10 Free Mobile Games With No Ads (That Are Actually Good)

Every game on this list is free to download on at least one platform and shows no ads, checked against its App Store and Google Play listings in November 2026. Three of them have nothing to buy at all. I make one of them, Loop Chomp, and I'll say so when we get there. The table is the quick version; the reasons are under it.

How I checked

For each game I read the store listing on both platforms. Where the developer says "no ads" in their own words, I quote them. On Google Play I checked the Contains ads label. On the App Store, which has no ads label, I checked the App Privacy section for Third-Party Advertising and left out any game that lists it, even big names that probably don't show ads today. Games change, so if one of these starts running ads, email ryan@loopchomp.com and I'll take it off.

Free, no ads, nothing to buy

1. Lichess

Chess with no catch at all. Play live at any time control, grind puzzles, take lessons, run your games through a full analysis board. The App Store listing says it plainly: "It is entirely free and without ads, now and forever." It's open source and runs on donations, which is why there is no premium tier holding the good features back.

Best for: anyone who wants serious chess on a phone without a paywall. App Store · Google Play

2. Simon Tatham's Puzzles

38 logic puzzles in one app, and every one generates fresh boards forever: Bridges, Net, Loopy, Pattern (nonograms), Solo (sudoku), Untangle and a version of Mines that never forces you to guess. No ads, no purchases. The puzzles were written by Simon Tatham, the developer of PuTTY, and ported to phones by volunteers.

One honest note: the iPhone version hasn't been updated since 2020, so it looks plain. The Android version is maintained and was updated in 2025.

Best for: the kind of person who finishes the newspaper puzzle page. App Store · Google Play

3. Unciv (Android only)

An open source remake of Civilization V, built small enough to run on a phone. Its own description sums it up: "fast, small, no ads, free forever." It's still in active development, with new versions every few weeks. It isn't on iPhone and the developer has said there are no plans for it.

Best for: "one more turn" on a long commute. Google Play · F-Droid

Free, no ads, optional purchases

4. Loop Chomp (mine)

Full disclosure: I made this one, so weigh it accordingly. Loop Chomp is a one-tap arcade game. Your chomper orbits a ring eating snacks while spike bars sweep the track, and one tap flips your direction. The main mode is Sprint: ten short rounds, the same ten for every player that day, with a fresh set every evening (7pm Eastern in winter) and a live board ranking who banked the most rounds with the fewest deaths.

On ads: the code has ad hooks built in, and I never switched them on. The game runs on optional cosmetic packs instead, and nothing you can buy changes difficulty or the leaderboards. The one button that looks like an ad, a three-second Bonus break you can tap for coins, is a countdown with nothing playing in it.

Best for: five-minute breaks and arguing with friends about who died less. Play in your browser · App Store · Google Play

5. NYT Games

Wordle, Connections, the Mini crossword, Letter Boxed and Tiles, all free to play daily in one app. The listing is direct about it: "There are never any ads to disrupt the fun in The New York Times Games app." A subscription unlocks the full daily crossword and the archives, but the free daily set alone is a good morning routine.

Best for: word people, and anyone whose group chat posts Connections results. App Store · Google Play

6. The Battle of Polytopia

A tiny civilization game where a full match fits on a lunch break. You start with a set of free tribes, and extra tribes cost $0.99 to $1.99 each on the App Store. There are no ads on either platform. If you have Apple Arcade, there's a version there with every tribe included.

Best for: strategy fans who don't have two hours. App Store · Google Play

7. Sky: Children of the Light

From thatgamecompany, the studio behind Journey. You fly through cloud kingdoms, meet strangers, and hold hands to lead each other through the levels. The listing promises "Free to play and with no ads to break the moment." You can buy candles and season passes for cosmetics, but the whole world is open without paying.

Best for: a calm game to play with a friend or partner. App Store · Google Play

8. Marvel Snap

A fast card battler where matches take a few minutes. The developer's description promises "no energy barriers, no ads, and no limits to your play." There are paid passes and gold, but you can climb without them; it just takes longer.

Best for: card game fans who want quick matches. App Store · Google Play

Free on Android, a few dollars on iPhone

9. Shattered Pixel Dungeon

One of the best roguelikes on phones, and it's open source. Every run is a new dungeon; you die a lot, and you learn a lot. It's free on Android with no ads and an optional supporter purchase. On iPhone it costs $6.99 up front, also with no ads. The developer explained the iPhone price as a mix of Apple's higher fees and not wanting to undercut the original Pixel Dungeon.

Best for: anyone who ever lost a weekend to a dungeon crawler. App Store · Google Play

10. Mindustry

Factory building crossed with tower defense: build conveyor lines, feed your turrets, hold off waves. It's free on Google Play with no ads and nothing to buy. On iPhone it's $1.99, and the App Store listing says the developer collects no data at all, which is rare.

Best for: people who like watching a machine they built actually work. App Store · Google Play

Free if you already pay for something

Apple Arcade and Netflix's mobile games are made without ads or in-app purchases, and they come with the subscription. They're not free, but if you already pay for either one, check there before downloading anything ad-supported.

How to tell if a game has ads before you download it

• Google Play: look for Contains ads next to the install button. If it isn't there, the developer says there are no ads.
• App Store: there's no ads label, so scroll to App Privacy. If Third-Party Advertising is listed, expect ads. It's a strong hint, not proof.
• The description: developers who skip ads almost always say so, because it's a selling point. If the description is quiet about it, that tells you something.
• Reviews: search the reviews for "ads". Players complain fast.

Why most free games have ads (from someone who makes one)

Ads are the easiest money a small developer can make. Every game over earns a fraction of a cent, steadily, without asking the player for anything. The catch is that ads train people to close the game, and I'd rather people stayed.

Every game on this list pays for itself some other way: cosmetics, passes, a subscription, donations, or an up-front price. If you like one, buying the small thing they sell is what keeps it ad-free.

FAQ

Are there any mobile games with no ads at all?

Yes. Lichess, Simon Tatham's Puzzles and Unciv (Android only) are free, show no ads and have nothing to buy. Mindustry is the same on Android and costs $1.99 on iPhone.

Does the NYT Games app have ads?

No. The App Store listing says there are never any ads in the app. Wordle, Connections, the Mini, Letter Boxed and Tiles are free daily; the full crossword and the archives need a subscription.

Is Loop Chomp free with no ads?

Yes, on iPhone, Android and in any browser. Optional purchases are cosmetic only and never affect difficulty or the leaderboards.

How can I tell if a game has ads before I download it?

On Google Play, check for the Contains ads label. On the App Store, check App Privacy for Third-Party Advertising, and read the description: developers who skip ads usually say so.

More: Daily games like Wordle, but you play them · The best one-tap games, ranked · How Sprint works · Dev log

Play Loop Chomp freeOne tap, no ads, and a new 10 round Sprint every day. In your browser or on your phone.

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