ARIDA: Backland's Awakening on Android: Price, Requirements and What to Expect

ARIDA: Backland's Awakening (written ÁRIDA by its developer) is a single-player survival adventure from the Brazilian studio Aoca Game Lab, set in the drought-struck backlands of 19th-century Brazil. You play Cícera, a young girl searching for her parents, gathering resources, crafting and completing quests for village elders. It is on Google Play for Android 7.1 and later, and the listing is labeled with in-game purchases.

The game began on PC and has since reached Android, iOS and other platforms, so reviews you find online may describe a different version. This guide covers what the Android listing confirms, what the supplied system requirements mean for your phone, how the price and purchases work, and how to install the right app. Details were checked on October 15, 2026.

ARIDA: Backland's Awakening at a glance

Detail	Information
Name	ARIDA: Backland's Awakening (ÁRIDA)
Developer	Aoca Game Lab (AGL Desenvolvimento de Programas Ltda), Bahia, Brazil
Android package ID	com.AocaGameLab.Arida
Genre	Single-player adventure and survival
Minimum Android	Android 7.1, per the Google Play listing
Other hardware requirements	4 GB memory, octa-core 1.8 GHz processor, Adreno 610 GPU or higher, per the information supplied for this page; not shown on Google Play
Downloads	100K+ on Google Play
Google Play rating	4.5 stars from about 3,500 reviews
Content rating	Rated for 3+
Purchases	Labeled "In-Game Purchases"; the latest update note mentions an in-app purchase for an artbook
Last updated on Google Play	October 12, 2026
Version and file size	Not shown on the listing page reviewed

I could not confirm the current price, version number or download size for Android. Third-party trackers disagree, and one of them was last updated in February. Check the Play listing for your own region before buying.

What is ARIDA: Backland's Awakening about?

The game follows Cícera through the Brazilian backlands during a drought. Wikipedia describes the setting as the Canudos region in the 1890s, and the developer's mobile press release names the village of Canudos. The goal, according to the listing, is to find her parents again by exploring, collecting resources and uncovering clues.

Survival is built on tools and resources rather than combat. The listing mentions these systems.

• Tools that wear out. A machete and a hoe handle tasks such as getting water, opening paths and cutting corn. The description warns that blunt equipment is useless, so you need grindstones to keep tools sharp.
• Crafting from local items. Recipes use materials typical of the region, and the description encourages learning them before a long crossing.
• Quests from village elders. Helping them is one way to get food and water, since hunger and thirst are constant threats.
• Exploration and inventory. You search arid areas for resources, and the description says a full inventory is always a good idea.
• Collectibles and legends. Lost objects tied to backlands stories can be found and are meant to teach you about local legends.

The text supplied for this page does not mention combat, and I found no confirmed details on the length of the game or its difficulty settings.

Which version is on Android?

The Android game launched in 2022 after a soft launch in selected countries. A trade site reported at the time that it was a premium game priced at $2.00. In July 2023, a gaming news site reported a "Definitive Edition" on Google Play adding an in-game map, a larger inventory, new collectibles, more missions and dialogue, and two difficulty modes called Adventurous and Survivor.

I could not confirm whether the current Google Play listing is that edition, or exactly what the October 2026 build contains. Treat older reviews with caution, and read the listing's "What's new" section.

Is it free? Price, purchases and ads

I could not read a price on the Play page. Third-party sources give different numbers: $2.00 at the 2022 launch, $2.99 on one tracker, and $0.99 on the iPhone version. Prices vary by region and over time, so rely on your own Play Store.

The listing carries an "In-Game Purchases" label. Its most recent update note says an in-app purchase for an artbook was added. I found no "Contains ads" label on the page, but I did not play the game, so I cannot say whether it ever shows ads.

The developer has also said the game was selected for Google Play Pass, a subscription service. That press release is undated, so check whether it is still included.

Will it run on my phone?

