Owners of modern Xiaomi TVs often perceive them exclusively as devices for watching videos, forgetting about the powerful gaming potential of the Android TV platform. Indeed, the built-in processor and graphics core allow you to run not only simple casual applications, but also full-fledged three-dimensional projects. Understanding what games can be downloaded to a Xiaomi TV opens up access to a huge library of entertainment, turning the living room into a gaming area without buying a console.
The main source of content is the built-in Google Play store, which is pre-installed on most of the brand’s models. However, the Android ecosystem allows for the installation of apps from third-party sources, which greatly expands the horizons.
In this article, we will take a look at compatible genres, how to install incompatible apps, and the performance nuances of different TV models. You will learn how to get around the limitations of the system and launch your favorite projects that are not originally adapted for large screens. This guide will help you get the most out of your Xiaomi Mi TV or Redmi Smart TV.
Google Play Directory and Native Compatibility
The first and most obvious place to look for entertainment is the official app store. When searching for games, the system automatically filters content, showing only those projects that are optimized for remote control and work on large screens. In the Android TV category, you can find hundreds of quality titles, from racing to strategy. Developers specifically adapt the interface of such games, making fonts readable from the couch, and navigation easy for navigation buttons.
However, don’t expect all popular mobile hits to be available directly. Many developers block their apps from installing on TVs unless they’re certified for Android TV. This is to ensure users don’t have to deal with broken controls or stretched interfaces. However, the official catalogue has a “gold pool” of games that are guaranteed to work steadily.
To find the best native projects, it is recommended to use voice input or a USB-connected keyboard, as it can be tedious to enter names using the remote. Particular attention should be paid to the Top Free and Popular in TV sections, where Google algorithms collect the highest quality applications, and this is where projects where optimization is performed flawlessly.
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Use the Google TV app on your smartphone to quickly type in text when searching for games in the store on your TV – this will significantly speed up the process.
Top of the best genres and specific games for Xiaomi TV
If you're wondering which games to download to a Xiaomi TV in the first place, look for genres that are perfect for the big screen. Racing, fighting games and arcade shooters look most spectacular here thanks to the high detail and smoothness of the picture. The Amlogic and MediaTek processors used in Xiaomi TVs do a great job of rendering three-dimensional graphics of the middle level.
Among the specific titles that are worth noting are multiplayer and dynamic gameplay titles that allow you to have fun with the company or immerse yourself in the world of virtual competitions. It is important to consider that some heavy games may require additional cooling or cleaning the system cache to ensure a stable FPS.
- 🏎️ Asphalt 8: Airborne is a benchmark arcade race with stunning graphics and support for a gamepad that demonstrates all the features of the screen.
- 🧟 Asphalt Xtreme is a more casual, but no less beautiful off-road race, perfectly optimized for Android TV.
- ⚔️ Soul Knight is a gorgeous roguelike shooter with a top-down view that is perfectly played on both the remote and the controller.
- 🏰 Badland is an atmospheric puzzle platformer where managing a single button makes it accessible to any user.
- 🎱 Real Pool 3D — realistic billiard simulator, where the large screen helps to aim more accurately.
Strategies and simulators like Plague Inc. or Kingdom Two Crowns deserve special mention, and these games don’t require any rush, so even the small input lag that some TVs have in game mode won’t be critical, but the main thing is to ensure a comfortable eye-to-screen distance for health.
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For racing and shooters, the presence of a physical gamepad is a prerequisite for a comfortable game, the remote is not suitable here.
Installation APK-Files: Launching incompatible applications
Users often want to play games on TV that are not in the official store. TV-In this case, the manual installation method comes to the rescue. APK-The files are from Xiaomi. TV It runs on Android, it is technically possible to install almost any mobile application if the processor architecture is the same (usually it is the same). ARM). However, be prepared for the fact that the interface can be uncomfortable.
To implement this method, you will need a file manager, such as File Commander or FX File Explorer, which can be downloaded from Google Play. You will also need a file source: it can be a flash drive, cloud storage or a special application for transferring files over Wi-Fi, such as Send Files to TV. The process requires care, since the system can block installation from unknown sources by default.
