When you have the best iPhone, you pretty much have infinite possibilities for keeping busy and entertained, no matter where you are. Sure, the iPhone may not be marketed as a gaming phone specifically, but it’s pretty powerful being able to play console-level games like Assassin’s Creed Mirage and the Resident Evil 4 remake. But when the App Store has over a million apps, how are you supposed to find the best games to play? Don’t worry — we’re here to help. Since there are a ton of games out there — and not every game is a winner — it’s definitely hard to find games that are worth your time and energy. Whether you’re looking for a simple match 3, an MMORPG, a dungeon crawler, or even something to just relax with, here are the best iPhone games you can play right now.
Most, if not all, of the titles we are recommending will work on any iPhone that has iOS 17 on it, which goes as far back to the iPhone XS. If you’re still on iOS 15 or 16, then you should also be fine with these titles. Make sure to also check out our list of the best iPhone apps. And if you’re an Android user, don’t miss our best Android games roundup.
Call of Duty: Mobile
66%
Platforms
Android, iOS
Genre
Shooter, Adventure
Developer
Timi, Activision
Publisher
Tencent Games
Release
May 14, 2019
Assassin’s Creed and Resident Evil were late to getting to iOS, but Call of Duty: Mobile has been delivering a console-like experience for years now. If you want to get your shooting on, then here is a great place to start. You control the game with the on-screen buttons and joystick, and while it takes a little getting used to, it becomes natural fairly fast. Call of Duty: Mobile isn’t short of updates either, with new seasonal events and updates dropping very regularly, so you don’t need to worry about running out of content or getting bored easily. Support for the game goes all the way back to the first iPhone SE and iPhone 6S, so it’s available for most iOS users out there. It’s free to play, but it has microtransactions.
Downwell
76%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Shooter, Platform, Adventure, Indie, Arcade
Developer
Moppin
Publisher
Devolver Digital
Release
October 14, 2015
While we all love it when we get games on our iPhones that look just like they do on consoles, there’s something special about games made specifically for our phones. Downwell is one such game. Here, you’re trying to fall as far as possible while shooting enemies and obstacles below you with your gun shoes. It’s simple but oh-so addictive thanks to some roguelite elements keeping things unpredictable.
Balatro
86%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Strategy, Indie, Card & Board Game
Developer
LocalThunk
Publisher
Playstack
Release
February 20, 2024
If you value your free time, do not get Balatro. This poker roguelike has stolen dozens of hours from us before it was even on mobile, but now that it is in our pockets at all times, there’s no hope. Anyone who knows the basics of poker can pick it up and slowly understand how the different Jokers modify and change the rules as you go for higher and higher scores. Between the sound effects, visuals, and “one more run” nature, this game is almost too good to recommend.
Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis
10%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Applibot, Inc, Square Enix Creative Business Unit I
Publisher
Square Enix
Release
September 07, 2023
You could play a lot of JRPGs on iPhone, but if you wanted a modern look at the entire Final Fantasy VII timeline, Ever Crisis is the most convenient and quality way to do it. Each chapter focuses on a different part of the lore, starting well before the events of the first game and ramping up in chronological order for the first time. If you want the full story of FF7, look no further.
Genshin Impact
79%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
HoYoverse, Cognosphere, miHoYo
Publisher
HoYoverse, Cognosphere, miHoYo
Release
September 28, 2020
Genshin Impact set the world on fire in 2020, and the fires haven’t died down since. Thanks to countless updates, new characters, regions, quests, and more, there are at least three games’ worth of content to experience now. Set in a beautiful open world, you’re free to explore, fight, and meet all the alluring characters that you will spend your currency on hoping to unlock.
Clash of Clans
72%
Platforms
Android, iOS
Genre
Real Time Strategy (RTS), Strategy
Developer
Supercell
Publisher
Supercell
Release
August 02, 2012
It’s one of the most popular classic games on iOS, so we’d be remiss if we didn’t include Clash of Clans on here. You’ve probably played it or something like it, but it’s always good to jump back in and see what’s new. For the uninitiated, Clash of Clans has you build your own cartoon village, collect resources, and gradually build it up over time. You can also join with other players to attack opposing clans and become involved in massive wars across the globe. It’s free-to-play, but you can pay for boosts and all the usual microtransactions.
Dumb Ways to Die 4
Platforms
Android, iOS
Genre
Arcade
Release
May 01, 2023
It’s huge on TikTok, and for good reason: Dumb Ways to Die 4 is a collection of fun minigames where your challenge is to stop your bean from dying. This is, unsurprisingly, the fourth major release in the Dumb Ways to Die canon, but you don’t need to worry that the developers are running out of ideas. There’s a big new collection of minigames to solve and beans to save, collect, and upgrade. You can even go online and challenge your friends and family to see who can survive for the longest. It’s free, but you can pay to remove ads and get extra in-game currency.
