The Best Free Mobile Java Game and App Sites

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This post, which was originally published in October 2007, is consistently one of the most popular on WapReview and as such gets updated periodically to remove sites that are no longer working  and to include the best new ones. Last Update: 31-Dec-2011

Mobile pundits are starting to talk about the death of  Java ME.  Oracle, which owns the Java brand, isn’t doing much to reassure developers of mobile Java’s viability. But Java ME is still the biggest mobile app platform in terns of installed base and one that will be around for years to come.

Mobile carriers offer games and applications for download from their portals, for a price. But there is an alternative, an amazing number of mobile Java games and applications are available for free.  Here are my favorite sites for free and legal (not Warez) Java downloads.

Free and Open Source Downloads: These range from simple games and utilities created by hobbyists to some quite sophisticated programs.

GetJar

GetJar.com is the pioneer and market leader when it comes to free Java game and App downloads.  It’s huge site (57,000+ downloads) that has been around for years and is now the second biggest app store (after Apple’s) in the world. Just about every freeware, shareware or demo game ever published can be found on GetJar as well as many ad-supported ones. In addition to Java programs,  Getjar also has games and apps for the BlackBerry,  Windows Mobile, Android, iPhone, Symbian and legacy Palm OS platforms.

GetJar’s mobile site (m.getjar.com) is pretty easy to navigate. Apps and games are organized by categories, the mobile site’s search facility works fairly well and there are descriptions and user reviews on the download pages. The PC site (getjar.com) is also categorized and you can filter the selection by phone model or family. The handset filter works well and includes generic programs in the same listings along with handset specific ones. Each download has a description and a screen shot and most also have user reviews. Each file on the PC site also has a 5 digit Quick Download Code. As the name implies, you can enter this code on the mobile site to go directly to the download for that app or game.

Phoload

Phoload is a relatively new JAVA ME “App Store” along the lines of GetJar.com. In fact, it’s organized very similarly to GetJar. There’s a full web version (phoload.com) with a categorized, searchable directory of games and applications that can be filtered to only include apps compatible with your device. Applications and game listings include a screenshot, description and user reviews and ratings. All files can be downloaded to your PC for side loading. Or you can make note of a six digit “download code” and enter it on the mobile site for a direct to mobile download. Registered users can also add titles to a “Quick Download List” which makes them appear on the mobile site’s front page.

All downloads are free, the applications and games themselves are mostly freeware or ad supported but some are trials and demos. The type of each download (free full version, free ad-supported or trial/demo) is clearly indicated in each listing on Phoload.

The mobile version of the site (m.phoload.com) offers a searchable, categorized directory of apps and individual pages for each app with screenshot, description and rating. There is also download by code feature and, registered users can access their “Quick Download List” containing applications and games they have tagged on the full web site.

Mobango

Mobango is a huge mobile file sharing site that has a lot of Java apps and games as well as ringtones, wallpapers, and videos. Registered Mobango users can upload content  to  mobango.com and then download them to their phones from the Mobango mobile site. When you upload a file you can flag it as either public or private.

Anyone can download the public files,  which number nearly 700,000, from the Mobango mobile site wap.mobango.com without logging in or registering.

Sites hosting user submitted content have a problem with users sharing copyrighted material and Mobango is no exception. Each time a user uploads a file Mobango requires the user to check a box asserting that the file is their’s to share legally. Mobango responds to take down orders from publishers as well. But manually checking 700,000 files is an impossible task and it goes without saying that there is  some copyrighted material on Mobango. I don’t know what the answer is to intellectual property issues on file sharing sites. Sharing content you have created is great, sharing the hard work and livelihood of musicians and software developers is not. I hate DRM and the heavy handed approach of the RIAA, etc., but just asking people not to post or download copyrighted material isn’t going to work.

BoostApps

BoostApps.com, is a site I created for  Boost Mobile and Sprint Nextel iDEN network users. Unlike most mobile platforms, iDEN doesn’t support direct over the air downloads of Java applications using the browser.  BoostApps uses  a public Sprint API to hook into the iDEN app provisioning system and send free apps directly to Boost and Nextel USA phones.  As far as I know, it’s the only site that lets iDEN users send applications directly to their phones without the need for cables or a PC.

Although designed for Boost Mobile users, most of the 200+ apps and games on BoostApps.com also work on other phones.  All the downloads are legal freeware, ad-supported or open source and include essentials like Opera Mini, Gmail and  Google Maps as well as many games.

Mjelly

Mjelly mjelly.com (mobile mjelly.mobi) has  a small but high quality selection of free apps (no games).  There are user reviews and ratings to help you find the best apps. By default, listings are sorted by rating but sorting by Newest or Most Popular is just a click away.

Mjelly also has a funky collection of ringtones including, sound effects, old school phone ringers, cartoon and TV themes, rave and metal tones.

