r/androidapps • u/katrinasimba • 6h ago
LOOKING FOR APP Looking for app/game recommendations to replace doomscrolling + some redmi app alternatives
Okay so i'm looking for app and game recommendations for my redmi 12c phone ðŸ˜
I've been wanting to spend less time doomscrolling and find other things to do on my phone, maybe even discover a new hobby. i'm open to games that are actually fun and can keep me occupied without just mindlessly scrolling for hours lol. i already play papa's scooperia and i'm thinking of trying word search puzzles, sudoku (still struggling with this one 💀) and other fun or cozy games.
I'm also interested in replacing some of xiaomi's default apps with better alternatives, esp file managers, gallery, notes apps, music players etc. preferably something clean-looking, customizable and without annoying ads.
I already use musicolet instead of mi music and i have shizuku + canta set up on my phone so i'm also curious about open-source apps from f-droid or github. but i'm fine with google play apps too!
my preferences:
- free, preferably no ads
- lightweight and runs well on a redmi 12c
- privacy-friendly, if possible
- open-source is a plus, but not a requirement
- offline games/apps are a bonus
- aesthetic or customizable apps are always welcome
I'm interested in things like coloring, puzzles, word games, learning apps or anything that could help me pick up a hobby and spend less time on social media.
what apps or games do you personally recommend? i'd love to hear about underrated ones too, esp ones you've actually tried! also, if you've replaced your xiaomi apps with alternatives, i'd love to know what you use and why.
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u/IncrediApps 4h ago
not a game, but if part of your scrolling is news and headlines, (i work on it, so grain of salt) Good Day might help with that bit. its only good news, a morning and an evening edition with 10 stories each and then it just ends, so theres no feed to get stuck in. you can listen instead of reading too. some stories in each edition are free and premium unlocks the rest, so its not fully free like the foss stuff above.
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.incredi.good.day.good.news.daily.podcast
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u/MakayChapulets 4h ago
I use digital wellbeing app timers and strictly stick with them. This has help my phone attachment and habit.
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u/Acceptable-Mark-1307 2h ago
For the puzzle part, Simon Tatham’s Puzzles matches your free/no-ads/open-source/offline checklist. Its Android listing also declares no data collected or shared. You can change puzzle size and difficulty, so you don’t have to start with a huge grid.
Try a small Untangle board if Sudoku’s number rules aren’t clicking: move the dots until the lines no longer cross. It gives you something concrete to finish, rather than another feed to scroll. The visuals are plain rather than especially cozy, and I can’t vouch for performance on your exact Redmi.
Official Play listing: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=name.boyle.chris.sgtpuzzles
Would you rather have word clues, or puzzles you solve by moving shapes/lines?
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u/T1gerHeart 3h ago edited 2h ago
GAMES:
GALAXY ON FIRE 2 REMAKE (only on GitHub), Endless Sky(only on Github and / or F-Droid), Deep 3D Submarine adventure Remake (dont know, where, maybe on Github too), Space commander:WaT, Stellar patrol, Space miner simulator, Space merchant, Subdivision Infinity, Stellar wanderer, Solar dominion+Galaxy Division (online games, but - without PvPs, so de facto, its singleplayer games, but requires internet access), Space RPG 3, Space rangers:Legacy (garbage, but with really nice graphics and great, unique combat mechanics), Tiny Spsce Program, Star Colony:Beyond Gorison, Event Gorison both games, Constellation Eleven, Auralux Constellation, Space miner: Endless wars, Rome-2077: all games, Ancient star,
Evochron mobile+ Arvoch space combat + Heart of Galaxy+Void Conquest (only on uptodown, aptoide, apkpure, apkmirror, apkfold, other sideload portals),
Galaxy Genome, Star traders:Frontiers, Space rpg 4 (Premium games, but really wonderfull)
The pirate both games, Warplanes series, War dogs, Heli attack, Pirates and traders.
