The mobile games market in the Netherlands continues to grow year on year. In general, Dutch gamers prefer games that offer strategy and puzzles to get the brain working, with arcade style games another favourite. As Android has around 60% of the smartphone market share in the Netherlands, we’re going to take a look at some of the most played games on Android phones in the Netherlands.
Why do people love playing mobile games?
Before we do, it is worth thinking about the reasons why Dutch people love playing games on their mobile phones. Playing games of any kind has always been a good way to relax, to have fun, and to get away from the stresses of the day. In the past, this might have been through playing card games or board games, but as the smartphone era has become such a success, people now have access to play their favourite games in the palm of their hands, wherever they happen to be. You no longer need to be at home with a bulky PC or console hooked up to the TV, or in the same place as your friends around a table to play a boardgame. All you need is your smartphone and your favourite game downloaded.
Top Android games in the Netherlands
We’ve gone with a mixture of both free Android apps and those that you must pay for to gain access.
1. My Perfect Hotel
My Perfect Hotel is the ideal mobile game for those players who have always had a dream of running their own hotel. This fast-paced, fun hotel management game brings you straight to the action. The idea is to start from scratch, building your dream hotel and proving your dedication, hard work, and decision-making by growing a successful hotel empire. You’ll have to choose how and when to invest in staff, property improvements, with several hotels to choose from, explore and upgrade, each with its own unique theme and atmosphere. Invest wisely, work your way up from bellhop to hotel tycoon, and keep your staff on their toes as you maximise profits and improve customer service to wow your guests!
2. Royal Match
A ‘match-three puzzle game’ that has the whole world entranced, Royal Match has over 78 million downloads since it launched in 2021 (download and user data for 2021 and 2022). In that respect it has taken the mantle that was held by Candy Crush for so many years with this type of puzzle game. Swipe colours, solve the puzzles and help King Robert as he attempts to revamp and decorate his castle. There are thousands of challenging levels for you to play in the Royal Arena and you’ll go on a fun journey, unlocking brand-new areas, picking up boosters and competing against millions of other players in competitions such as Sky Race, and the King’s Cup.
3. The rise of playing in online casinos
The online casino sector has been popular since it became legal in the Netherlands in 2021. In that time, popular online platforms, such as Kansino, offering exclusive live casino games have emerged proving very popular with online gamblers and those looking for a bit of fun from time to time. Dutch people love to play online slots, roulette and blackjack, with the average spend per month around 100 Euro. With the improvement in high-speed internet access and the performance of Android smartphones there is not a problem with lag and buffering, making for a smooth and engaging online casino experience for users. Safety, security, convenience, and fun gaming are all attractions to gamers in the Netherlands.
4. Wordfeud Premium (5.49 Euro)
This ad-free version of the popular Wordfeud allows you to play against up to 30 million opponents in a multiplayer puzzle word game. Challenge friends and online foes, with up to 30 games at the same time (if you really like to test your brain power!). The idea is that you create words by placing letters on the 15×15 board, earning points for creativity and extra points for placing letters on boxes that have double or triple value. If you want to shake things up you can change where the word and letter values are placed, making every game slightly different and unique. The chat option allows you to banter with opponents and you can also play in a few different languages.
5. Monopoly (3.99 Euro)
The classic board game Monopoly has been a firm family favorite the world over for decades. On your smartphone though, it brings a whole new appeal, including multiplayer video chat that allows you to taunt and lord it over your competitors (tenants) in the same way you would round the classic board! It’s a fully immersive board game experience, with fantastic graphics and animations, and ad-free. One of the best bits about the Monopoly Android game is that you can choose to play on 10 different boards, from a spooky Transylvania to an alternate universe Monstropolis or historic Tokyo. There is a lot of fun to be had playing through the boards, unlocking new pieces and playing your own way.
The best Android games in the Netherlands will no doubt continue to change and evolve in the coming years as new games and different ideas are worked on. Dutch people generally like puzzle games that get them thinking, but with the popularity of online casinos that can be played on your smartphone from any location, that sector is bound to continue to increase in popularity and provide thrills and spills across the country through online casino smartphone play.