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Games · Top 10

Top 10 Free-to-Play Mobile Strategy and Base-Building Games in 2027

By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 5 min read
Clash of Clans
Direct answer

Clash of Clans is the best free-to-play mobile strategy and base-building game: Google Play shows 500M+ downloads and the App Store shows a 4.8 rating. Lords Mobile (500M+ downloads, 4.4) is #2 and Last War: Survival (100M+ downloads, 4.7) is #3.

At a glance

#PickPriceBest for
1Clash of ClansFree to download (in-app purchases)Classic village building with clan wars
2Lords MobileFree to download (in-app purchases)Guild wars with a hero roster
3Last War: SurvivalFree to download (in-app purchases)Base building with quick zombie lane fights
4Boom BeachFree to download (in-app purchases)Attack-planning on a tropical island
5Whiteout SurvivalFree to download (in-app purchases)A cozy winter town builder
6State of SurvivalFree to download (in-app purchases)Zombie-apocalypse base defense
7KingshotFree to download (in-app purchases)An idle medieval kingdom
8Rise of KingdomsFree to download (in-app purchases)Historical civilizations and big shared maps
9Call of DragonsFree to download (in-app purchases)Fantasy mass warfare with allies
10Forge of EmpiresFree to download (in-app purchases)City building across the ages

Pick by what you want

Best overall
Clash of Clans
Best for guild wars
Lords Mobile
Best zombie shelter
Last War: Survival
Best cozy town builder
Whiteout Survival
Best city through the ages
Forge of Empires

The ranking

1

Clash of Clans

Clash of Clans
Answrs VerdictThe village-builder that started the genre.
Price: Free to download (in-app purchases)Google Play downloads: 500M+App Store rating: 4.8 out of 5App Store ratings: 2,787,026Pitch: Build your village, raise a Clan and fight Clan Wars with troops, spells and Heroes

Clash of Clans lets you build your village, raise a Clan and fight Clan Wars with troops, spells and Heroes. Google Play shows 500M+ downloads and the App Store shows a 4.8 rating from 2,787,026 ratings. It is free to download with in-app purchases.

Go ifClassic village building with clan wars
Skip ifYou want a slow, no-pressure city builder
Why #1 over #2: It ties Lords Mobile on 500M+ downloads but its 4.8 rating beats Lords Mobile’s 4.4.
2

Lords Mobile

Lords Mobile
Answrs VerdictThe guild-war empire builder.
Price: Free to download (in-app purchases)Google Play downloads: 500M+App Store rating: 4.4 out of 5App Store ratings: 160,671Pitch: Recruit heroes, assemble an army and fight Guild vs Guild battles to expand your territory

Lords Mobile has you recruit heroes, assemble an army and join Guild vs Guild battles to expand your territory. It shows 500M+ downloads on Google Play and a 4.4 App Store rating from 160,671 ratings, and it is free to download.

Go ifGuild wars with a hero roster
Skip ifYou want a small, solo game
Why #2 over #3: Its 500M+ downloads beat Last War: Survival’s 100M+, though Last War rates higher at 4.7.
3

Last War: Survival

Last War: Survival
Answrs VerdictThe shelter builder with fast lane fights.
Price: Free to download (in-app purchases)Google Play downloads: 100M+App Store rating: 4.7 out of 5App Store ratings: 451,494Pitch: Customize a zombie-free shelter and expand your army, with lane-based zombie fights

Last War: Survival has you customize a zombie-free shelter and expand your army, with lane-based zombie fights. It shows 100M+ downloads on Google Play and a 4.7 App Store rating from 451,494 ratings.

Go ifBase building with quick zombie lane fights
Skip ifYou want a pure base builder with no action levels
Why #3 over #4: It edges Boom Beach on rating count: 451,494 App Store ratings to 299,283, at the same 4.7 rating.
4

Boom Beach

Boom Beach
Answrs VerdictThe island raid-and-build pick.
Price: Free to download (in-app purchases)Google Play downloads: 100M+App Store rating: 4.7 out of 5App Store ratings: 299,283Pitch: Scout, plan and attack enemy bases to free islanders, or join a Task Force with other players

Boom Beach, from Supercell, is about scouting, planning and attacking enemy bases to free islanders, or joining a Task Force with other players. It shows 100M+ downloads on Google Play and a 4.7 App Store rating from 299,283 ratings.

Go ifAttack-planning on a tropical island
Skip ifYou want to build a city rather than raid
Why #4 over #5: Its 4.7 rating beats Whiteout Survival’s 4.6 at the same 100M+ download tier.
5

Whiteout Survival

Whiteout Survival
Answrs VerdictThe winter town builder.
Price: Free to download (in-app purchases)Google Play downloads: 100M+App Store rating: 4.6 out of 5App Store ratings: 470,054Pitch: Rebuild a home on the frozen frontier and manage your people and resources

Whiteout Survival has you rebuild a home on the frozen frontier and manage your people and resources. It shows 100M+ downloads on Google Play and a 4.6 App Store rating from 470,054 ratings, and it is free to download.