While it doesn’t have a huge catalog, Mjelly loads fast, is easy to navigate and is a hassle free way to get truly free content for any phone.

Mob385 has no games, it’s all freeware applications like calculators, calendars, browsers, password safes, etc. plus some wallpapers. You can download directly to your phone from the mobile site (http://mob385.com/wap/) or to your PC for side-loading from the PC site (mob385.com/java/) The PC site has screen shots and descriptions, the mobile site doesn’t but it’s fairly small (230 applications) and files are at least grouped into categories.

Mob385 doesn’t seem to be updated anymore and now bills itself as offering “Free Java midlets for old Java enabled cell phones. Most of the applications work fine with current phones…“. Although the apps are old, there are still some gems on Mob385.

Ad Supported. These sites offer commercial quality games for free. Obviously there is advertising too. In my experience the ads are only shown when a game first loads and when you exit it. I don’t find the ads obtrusive, they are simple text or banner ads that can be dismissed with a click or two. Seeing a couple of ads seems like a reasonable price to pay for a high quality game. Be warned though that if you pay for data by the KB you will be charged for downloading ads every time you play.

Hovr  Both the mobile (hovr.com/wap) and PC sites (hovr.com) feature good usability with categories and descriptions and, on the PC site, screen shots. Registration is no longer  required to download but from the PC site but you have to navigate past multiple interstitial ads that appear to require you to enter personal information to proceed. To get past the ads safely click the tiny “no thanks” links hidden above below or along side each ad. after the last ad click “Leave this page” in the popup that appears.  The mobile site doesn’t have the interstitials and is much more user friendly.

Hovr

Mobile Rated at mobilerated.com is another site that offers free ad-supported mobile Java  games and apps. It’s a big site with lots of content. The PC site is searchable and pretty well organized. The mobile version at mobilerated.com/wap/lists games and apps by categories but there is no search. If you are looking for something specific and have a PC it’s easiest to find what you want on the PC site to take note of the app or game’s  Download Code which you can enter on the mobile site to go right to the download.

Will these free Java games work on your phone? I’ve found that most of them do if you have a GSM phone. In the US, ATT and T-Mobile are the main GSM carriers. Sprint and Boost Mobile CDMA users can download and play these games as well. Nextel and Boost iDEN phones can run many Java games but you will have to side-load them from a PC as downloading is not supported on Nextel. If you are a Verizon, Alltel or US Cellular customer you are out of luck as these carrier’s phones do not run Java programs. Outside of the Americas almost all phones are GSM and should work. Of course, Java ME being what it is there are bound to be some incompatibilities between certain games and phones. But if you download a game that doesn’t work, it didn’t cost you anything, except possibly data charges and there are plenty more games to try.

For a current list of  even more free mobile game and app download sites for all platforms be sure to visit the WapReview Directory’s Mobile Downloads Page.

133 thoughts on “The Best Free Mobile Java Game and App Sites”

  4. Howdy.I use opera mini 5.2 beta, and love its downloading. But the problem is Waptrick.com is the only site I could use for free downloading through application. Could you please suggest free sites through which I could downloading without going through my phone browser.

    • I don’t see much point to Torrents on a mobile, files are too big and most aren’t compatible. But try searching GetJar, Mobilerated, Google etc. for a mobile Java Torrent client. You might find something.

  6. hello i used to play on a site with games like mining and fishing and it also had an egg hunting game on it i used to play it on my phone and also on the net but i cant remember the name of the site its got avitars and you use money to buy things for your avitar can anybody help with the name of the site plz and thanks

    • Pokemon games are commercially published and copyrighted. As such they are not free, at least no legally. I don’t cover pirated games pr sites that distribute them so you are on your own when it comes to finding them.

  8. Hi. I have a incognito and i can not seem to find a good video player. Getjar does NOT support this phone at this time. Plz help. Ty. P.s. Any one know where i can get midnight pool or a good poker game free? Ty

  11. excuse me،

    need a DivX player for mynew E63 could anyone were i could get one i tried getjar it is expired.

  12. hi team, i am using micromax q5 it is agood phone and java based 320×240, i want realplayer for it for live streaming video but i am unable to find it,i got aplayer called nagesh player but its boring. any idea about the streaming video java base app.

    • Real player comes bundled with some phones but is not available as a user installable download.

      I’m not familiar with the Micromax q5 and have no idea what works on it. Try searching for video player on getjar.com. There are lots of them that you can download and try until you find one that works.

  13. sir…..i want high quality videos to download for my nokia5233 plzzz suggest me bst wapsites for it……thku..

  15. gud evening sir.
    I have encountered a problem with my nokia 5220 xpress music.
    it is completly formatted including with phone memory.how can i update the software?
    The option software is in phone but the provider link is formatted.plz tell me how to install the new software?
    Plz…………..PLZ………….plz……….plz……..

