Miniclip's billiards giant is free, requires an account to matter, and turns coins and cues into a shop with real money behind it, which is the whole trade to weigh here.
3.4 / 5
8 Ball Pool is Miniclip's long-running billiards game: pick a table, aim with a cue, and play a match against another person rather than a computer. The developer describes it as PvP by design, with matches ranked into a league so you keep meeting opponents around your level.
The hook is coins. Win a match and you take home coins that can be spent in the Pool Shop on new cues and tables, and the listing frames climbing the level system as the way to unlock better match locations and stronger competition. There's no mention of a single-player campaign or an offline mode; this is built around always having someone to play against.
To challenge a friend directly you need to sign in with a Miniclip or Facebook account, according to the listing. That's a low bar but it is a bar: nobody plays with friends here without handing over that login first.
The bigger issue is the shop. The listing states plainly that the game includes optional in-game purchases and that some of those purchases include random items. That's a loot-box mechanic sitting inside a game already selling cosmetic upgrades for coins you can also just win, and it means the free-to-play loop is designed to nudge you toward spending rather than simply letting the ranking system carry you.
As a pure pitch, this covers what a pool game needs to cover: real opponents, a progression system, and enough customisation to make winning feel worth something. The developer isn't shy about any of that, and none of it requires guessing what the app does.
What holds it back is exactly what most free-to-play sports games get held back by: an account requirement before the social features work, and a purchase system that leans on randomised rewards rather than a flat price for what you want. If you're fine playing inside someone else's ecosystem and ignoring the shop, it's a reasonable way to kill time against real people. If you'd rather not sign in or gamble on cosmetics, look elsewhere in the same category.
By Mei-Lin Chua
Contributing editor, apps and storefronts ·
8 Ball Pool
com.miniclip.eightballpool
PUBG MOBILEMei-Lin Chua3.7 / 5
PUBG MOBILE is a free 100-player battle royale for phones with team modes and customisable controls. The listing is thin on pricing and long on slogans, and that is where the caution lies.
Android AutoHafiz Rahman3.9 / 5
Android Auto puts a simplified, voice-driven version of your phone's driving apps on a compatible car screen. It is free and does the core job, but the listing reads dated and leans on your car.
Google MessagesKelvin Ooi4.1 / 5
Google Messages is Google's free SMS and RCS texting app. It brings modern chat features to ordinary phone numbers, but the best parts depend on carriers, other users' setups and AI extras.
RobloxMei-Lin Chua3.6 / 5
Roblox is a free launcher for a huge catalogue of player-made multiplayer games. The listing is vague about spending and safety, and the content rating is 16+, which matters for any parent.
TelegramKelvin Ooi4.1 / 5
Telegram is a free, cloud-synced messenger built for large groups, big file transfers and multi-device use, but its default chats are not end-to-end encrypted, and that matters.
© 2018–2026 APKCube
