I got it to work. I had to follow a guide to install ABD (android debugging bridge) and then install USB drivers for samsung phones because I have a galaxy S22. Then turn on developer options, USB debugging, and get my phone authorized in ADB. Lots of fun.
But once I got ADB to work, I was able to uninstall digital wellbeing because it was annoying me with useless notifications I couldn't turn off. Then I tried to install wicked lair since I had already gone through all this trouble.
Come to find out ADB has an option to install deprecated apk's.
adb install --bypass-low-target-sdk-block filename.apk
The game works fine! The fact this option exists in ADB tells me that modern day Android 15 can run old apk's with no problem. This isn't a compatibility issue, it's a forced deprecation issue. This is planned obsolescence. There's no reason to be doing it except to make Google Play more money by fleecing customers who are forced to go out and buy new updated software.
I had to disable google play protect and will probably have to keep it turned off to keep wicked lair. Which is fine by me. Google can suck donkey balls.