    • You mean you somehow completely wiped the phone so there’s no OS and it won’t even start up? If that’s the case you will probably have to take it to a service center to be reflashed. But first, if you have access to a PC try updating the firmware with Nokia Softwase Updater.

  16. hello, can you please help me? I just bought the samsung seek thur boost, and every site that I try using for apps, music and games is not working… When I bought the phone I thought it was going to play vids, but I guess I was wrong because it keeps telling me not supported… should I take the phone back or is there some site I can try…

    Thanks for your help

  18. I am from Brazil, I want to know site for mobile applicattions and games(sports). Sorry for my mistakes, i am improving my english!!!Add my hotmail: [email address removed]. thanks.

  19. have motorola mobile ZN200 which type of software we downlad player’ game’ browser

  20. ok sir.thankyou for response.i’m an engineering student.is there any work to do in online for part time?i really need it to continue my studies.please suggest.plz………………plz………….plz…

  21. what is the best browser including youtube downloading other than opera mini 5.1 and uc web for java mobile(nokia 2700 s40 3rd) please suggest.it seems that bolt 2.1 is the only youtube streaming for java s40 series.if any browser is there please suggest tea shark is not working on my phone.

    • The best browser is the one that works best for YOU. I prefer Opera Mini but I’m not really that interested in downloading videos. For a Nokia 2700, Opera Mini, Bolt and UC Browser are the only ones worth bothering with.

    • Thanks for the link. There’s not much to say about it. It works, but only for YouTube and you have to paste in the full URL of the YouTube video into it which is hard or impossible with most mobile browsers. If you just want to watch the video it’s easier to just go YouTube.com with your mobile browser.

  23. i have more questions about the youtube and wapsites.if you are intersted i will ask some questions.

  24. i have found the solution for hq 3gp videos to download directly to mobile that is http://softmaza.in/yt/index.php

    this is the best hq downloader.but it is not working in some times.give me an alternative link.thanks for suggesting the sites.but they are notgood for hq.and one more thing i don’t have a computer.i’m managing the sites on my mobile. so softmaza is the solution for hq 3gp videos on youtube.if any dite is there tell me.thank you.

  25. hello.any one plz tell me what is the best mobile site to download youtube videos in high quality for my Nokia 2700 Classic.i tried many websites like cupish.com,vuclip.com,tubezen.mobi etc. But these are waste in quality.so plz tell me the site for high quality download of youtube videos. Plz….. . . . .plz. . . . . . . Plz. . . . . . . . .

  26. Sir i need java adobe flash or any java video player. You can send you reply through my email.

    • There are lots of video player apps on http:/m.getjar.com if you search for “video”. No Flash players though, it takes a high-end smartphone to run a full Flash player, Java mobiles aren’t powerful enough. If you want to follow replies by email check the “Notify me of followup comments via e-mail ” box on the comment form.

  27. Too too many choices. I want challenging word games or puzzles for my iPHone or iMac that are safe and highly rated. too too many choices!

  28. I does not found updated versions of software on all above free java game downloads websites. Does anyone recommend me sites where as i found some updated version of free java games websites.

  29. hi
    Its great to suggest these free games and application. Its very helpful for me and my friends to downloads some games application.

  30. my phone cannot download opera mini any version it keeps on telling me “memory not enough” help???

    • You should be able to download games from just about any Java download site using the phone’s browser. GetJar has the best selection. Boost and Sprint CDMA phones are very intolerant of any errors in the JAD file though. If you consistently get errors try downloading the JAR to you PC and sending it to your phone with Rumkin

  34. I can’t find a simple java word processor!

    did anyone find one? even a notepad type app would do

  36. Can u pls tell me how worth is Motorola ZN200. Pls tell me any game, theme, software for this set. I just hate this bullshit mobile. Nothing runs on it.

  42. Steve, There are many different RAZR’s, depending on your model and carrier you might be able to use Motorola Phone Tools, which isn’t free, or even a free program like BitBim to transfer ringtones with a cable. Go to the Howard Forums section for your carrier and search.

    But why bother, use one of the free web services like rumkin.com or FunForMobile. They work the same, you upload a file with your PC to the site and get an SMS or MMS containing the ringer. You have to pay the normal fee for receiving a message but that beats paying your carrier $2. I like Rumkin because no registration is required and they don’t retain your phone number, on the other hand, FunForMobile is a real community with lots of features.

  43. i just got a dongle for my pc to use with my razor V3. What thye heck do I have to do to transfer some ringtones

  46. hi mi name is omar
    i have some java games for my lg shine but i dont know how to run them in the pohne

  47. Pingback: Tambayan.ph » Free Apps and Java games for your mobile phone

  48. There seems to be hundreds of java games and apps for my motorola v3….but….

    I can’t find a simple java word processor!

    Can anyone point me in the right direction?

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