The iPhone has arguably the best games of any mobile platform. Come check out our picks of the best iPhone and iPad games, with selections from many genres.
While gaming phones are picking up steam, there’s often no better gaming phone to buy than the latest iPhone. With more than a million iPhone apps available in the App Store, the gaming options on the iPhone are nearly limitless. But finding the best iPhone games isn’t always easy. Not every app in Apple’s massive game library is worth the money — or your time, for that matter.
Luckily for you, we’ve taken on the burden of sorting through the heaving sea of game apps to bring you some of the best iPhone games. So, whether you’re looking for a casual match-three game, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), or a battle royale, take a look at our list of the best games you’ll find on your iOS device. They’ll even work on an iPad (but don’t let anyone know we told you).
Most of these games should work on any iPhone running iOS 15, which includes phones all the way down to the iPhone 6S. Subscribers to Apple’s library of games — which we think contains enough gems to justify the price of membership — should check out our picks of the best Apple Arcade games. For more ideas, check out the best Android games because many of them are available for the iPhone as well. And if you want to switch off that screen, the best board games could offer a welcome alternative.
The Rings of Power has reignited our love for everything Tolkien, so why not play a game set in the same universe? The Lord of the Rings: War is set in Tolkien’s beloved fantasy creation and puts you in the shoes of a faction of Middle-earth. Fight against the other factions for the One Ring, recruit new commanders, and even forge your very own ring of power. A large amount of Middle-earth is available to adventure through as you build your team and create an enormous army. It’s free to play, but it does have microtransactions.
iOS
Game of Thrones is back in the public eye with the release of House of the Dragon, and if you can’t get enough of everyone’s favorite quasi-medieval series, then you should try out Game of Thrones: Conquest. If you’ve played any city builders before, then the format will be familiar to you — gather resources, fortify your army, and create buildings. As you might expect, given the lore, you’re given a dragon to raise and protect, and you’ll be able to use it with your armies to expand your influence and create great alliances. You can also gather hero cards and assign them to your council to get bonuses.
iOS
Dragon Ball Z holds a special place in many people’s hearts, and there’s no shortage of games set in Akira Toriyama’s manga-turned-anime. Dokkan Battle is a slightly different twist on the franchise’s formula, and while the high-octane, chi-fueled battles remain, they’re through the medium of matching colored orbs. Tap the right orb to send your energy up to your enemy and hit them with super-strong special moves. It’s difficult to explain but easy to pick up and worth a quick download if you’re interested in the legendary series.
iOS
Ignore the terrible name — this is Angry Birds. Yes, the original version, with no in-app purchases and nothing to distract from the sheer joy of destruction. Take apart the precarious fortresses of those greedy pigs with nothing but the noggins of your furious avian friends and, if needed, the Mighty Eagle as a backup. You’ve probably played this before and saw the original you loved disappear behind troves of microtransactions and “upgrades.” Pay your dollar, go back to the original, and just enjoy the simple fun of Angry Birds.
iOS
We’re big lovers of large beardy people in pointy helmets around here, and Northgard is just the game we’ve been waiting for. Northgard is a survival game, but instead of controlling a single, beleaguered explorer, you control a group of Vikings looking for new lands. Manage your scarce resources and Vikings carefully, as you’ll need to balance both in order to survive this harsh land of undead warriors and dire wolves. There’s a multiplayer mode and a single-player storyline, and you’ll need to master the different skills of the six clans in order to conquer both. While it’s on the expensive side for an iOS game, there’s no doubt Northgard offers hours of fun.
iOS
MMORPGs are nothing new, but what about an MMORPG that can be played on a PC, Mac, Android, and iOS device? With the same account and same characters? Add a completely player-driven economy, a class-less system where your class is dictated by your outfit, and an endgame that lets guilds compete for vast swathes of Albion in enormous open-world battles and you’ve got a game that is very interesting indeed. If nothing else, it’s worth experimenting with. Albion Online is free-to-play, but as you might have guessed, it has paid elements and a premium subscription for the truly hooked.
iOS
A PC gaming staple, Sid Meier’s Civilization VI is now an exceptionally good iOS game as well. While it’s easier to enjoy on a larger screen, like on an iPad, it still works extremely well on an iPhone. The game puts you in charge of an emerging historical civilization, and you must make the big decisions that decide whether your people spread and flourish, or struggle and diminish. Start in the stone age, and develop your technology, taking your civilization through thousands of years, until you’re capable of putting people on Mars. It’s free for the first 60 turns, but costs $5 to upgrade to the full game.
iOS
Surviving the zombie apocalypse is a genre we’ve encountered many times before, but we doubt you’ve ever faced it from the gunning position of an AC-130 gunship.
