There are also many excellent ports of more recent indie titles from PC or console that work well on Android TV. However, many of them require sideload. Here are some with good controller support:
Maldita Castilla (freeware)
: a great "Ghosts'n Goblins"-style platformer originally released as OUYA exclusive title. It was later made free by its developer and can be played on Android TV with controller.
Some of the best games for Android TV are ports of old PC or console games, which include titles from Rockstar Games ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=7086639890153802127&hl=en_US ) and SQUARE ENIX ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=8026010256970589886&hl=en_US ). Some of their games do not show up in Android TV app store but actually works fine with controller when sideloaded, like Max Payne and GTA III . Telltale games are also great but many of them were de-listed. Some were later re-listed by new publishers:
Howyaknow, LLC
Athlon Games, Inc.
A few more Android ports of old PC games with controller support (title marked with * needs to be sideloaded):
Star Wars: KOTOR : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aspyr.swkotor&hl=en_US
The Bard's Tale : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inxile.BardTale&hl=en_US
Crazy Taxi Classic * (runs great on devices not fast enough for emulating the Dreamcast version): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sega.CrazyTaxiplayhaven&hl=en_US
Life is Strange *: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.squareenix.lis&hl=en_US
Castle of Illusion *: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.disney.castleofillusion_goo&hl=en_US
Oddworld Series : https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=Oddworld+Inhabitants+Inc
Ys Chronicles I : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dotemu.ys1x&hl=en_US
Ys Chronicles II : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dotemu.ys2x&hl=en_US
And here is one of the best horror games on Android that's surprisingly NOT a port from PC or console:
Forgotten Memories *: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.psychoseinteractive.forgottenmemories&hl=en_US
There are also many excellent ports of more recent indie titles from PC or console that work well on Android TV. However, many of them require sideload. Here are some with good controller support:
Dead Cells * (probably one of the best Metroidvania games released on Android recently): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.playdigious.deadcells.mobile&hl=en_US
Forgotton Anne * (absolutely stunning game with anime-quality visuals): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hitcents.forgottonanne&hl=en_US
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap *: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dotemu.wonderboy.dragonstrap&hl=en_US
République *: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.camouflaj.republique&hl=en_US
Stardew Valley *: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chucklefish.stardewvalley&hl=en_US
Terraria *: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.and.games505.TerrariaPaid&hl=en_US
Oceanhorn : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.FDGEntertainment.Oceanhorn.gp&hl=en_US
Lovecraft's Untold Stories *: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.blinigames.lus&hl=en_US
Retro City Rampage DX : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vblank.RCRDX&hl=en_US
Dandara (another awesome Metroidvania game with unique game mechanics): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rawfury.longhathouse.Dandara&hl=en_US
Teslagrad : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Rain.Teslagrad&hl=en_US
Thimbleweed Park : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.terribletoybox.thimbleweedparkandroid&hl=en_US
This War of Mine : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.elevenbitstudios.twommobile&hl=en_US
This War of Mine: Stories - Father's Promise : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.elevenbitstudios.twomstoriesmobile&hl=en_US
OlliOlli : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.roll7.olliolli&hl=en_US
OlliOlli2: Welcome to Olliwood : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.roll7.olliolli2&hl=en_US
NOT A HERO : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.roll7.nah&hl=en_US
Death Road to Canada : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.noodlecake.drtc&hl=en_US
Horizon Chase - World Tour : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aquiris.horizonchase&hl=en_US
Stranger Things 3: The Game *: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bonusxp.fate&hl=en_US
Some of them require OpenGL ES 3.x support and won't work on every Android TV device. Check what version of OpenGL ES your GPU supports with AIDA64.
These Android ports are Shield exclusives:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=7748882896084752769&hl=en_US
Hotline Miami : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.devolver.hlm1&hl=en_US
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.devolver.hlm2&hl=en_US
The Talos Principle : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.devolver.Talos&hl=en_US
Maldita Castilla (freeware) : a great "Ghosts'n Goblins"-style platformer originally released as OUYA exclusive title. It was later made free by its developer and can be played on Android TV with controller.
Download and sideload its apk for OUYA at the bottom of this page: https://www.locomalito.com/maldita_castilla.php
Also worth mentioning is although Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove is Fire TV exclusive ( https://www.amazon.com/Yacht-Club-Games-Shovel-Knight/dp/B014IEGCKU ), it does work on Android TV if you export and sideload its apk from compatible Fire TV devices.