The iPhone has arguably the best games of any mobile platform. Come check out our picks of the best iPhone and iOS games, with selections from many genres.
While gaming phones are picking up steam, there’s often no better gaming phone to buy than the 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 $1 — 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 3 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 14, 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. Pokémon games are taking mobile platforms by storm, and Pokémon Unite is a big part of the reason why. It’s a 5-on-5 battle arena game where you work with your team to secure the most points. Make sure your Pokémon are stylish with Holowear and perform amazing new moves in battle. It’s cross-platform, so you can play with Switch and Android players, and it won’t cost you a dollar if you’re strict with your finances. iOS Survival games are now something of a classic genre, but it’s quite rare to see one so built just for mobile. Tiny Island Survival is a survival game that takes place on a single screen. The island is truly tiny and stretches only from the top of your screen to the bottom. Despite that, it crams an awful lot into that one island, and you’ll have everything you need to survive — and a few additional surprises, too. It’s great for playing in short bursts, and there’s a secret to find as well. A great time-waster. iOS It’s been away from our list for a time, but it’s so good that we had to bring it back. Quite unlike any Fallout game that came before, Fallout Shelter puts you in the shoes of a vault leader, sealed away from the nuclear apocalypse. The time to explore the wasteland has come, and your settlers’ lives are a sacrifice you’re willing to make. Gather scraps from what remains of the outside world and build up your vault, keeping your settlers safe (well, as safe as can be expected), and slowly bring some element of civilization back to a lawless land. iOS Marvel Future Revolution was only released in August 2021, but it’s such a big release that it deserves its place on this list. It’s the latest huge mobile game from Marvel, and unlike previous mobile games from the company, it’s a third-person RPG that tells the tale of a “convergence” on planet Earth. Multiple realities are colliding, and it’s causing chaos. Your job, playing as a variety of Marvel heroes, is to stop it. Move your character with the left thumb, and select from a variety of attacks with the other — it’s a simple formula, but it’s a good slice of mindless fun. It’s a hefty download, but there’s a cute Flappy Bird -style minigame you can play while it downloads. iOS It’s almost a decade old, but my how Minecraft has grown. While you can never say Minecraft was ever basic, so much has been added over the years that it barely resembles the game that launched in 2011. If you’re somehow not familiar with this absolute blockbuster of a game, you find yourself in the world of Minecraft. Survive and thrive by making the most of the resources you find, build a gigantic castle, automated farms, and so, so much more. A real time-sink of a game, and for just $7. iOS Alright, so it might be a little on the nose these days, but there’s no denying Plague Inc. is a lot of fun. Play as a new disease, whether bacteria, virus, fungus, or more, and infect as many people as possible. As time goes by, you need to choose between becoming more overtly infectious — and risking discovery and vaccines — or stay under the radar for as long as possible so you can quickly mutate and ramp up all at once. Despite the global backdrop, Plague Inc. is still a great game to play any time you’ve got a few extra moments. iOS One of the few iOS games that can call itself a true mobile MMORPG, Black Desert Online is a free-to-play open-world game with an awful lot to offer if you’re a fan of PC games like World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV, or other MMORPGs. With 14 character classes to choose from, a massive world to explore, and some gorgeous graphics, Black Desert Online is one of the big MMORPGs to choose from on iOS. Unfortunately, it does have quite a few paid elements, including boosts, but if you’re happy to do more legwork, you can ignore those. iOS Want to play a farming game, but not a fan of Stardew Valley ‘s cutesy style? Farming Simulator 20 ‘s realistic approach and graphics are definitely up your alley. The noble profession of farming has been faithfully reproduced down to the last brand-name tractor, with over 100 machines from real-world names, the ability to farm and harvest a wide range of crops, and the ability to hop on a horse and live out your cow-tending dreams. It costs $6, but if you’re a fan of a slower pace of life, this is definitely worth the initial investment. iOS SimCity is the majordomo of city-building games, and it’s great to see the legendary game series land on iOS. SimCity BuildIt is initially a straightforward affair: Build your city from the ground up, designing roads, public transit, and different districts so that traffic and commerce can flow freely. But once you’re past the early stages, you’ll need to start juggling, adding serious depth and giving you some big decisions to make. There are microtransactions here, though, so keep a close hand on your wallet. iOS Street Fighter is one of the world’s biggest fighting game franchises, and now it has come to your iPhone with Street Fighter IV CE. This mobile port of the 2008 video game gives you access to 31 fighters (including old and new favorites), some impressive graphics, single and multiplayer modes, and full game controller support as well.