My Singing Monsters
79%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS, PlayStation Vita
Genre
Music, Simulator, Strategy
Developer
Big Blue Bubble
Publisher
Big Blue Bubble
Release
September 03, 2012
If we asked you, “What do monsters do?” you probably wouldn’t reply, “Sing, of course!” Regardless, that’s what your monsters in My Singing Monsters do. Collect and breed up to 250 monsters on your island, and hear your song change and grow over time. Add decorations to customize your island, and you can play with friends around the world and partake in worldwide events all year around. It’s free-to-play but does have microtransactions.
Marvel Snap
76%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS
Genre
Strategy, Card & Board Game
Developer
Second Dinner
Publisher
Nuverse Games
Release
October 18, 2022
Marvel seems to be really enjoying releasing mobile games these days, as Marvel Snap is only the latest of a number we’ve had thrown at us recently. Still, it’s really good and well worth your attention. Essentially a card battling game, Marvel Snap is fast-paced, and battles rarely lost longer than a few minutes. Gameplay is simple: Each of your cards has a strength number, and your job is to place them into any one of three lanes facing your opponent. If your number is higher, you win! But watch out, more than a few cards have special powers that can swing lanes in an instant, so you need to make sure you’re playing the right cards at the right moments. It’s free to play, but you can pay to get access to in-game currency and new cards.
Among Us
72%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Strategy, Indie
Developer
Innersloth
Publisher
Innersloth
Release
June 15, 2018
It’s a classic, and it’s back on our list. Among Us! is one of the best hidden killer, mafia-style games around, and it’s brilliantly suited to be played on mobile. Work together with four to 15 players to get your ship ready for launch — but there’s a twist! A number of players are secretly Imposters who want to murder everyone else on the team. Your job, if you’re not an Imposter, is to fix your ship while also figuring out who the Imposters are. Seeing them enter vents, doing things they shouldn’t, or just murdering people are clues you should be looking out for — but keep in mind you’ll need to convince everyone else you’re not lying …
Airport Simulator: First Class
Genre
Simulator, Strategy
Apparently, we’re a little addicted to plane games at the moment, but this time you’re not flying one, you’re giving them somewhere to land. Airport Simulator: First Class puts you in charge of an airport. Build it up, sign up airlines to your amazing new airport, and make sure everything is in place for all of your customers. There’s a lot to juggle here, but if you love management games then there’s a lot to love here. It’s free-to-play, but there are the usual in-game boosts for real money, so avoid this if you don’t like those.
Stumble Guys
67%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Platform, Racing, Indie
Developer
Kitka Games
Publisher
Scopely
Release
September 24, 2020
Stumble Guys may seem a little familiar if you’re a fan of battle royale party games, but that doesn’t detract from how much fun it is. Stumble Guys is an online multiplayer party game where you go up against 31 other players in a bid to be the last person standing in a series of fun games. Knock your rivals off the stage and reach the end first to win. It’s a lot of fun, with lots of different levels to tackle. It’s especially fun if you get a bunch of friends together to play — and then knock them all out and take the win yourself.
Hearthstone
78%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, iOS
Genre
Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Card & Board Game
Developer
Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher
Blizzard Entertainment
Release
March 11, 2014
It’s the biggest and (arguably) the best digital collectible card game on mobile, so if you love playing competitive card games, then Hearthstone is a must-download. The premise is simple — play minions and cast spells to control the gameboard, and eventually, punch your opponent in the face until they lose. But there’s a depth to this simple premise, and you can spend hours finely tweaking your decks to adapt to the latest meta. It’s free to play, and you can buy card packs using the in-game currency and earn powerful cards through the in-game rewards track. However, you’re going to be encouraged to spend money to get more cards quickly, so gird your wallet if you’re diving in head-first.
Dragon Ball Z: Dokkan Battle
70%
Platforms
Android, iOS
Genre
Fighting, Puzzle, Role-playing (RPG), Card & Board Game
Release
July 16, 2015
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.
Northgard
72%
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Real Time Strategy (RTS), Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Indie
Developer
Shiro Games
Publisher
Shiro Games, Playdigious
Release
March 07, 2018
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 that Northgard offers hours of fun.
Albion Online
76%
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, iOS
Genre
Role-playing (RPG)
Developer
Sandbox Interactive
Publisher
Sandbox Interactive
Release
July 17, 2017
MMORPGs are nothing new, but what about an MMORPG that can be played on a PC, Mac, Android, or iOS device? With the same account and the 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.