Go ifA cozy winter town builder
Skip ifYou want fast real-time combat
Why #5 over #6: Its 100M+ downloads beat State of Survival’s 50M+.
6

State of Survival

State of Survival
Answrs VerdictThe zombie shelter builder.
Price: Free to download (in-app purchases)Google Play downloads: 50M+App Store rating: 4.6 out of 5App Store ratings: 381,701Pitch: Establish and manage a shelter, upgrade buildings, train troops and defend against zombies

State of Survival has you establish and manage a shelter, upgrade buildings, train troops and defend against zombies. It shows 50M+ downloads on Google Play and a 4.6 App Store rating from 381,701 ratings.

Go ifZombie-apocalypse base defense
Skip ifYou dislike zombie themes
Why #6 over #7: It matches Kingshot on 4.6 but has more App Store ratings, 381,701 to 231,799.
7

Kingshot

Kingshot
Answrs VerdictThe idle medieval kingdom pick.
Price: Free to download (in-app purchases)Google Play downloads: 50M+App Store rating: 4.6 out of 5App Store ratings: 231,799Pitch: An idle medieval survival game where you lead your people as a governor through war and rebellion

Kingshot, from Century Games, is an idle medieval survival game where you lead your people as a governor through war and rebellion. It shows 50M+ downloads on Google Play and a 4.6 App Store rating from 231,799 ratings.

Go ifAn idle medieval kingdom
Skip ifYou want an older, established game
Why #7 over #8: Its 4.6 rating beats Rise of Kingdoms’ 4.5 at the same 50M+ download tier.
8

Rise of Kingdoms

Rise of Kingdoms
Answrs VerdictThe historical-civilizations pick.
Price: Free to download (in-app purchases)Google Play downloads: 50M+App Store rating: 4.5 out of 5App Store ratings: 187,834Pitch: Choose one of 15 historical civilizations and explore, gather, build and battle in a shared world

Rise of Kingdoms lets you choose one of 15 historical civilizations and explore, gather, build and battle in a shared world. It shows 50M+ downloads on Google Play and a 4.5 App Store rating from 187,834 ratings.

Go ifHistorical civilizations and big shared maps
Skip ifYou want a short, casual session
Why #8 over #9: Its 50M+ downloads beat Call of Dragons’ 10M+.
9

Call of Dragons

Call of Dragons
Answrs VerdictThe fantasy-war pick.
Price: Free to download (in-app purchases)Google Play downloads: 10M+App Store rating: 4.8 out of 5App Store ratings: 35,297Pitch: Command fantasy armies on a 3D map, capture War Pets and hunt Behemoths with allies

Call of Dragons has you command fantasy armies on a 3D map, capture War Pets and hunt Behemoths with allies. It shows 10M+ downloads on Google Play and a 4.8 App Store rating from 35,297 ratings. The App Store description focuses on warfare rather than base building.

Go ifFantasy mass warfare with allies
Skip ifYou mainly want to build a base
Why #9 over #10: Its 4.8 rating is higher than Forge of Empires’ 4.6, but it ranks lower than the 50M+ games because of its smaller download tier.
10

Forge of Empires

Forge of Empires
Answrs VerdictThe city-through-the-ages pick.
Price: Free to download (in-app purchases)Google Play downloads: 10M+App Store rating: 4.6 out of 5App Store ratings: 168,228Pitch: Build a city and grow it from the Stone Age to modern times and beyond, researching technologies

Forge of Empires, from InnoGames, has you build a city and grow it from the Stone Age to modern times and beyond, researching technologies along the way. It shows 10M+ downloads on Google Play and a 4.6 App Store rating from 168,228 ratings.

Go ifCity building across the ages
Skip ifYou want combat-first play

How we ranked these

We checked each game’s App Store and Google Play page and ranked on Google Play download tier first, then App Store rating, then the number of App Store ratings. Download figures are the minimum shown on Google Play (for example 500M+), not exact counts. All ten were free to download and listed on both stores when checked in October; in-app purchases are optional. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.

Questions people ask

What is the best free-to-play mobile strategy game in 2027?

Clash of Clans: Google Play shows 500M+ downloads and the App Store shows a 4.8 rating from 2,787,026 ratings.

Which game on this list has the highest App Store rating?

Clash of Clans and Call of Dragons both show 4.8 out of 5; Clash of Clans has 2,787,026 ratings and Call of Dragons has 35,297.

Are these games really free?

All ten are free to download. Their store pages list in-app purchases, so spending is optional.

Which games are the most downloaded on Android?

Clash of Clans and Lords Mobile each show 500M+ downloads on Google Play.

Google Play downloads (minimum shown) at a glance

Call of Dragons10 M
Forge of Empires10 M
State of Survival50 M
Kingshot50 M
Rise of Kingdoms50 M
Last War: Survival100 M
Boom Beach100 M
Whiteout Survival100 M
Clash of Clans500 M
Lords Mobile500 M
Google Play downloads (minimum shown), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.

Official sites

Sources

Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.