According to a report by App Annie, mobile RPG games accounted for 25% of all mobile game downloads in 2022. They are especially popular in Brazil, China and India.

RPG, or Role Playing Game, is a genre in which players take on the role of characters and embark on great adventures. While some titles can be played by just one person, others can be played by two or more players. 

Mobile RPG games are largely inspired by famous tabletop RPGs such as Dungeons & Dragons, Vampire: The Masquerade, Call of Cthulhu, etc. Each one has features that make them unique.

Do you need a powerful smartphone to play mobile RPG?

In general, most mobile RPG games are very lightweight and run with acceptable performance on mid-range smartphones without any problems. Especially the classic 2D ones, which usually have very low minimum requirements.

Of course, there are some exceptions – and one of them will be covered in this article. Certain games can be heavy and require a more robust device to run properly: but this is not the market standard, which always seeks the best possible compatibility with the average devices in circulation. 

Time to explore unknown lands, meet new people and complete some quests!

Genshin Impact (Android/iOS)

Image: Google Play

The massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMO) was developed by miHoYo and released for all platforms in September 2020. Since then, it has become one of the most popular mobile RPGs in the world. Its gameplay is similar to Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but with some substantial differences.

You control a Traveler who is searching for his or her twin across a land called Teyvat. Along your journey, you will meet other endearing characters who will take up arms alongside you.

Its combat system is action-based: you control up to four characters and use their skills to defeat challenging enemies and bosses. New characters and weapons can be discovered throughout the adventure. 

Meet thousands of other players in the same world, share experiences and play cooperatively to survive the greatest adversities! Genshin Impact is free to play, but it has a cosmetic item store to customize your characters and make your adventure even more unique. 

The game is considerably heavy and most smartphones “struggle” to run it: choosing more modest graphic settings may be a good idea!

Honkai Impact 3rd (Android/iOS)

Image: Honey's Anime

Developed by the same company as Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact 3rd is a mobile action RPG released in 2016 for mobile devices and in 2019 for Windows.

In this title, players take on the roles of Captains, who control Valkyries, genetically modified beings to fight against Honkai, a mysterious force that aims to destroy humanity.

This is a very popular game, with over 50 million active players around the world. Its gameplay is quite fast-paced and its graphics are very beautiful, too: because of this, it is important to check if your smartphone will be able to run it properly!

In addition to the main story missions, players will be able to embark on various side quests and participate in seasonal events and challenges. This type of content keeps the community active and the game constantly changing.

Dragon Raja (Android/iOS)

Image: Google Play

Dragon Raja is a free-to-play mobile RPG developed by Archosaur Games. Released in 2019 for all mobile devices, the title has 35 million active players, making it one of the most popular options on the list. 

Choose your preferred class, progress through the main quest to delve deeper into the story, and trade items with other players in a vast open world. Character customization is also quite solid, which is one of its main differentiators.

Despite being free-to-play, players will be able to spend real money on cosmetic items. This is a fairly common trend among MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online role-playing games) and, as expected, Dragon Raja is no exception.

The Seven Deadly Sins (Android/iOS)

Image: Google Play

This is another great option for a multiplayer mobile RPG: developed by Netmarble, The Seven Deadly Sins has an engaging story, great graphics and very fun turn-based gameplay.

A really cool feature is that its story is quite faithful to the original manga and anime series The Seven Deadly Sins. All the characters present in the game can be found in their original productions.

In this game, you take on the role of Meliodas and his team of knights, titled The Seven Deadly Sins. Travel through the world of Britannia and search for the other members of your battalion. 

The Seven Deadly Sins is a free-to-play game, but you can purchase coins to unlock exclusive characters and items. You can also purchase the battle pass and season pass to unlock unique rewards.

Honkai: Star Rail (Android/iOS)

Image: Pocket Tactics

Released on April 26, 2023, Honkai: Star Rail is an action mobile RPG developed by the same company as Genshin Impact. Its combat system is turn-based, in the JRPG (Japanese RPG) style. 

All 4 characters under your control will act in the order you set and everything is determined by their speed stat. This is a very different approach from the company's other titles.

Despite being a fairly recent title, it already has around 10 million active players worldwide. You can buy Gacha Currency, a currency that grants access to premium items.

Final considerations

Interactivity and teamwork are essential features in a mobile RPG: all of the titles above have all of this and much more to offer! Their communities are very active and you can find several tutorials on the internet, in case you have any difficulty advancing in your adventure.

Remember to check if your device is capable of running the games properly: if not, an upgrade may be necessary!

Do you like mobile RPGs? What are your favorite titles?