains, plus the rights requested by the Amazon Underground app. I expect that if you uninstall Amazon Underground then the apps you got through it will stop working. In this way it works the same as the old Deal Of The Day app promos they did (and which this replaces), where you got free apps but had to run them through that wrapper app. So some of the profit coming from this is no doubt the usual marketing metrics stuff.

I got Threes through it, which is a very fun little match three puzzle game.

I think I got a few others, but I can't remember what now... I've had quite a few free through Amazon before they started this initiative though.

Isn't this still restricted to anywhere but (AU? ,) US & UK? Last time I've checked I couldn't join the program nor download the underground app.

Ah, that I don't know. Quite possibly it is, though.

Sorry I can't recommend anything :(

I used to check the AMZ store daily for their promo FAOTD, and when they switched to the Underground method my usage of the tablet dropped like a brick. I found their games selection hugely limited, and I think being not US based I was even non eligible? Not sure as the games that I liked I already actually owned...

I will give AMZ credit for thinking outside the box and being their usual customer centric. They obviously are trying to contend the space dominated by the Google store and the Apple environment, to the point of developing their own games studio (I don't think it's going as well in market or critical terms as their streaming TV shows - but looks like some good games there). And they are coming up with ideas to compete which directly address customer's pet peeves, because if you see the reviews on AMZ there is a core contingent of folks who are hugely antagonistic to F2P practices.

Well, Chrono Trigger on android is Always online DRM that makes you download additional stuff as you progress.

Does Amazon Underground spring hidden data charges like that? Or freeze the game when not online?

I only installed one android game on my phone, that is the DRM free rebuild 3. I can play it with my phone that does not even have a internet plan.
I just download the app installer to my PC and transfer it to the phone and it can be play.

https://www.humblebundle.com/store/p/rebuild_gangsofdeadsville_storefront

8bit Doves. It's Game Boy in its aesthetic, Flappy Bird in its penchant for frustratingly addictive physics.

I've played a bit of Almightree, too. Seemed to be good and have fairly high production values.

EDIT: Not sold on Underground, though. I refuse to install the app on my phone because of the permissions (there's zero reason they should be able to "process" my text messages, period), so I have to go through this whole ordeal where I download the game using Bluestacks on PC, turn it into an .apk file using another app, move it onto my Kindle Fire HD (that has no texts or contact info and isn't even compatible with Underground, or so they claim), and get it to work that way. The apps still don't work offline, but at least I can play them without handing over a ton of information.

You should get Odd Bot Out like immediately. Its one of the best puzzle games out there. Also, PAC-MAN Tournaments has the original PAC-MAN arcade plus extra levels. As for board games, AI Factory has probably the best and most user-friendly board games out there, so check them out.

I shall necro this thread from the dead in order to give it a most awesome deal.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product?ASIN=B017UYFNYQ&redirect=true&ref=mas_ty

If you can't click that link or can't visit it.. That's Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Actually Free, for Android. Nobody can say "no" now!

Interesting thread, bumping to see if there are some hidden gems recommendations.

Gunbrick - Currently playing this one, it tricks you into thinking it's easy and then appears puzzles that really are a pain in the ass, still enjoyable though,

Deep Loot - Really enjoyable roguelike (lite?), you have to deep into sea and grab loot so that you can upgrade your stuff, when you unlock everything (well, not all the boats or suits because some of them are pointless) it gets boring but until then it's good.

I feel like that it's pointless to play those games were amazon will give you the coins (microtransactions) for free, it's pointless because it breaks the game and it's sad because there are some that look interesting like Age of Wind 3, it's like a Sid Meiers Pirates clone (with less depth).

Card Crawler - I'm not a big fan of card games but this one is really good, easy to learn and play (i'm assuming it will get harder when i unlock more cards), you have to beat the 54 cards from the "dungeon master" (or whatever he is called), it will present you 4 cards (could be enemies, skills/spell, weapon, shield or potion) and you have to remove 3 of them each turn by defeating the monsters or equipping the items (that can be used to defeat the monsters), it's a bit of strategy and luck but it doesn't feel unfair, even when you lose (rare).

No idea.
I don't even own an android phone.