☑️ Preparation for installation APK
Once you activate the developer mode and allow unknown apps to be installed, the process looks standard. You find the file in the manager, launch it and confirm the installation. If the game requires Google Play Services and your TV model doesn't have them (which is often the case in Chinese versions of firmware or some global builds), the game may not start or crash.
⚠️ Attention: Install APK-files only from trusted sources such as APKPure or 4PDA. Files from dubious sites could contain malicious code that would turn your TV into a botnet or steal Wi-Fi data.
Control setting: remote, gamepad and smartphone
The quality of the gaming experience depends on the chosen control method. the standard Xiaomi remote is convenient for navigating menus and simple clicks, but for full-fledged gaming its functionality is catastrophically lacking. The lack of a second analog stick and a limited set of buttons make it impossible to control in most cases. 3D-So connecting an external controller is a step towards real comfort.
Most modern Bluetooth gamepads (from Xbox, PlayStation, 8BitDo) work with Xiaomi TV on the principle of Plug-and-Play. It is enough to transfer the controller to pairing mode and find it in the Settings menu → Remotes and accessories → Add accessory. After successful connection, the system recognizes the device as standard input, which allows you to play emulators and ported games without additional settings.
For games that don't have native gamepad support, but are installed via APK, you can use touch emulation or mapper apps like Mouse Toggle. They allow the mouse cursor to control the interface by simulating finger touches. It is also possible to use the smartphone as a virtual gamepad through special controller apps connected over a local Wi-Fi network.
| Type of management | Compatibility | Convenience (1-10) | Best genres |
|---|---|---|---|
| The remote (Bluetooth) | Native. TV-game | 6/10 | Quiz, card, strategy |
| Gamepad (Xbox/PS) | Almost all APKs and natives | 10/10 | Racing, shooters, fighting games |
| Smartphone (App) | Depends on the game. | 7/10 | Casual, simulators |
| USB-keyboard | Retro and old games | 5/10 | Text quests, RPGs |
How to activate the developer mode?
Using emulators for retro games
One of the most popular reasons users are looking for games to download on a Xiaomi TV is to launch classic games from consoles of the past: Emulators of Dendy consoles (NES), Sega, PlayStation 1 and even PSP work perfectly on the hardware of modern Smart TVs.
To run such games, you will need to install an emulator, for example, RetroArch or individual emulators like DuckStation (for example, for the game). PS1) and PPSSPP (for PSP). These apps are available on Google Play or installed via APK. After installing the emulator, you will need game files - so-called ROM-files or disk images that need to be uploaded to a TV or connected flash drive.
Set up emulators can take a while, especially if you want to achieve perfect image zooming or set up state saving. However, the result is worth it: you get access to thousands of legendary games right on the big screen. It is important to note that for emulation of more modern consoles (such as the GameCube or Wii), the power of the TV may not be enough and the performance will be low.
⚠️ Attention: Use ROM-Game files that you do not physically own may violate copyright laws in your country. Use emulators only to back up your own discs or open source games (Homebrew).
Cloud Gaming and Streaming from PC
If the built-in capacity of the TV is not enough for modern AAA-Cloud gaming technologies are coming to the rescue, services like Xbox Cloud Gaming, GeForce Now or Steam Link allow you to stream an image from a powerful server or your home computer to a TV screen. In this case, the TV acts only as a monitor and decoder of the video stream.
To stream from a PC (via Steam Link or Moonlight), the computer and TV must be on the same local network. It is highly desirable to connect both devices with an Ethernet cable to the router, since Wi-Fi may not provide stable transmission of high-resolution video stream without delay.
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To minimize the input delay during cloud gaming, be sure to turn on the Game Mode mode in the settings of the TV, which disables excessive post-processing of the image.
Cloud services require a stable and fast Internet connection (at least 25-50 Mbps). If you meet these conditions, you can play Cyberpunk 2077 or Call of Duty on a Xiaomi TV without buying a gaming console. This is the trend now most actively developing and offers a picture quality comparable to a local launch.