Google Play lists Android 7.1 as the minimum. The information supplied for this page also gives 4 GB of memory, an octa-core 1.8 GHz processor and an Adreno 610 or better GPU as minimum hardware. I could not find those three figures on Google Play, so treat them as developer-supplied guidance rather than confirmed store data.

An Adreno GPU means a phone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, so devices with other GPUs may need testing. Google Play shows whether your own device is compatible. I found no independent performance tests on low-end phones.

Does ARIDA work offline?

The game is single-player, but none of the sources I read says whether it needs an internet connection. Because I cannot confirm this, test it yourself: open the game once online, switch on airplane mode and see whether it still loads and saves. Updates and any purchases will need a connection.

What do players and critics say?

On Google Play the rating is about 4.5. On Steam, the PC version holds a "Very Positive" summary with 90 percent of 636 reviews positive, though that covers a different version. Wikipedia reports that critics praised the music and art but faulted the PC launch's polish and performance.

Wikipedia also lists awards and nominations, including Best Art at Gamepólitan 2017 and several nominations at SBGames. One community review I read calls the story possibly linear and notes possible difficulty spikes, but it gives no examples and does not say which platform it covers, so I did not rely on it.

How to install ARIDA: Backland's Awakening from Google Play

1. Open the ARIDA: Backland's Awakening listing on Google Play on your Android device, or search for the name in the Play Store.
2. Confirm the developer is Aoca Game Lab and the web address contains id=com.AocaGameLab.Arida.
3. Check the price shown for your region, and read the Data safety section and recent reviews.
4. Tap Install or the price button if one is shown.
5. Open the game and check the settings and save behavior, including whether it works offline.

The game is also sold on Steam for PC, and an iPhone version exists. I found nothing saying purchases carry across stores, so buy on the platform you plan to play on.

If the game is not offered for your device, do not turn off Google Play Protect or install an APK from another website to get around it. One APK site I tried to check blocked my access, and I did not verify any file. A file name cannot prove who built a file.

Privacy

The developer's Data safety section on Google Play says no data is collected and none is shared with third parties. That is a self-declaration, not an independent audit, and it may change, so read the current page before installing.

Who will enjoy it

It may suit you if you like slow, resource-driven survival games, want a story set in the Brazilian backlands, and are happy to pay a small price for a single-player game.

You may prefer something else if you want action combat, multiplayer, or a guarantee that it runs on a low-end phone, since I found no confirmed performance data. More titles are listed in the Games section of this site.

Frequently asked questions

Who developed ARIDA: Backland's Awakening?

Aoca Game Lab, an independent studio from Bahia, Brazil. The Google Play listing shows its legal name as AGL Desenvolvimento de Programas Ltda.

Is ARIDA free on Android?

I could not confirm a current price, and the sources disagree. It launched on Android as a paid game, and Google Play now labels it with in-game purchases, so check the price shown in your region.

What Android version does it need?

Google Play lists Android 7.1 or later. The information supplied for this page also lists 4 GB of memory and an Adreno 610 or better GPU.

Does it have ads?

The Google Play page shows no "Contains ads" label. I did not play it, so I cannot say what appears in the game.

Is it only on Android?

No. It was released on Steam for PC in 2019, and an iPhone version exists. Other platforms have been mentioned by the developer, but I did not verify them.

Is there a sequel?

The developer has announced ÁRIDA II, and the Steam page says this game is the first of three planned games about Cícera. I did not check whether any later game is available on Android.

Does it work offline?

That is not confirmed in the sources I read. Test it in airplane mode after installing.

Is it safe to download from other websites?

This guide does not recommend it. Use the Google Play listing.

Bottom line

ARIDA: Backland's Awakening is a distinctive, award-nominated survival story that reached Android in 2022 and is still being updated. Check the price and version on your own Play Store, confirm your phone meets the hardware figures, and test offline play before you rely on it.

Disclaimer: AppGameGuide is an independent app-information website. ARIDA: Backland's Awakening is a game by Aoca Game Lab. This article does not imply any affiliation with the developer. All trademarks belong to their respective owners. Details were checked on October 15, 2026 and may change.