1. Genshin Impact, for open-world exploration
These five free games sell random chances to obtain characters, equipment or cards. Our selection is organised around what you do in the game, not how many pulls it gives away. For exploration, Genshin Impact combines open regions, puzzles and reactions between elements. Version 7.0 adds Snezhnaya to years of existing stories.
Its problems have grown too. The download can consume dozens of gigabytes, conversations run long and catching up looks intimidating. Our Genshin Impact 7.0 guide covers the current entry point.
2. Wuthering Waves, for dodges and parries
Wuthering Waves builds its boss encounters around dodges, parries and character swaps. It is the option here for players who want to practise timing and learn attacks as well as assemble a team. It reached version 3.6 in 2026 and is available on iOS, Android, PC and consoles.
Before investing in an account, test an actual fight on your phone. Being able to install it does not establish that maximum settings will feel comfortable. Star Rail offers a different approach if you prefer decisions without reflex demands.
3. Honkai: Star Rail, the best turn-based choice
Honkai: Star Rail replaces reflexes with decisions. Four-character teams, weaknesses and ultimates that can interrupt the turn order make combat easy to read while leaving room to optimize months later. Turn-based play also fits a touchscreen better than moving a camera, character and five buttons simultaneously.
We would choose it for deciding when to use abilities without also aiming with a finger. Advanced challenges put more emphasis on team synergies and enemy weaknesses, but that does not make every new character a necessary purchase.
4. Zenless Zone Zero, for commission-based action
Zenless Zone Zero organises much of its action into commissions, using agent swaps, assists and counters. Its more directed spaces differ from Genshin's open exploration, with an urban visual identity of its own.
Short commissions can fit a break, but that does not make every story segment a five-minute session. We would choose it for focused action encounters without travelling across a large map between fights.
5. Pokémon TCG Pocket, the best for collectors
Pokémon TCG Pocket understands that plenty of people want to open two packs, admire an illustration and leave. Its official site promises two free booster packs each day, while battles compress the card game into shorter matches. It lacks the map and spectacle of the games above, but creates the easiest collecting routine.
It is also the clearest example of a daily reward asking for one more. We returned to open 68 Team Rocket packs and ended up building a deck. If you want to understand the mechanism before starting, our guide explains what gacha means and why it hooks people.
Which one should you download first?
Start with Genshin Impact for its world, Wuthering Waves to master combat, Honkai: Star Rail for turn-based decisions, Zenless Zone Zero for shorter sessions and Pokémon TCG Pocket for collecting.
All five are free, and all five sell the prospect of a better result. Try one rather than starting all five, then set a budget before the next character appears. Keep the game whose combat, world or matches are enjoyable even when you are not unlocking anyone new.
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