Recognition: Adamya Sharma / Android Authority
Android TV is quite a diverse platform when it comes to apps. After all, you get the power of the Google Play Store with all Android TV devices. So, if you want to play games on Android TV, you have plenty of choices. You can check out the entire collection of Android TV games on the Google Play Store here. Then you can follow the steps below to download and play them!
Do not miss: The 10 best Android TV apps
How to Play Games on Android TV
Recognition: Adamya Sharma / Android Authority
To play games on your Android TV, you need a hardware controller. Depending on the game, your Android TV remote control may also work. However, a controller would be a better option for precision gaming. Most controller-supported games can be played on the Android TV platform. However, not all Android TV boxes are made the same as some may support a specific controller while others may not. But if you want to play a game that is available from the Google Play Store on your Android TV, here’s how you can do it.
- Go to the home screen of your Android TV device.
- Select the Apps area on the left with your remote control or the directional pad on your controller.
- Open the Google Play Store by clicking the Download More Apps button above or selecting the Play Store icon.
- Once in the Play Store, select the “Games” category from the line above.
- Choose a game you’d like to download or just search for it by name.
- If the game is free: Select Install. If not, choose the price of the game.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to finish installing your game.
Once a game is installed, it will appear in your Apps Library, in the My Apps section in the Google Play Store, and in the Google Play Games app. In order to purchase a game, you will need a payment method associated with your account. You can go to your Google Play account to view or add / remove all of your payment methods.
For some games, you can also try them out before installing. You will see a “Try Now” button on the Play Store next to the “Install” button. This is a great way to experience a game before making the decision to buy or download it.
Connected: The best games with gamepad support for Android
Games that require a gamepad or controller will be mentioned in the description of the Play Store. Be sure to read it beforehand.
Now that you know how to download and play games on Android TV, you can check out our curated list of the best Android TV games to get started.
Can you play Google Stadia games on Android TV?
If you were hoping to play Stadia games on Android TV, you would be disappointed. The game streaming service is not yet officially available on the platform. The new Chromecast is expected to come with Google TV sometime in 2021. However, it is unclear whether Google wants to make Stadia available only on the streaming dongle or on all Android TV devices.
However, you can always download the Stadia Phone app from the site on your Android TV. To play Stadia games on your Android TV, you’ll need a setup mouse, game controller, and the Stadia APK, which you need to download from the site.
Connected: Google Stadia: Everything You Need To Know
Stadia games will run fine on Android TV using this method. Google also updated the service to make it work more smoothly on the Android TV platform.
We’ll update this article when Google officially makes Stadia available on Android TV.
Want to learn more about Android TV? Read our special buying guide for Android TV here. Our Android TV Setup Guide also has tips and tricks for customizing your Android TV.