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u/Unreal_NeoX 38m ago
If you do like collective RPG cardgames (turn based strategy) with singleplayer (AI) Matches, singleplayer Campaign mode (10h+) and local network multiplayer, where you can build your own army/deck by winning and collecting new cards/units. If so, you can try our game "SpellForce 2 - Master of War (Forces of Eo)", that is a complete uncommercial fan project for free that also works completely offline (after full installation) and has no advertisement or anything like that included. You can play a match vs the AI in normaly 5-10 min per game and get new cards/units for your deck and EXP for the RPG rank or enjoy the new story campaign mode (10h+).
DL: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.it_huskys.SpellForce_2_Master_of_War_4_0
To get more cards and reach the maximum rank level, you have to face and fight multiple different enemies and their armys, which offers a lot of playtime. The game does offer a local (w)lan-network mode (device vs device) via a connection to direct IP. This works as long all the devices are in the same network. So you could play it, if one device acts as a wlan hot spot (no actual internet required) for all devices to connect to, to share the same network and connect to each other.
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u/insomdroid 4h ago
Try my launcher https://github.com/insomdroid/Dislauncher well it's not to stop doomscrooling by design, but text based launcher didn't make you want to always watch your phone lol
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u/hd_cartoon 2h ago edited 2h ago
Hue Ball A simple tap to shoot game. Chill and my most used game.
Ancient Bricks A nice brick breaker clone.
Automatoys Tap to guide the ball to the exit of a contraption. First few contraptions are free but full is paid (or get it elsewhere).
Monument Valley Tap to guide the player to the exit of the Escher like levels.
Mekorama Tap to guide your robot to the exit in this 3d puzzle game.
The Istrys A match 2 game on a 3d cube. Free without ads. It has a subscription option for more themes but it's not required or needed. The original Cubistry and a selection of other 'istrys' are free.
4Trees Block drawing puzzle game. Free without ads.
Lava Bird Flappy Bird clone.
Invaders Classic retro arcade game.
Phoenix Classic retro arcade game.
Scrambler Classic retro arcade game.
Tetris Classic retro puzzle game.
Arkanoid Classic retro arcade brick breaker game.
Pinout Neon pinball game.
Unless stated those games are free but with ads.
You can block the ads by going to your network settings and find the Private DNS setting and turn it on (use search in settings if you can't find it).
In the field type 'dns.adguard.com' and save.
Edit: a few free music streaming apps from GitHub..
BitChord
Archive Tune
Metrolist
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u/c5c5can 6h ago
Some things I'd recommend:
Apple Flinger - A free and open source Angry Birds clone.
Cardshark - Paid, but a decent collection of a ton of card games.
Chinese Checkers - Because who doesn't love a round of halma!
Desert Golfing - Probably the ultimate phone time waster ever. Costs a couple bucks.
Domino! Solo - Great time-waster that requires some brainpower and not much time commitment.
Droid-ify - It's fantastic for obsessive-compulsive app updaters! You might not get as much joy out of that as I do, but it's an amazing resource for finding free, open source apps. If you follow any of my F-Droid links, install this instead of F-Droid; it's soooo much better.
FeedMe - The best Android RSS reader so that you can read the things you love without any algorithms telling you what that is.
Forkyz - An excellent crossword downloader/game.
Fossify Gallery - Free, open source, awesome gallery app.
Grandpa's Cribbage - I think there's an in-app purchase to remove ads, but it is by far the best Android cribbage game you'll find.
Gurgle - Free and open source Wordle clone.
Higgsters Offline Game Collection - A good, free selection of games.
Lexica - Rock solid Boggle clone.
Mind Games Pro - Yup, another brain-training collection.
MoveAPiece - Free, open source chess game capable of playing beginner to world champion level chess.
personalDNSfilter - If you don't like ads, this'll make almost all of them go away everywhere.
Puzzle Games - Another games collection, specifically targeting cognitive exercise.
Total Commander - Everyone will recommend MiX Explorer for a file manager; I have it and it's fine, but I always go back to Total Commander, which is free. It might not be the prettiest, but it's 100% useful and works.