Sid Meier's Civilization VI
80%
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Simulator, Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS)
Developer
Firaxis Games
Publisher
Aspyr Media, 2K Games
Release
October 20, 2016
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 $10 to upgrade to the full game. Hopefully, Civilization VII eventually will come to iOS too.
Zombie Gunship Survival
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Android
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Flaregames
Publisher
Flaregames
Release
September 22, 2021
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. Zombie Gunship Survival is the perfect antidote if you’re sick of slowly building up your resources and hitting zombies with sticks. Instead, jump straight into your gunship and blow them all to kingdom come. Build up your airbase to defend against zombie attacks, and personally lead your troops in tactical operations against the dead. Some reviews complain about microtransactions, but others mention it’s a fairly light touch compared to other games. Worth the download for something new.
Sim Companies
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS, Web browser
Genre
Real Time Strategy (RTS), Simulator, Strategy, Indie
Release
December 31, 2015
Reckon you could run a great business if only you were given the chance? Give it a go in Sim Companies. Specialize your company in a number of different ways, and test your capitalist skills against other players as you battle to become the top dog. Your success will come down to how well you can watch the virtual economy and watch out for trends you can take advantage of. It’s free-to-play, but there are microtransactions.
Infinite Flight
80%
Platforms
iOS
Genre
Racing, Simulator, Sport
Release
March 19, 2012
The humble flight sim is one of PC gaming’s finest traditions, and it’s now arrived on your iOS (or iPadOS) device. There’s almost too much to do here to list, and pretty much everything you expect from a flight sim you’ll get here. Sure, it’s a bit overwhelming at first, but flying a plane isn’t easy, and neither is Infinite Flight Simulator. You can also fly in multiplayer or play as a flight controller, though you’ll need to pay for a Pro subscription for that at the cost of $10 a month. Still, flying a basic plane is free, and it offers everything you need to know whether this is your jam or not.
Diablo Immortal
36%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS
Genre
Role-playing (RPG)
Developer
Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher
Blizzard Entertainment
Release
June 02, 2022
The game infamously revealed with the words “do you guys not have phones?” has finally launched, and despite the outcry, it’s actually pretty good. Diablo Immortal is here, and if you’re a fan of the Diablo games or anything similar, then you’re sure to love it. The genius here is that this isn’t some cheap mobile imitation — this is a fully-fledged Diablo game in all its glory, and that makes a serious difference. Alright, it’s rammed to the gills with microtransactions, but if you want to sample the game everyone is talking about, then you’ll just have to hold your nose.
LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
82%
Platforms
Wii, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Mac, Android, iOS
Genre
Platform, Adventure
Developer
Robosoft Technologies, Traveller's Tales
Publisher
Feral Interactive, WB Games, LucasArts
Release
November 06, 2007
Star Wars is a huge franchise at the moment so why not enjoy a great Star Wars game? Star Wars: TCS is a port of the 2007 Lego Star Wars game of the same name and has content from Star Wars I to Star Wars VI, so don’t expect anything from the sequel trilogy in this. But regardless of that, you get to play through the six mainline movies, starting in the Trade Federation negotiations and fighting your way through to the second Death Star above Endor. There are over 120 characters to play, and you’ll need to use other characters’ strengths to get all the secrets in every level. It’s free to start playing, with Episode I unlocked for free. Subsequent episodes will cost money, though you can buy the full game for $7.
PUBG Mobile
62%
Platforms
Android, iOS
Genre
Shooter, Strategy
Developer
LightSpeed Studios
Publisher
Tencent Games, Level Infinite
Release
March 19, 2018
You might think of PUBG Mobile as being a buttoned-up, brown version of Fortnite‘s colorful explosion, but that’s not the case. PUBG Mobile is the mobile version of the game that put battle royale on the map. There’s a vibrantly colorful theme, colorful bicycles, and an aerial battlefield mode that’s utterly bonkers and unlike anything else you’ve seen in a battle royale game. Other than that, you can still find the classic gameplay you love, along with 10-minute matches, and a massive range of aesthetic items to collect and wear.
Ark: Survival Evolved
68%
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia
Genre
Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Studio Wildcard
Publisher
Studio Wildcard, Snail Games, Snail Games USA
Release
August 27, 2017
What’s better than a survival game on your iPhone or iPad? A survival game on your iPhone or iPad with dinosaurs! ARK: Survival Evolved is now something of a classic of the survival genre, and it’s easy to see why it’s still around when so many other games have dropped off the radar. You’ll start the game by, well, surviving — but once you have that solid base in place, you can start to set your sights a little higher. Create a home all your own, and train, tame, and even ride over 80 different dinosaurs.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel
73%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Simulator, Strategy, Card & Board Game
Developer
Konami
Publisher
Konami
Release
January 18, 2022
Sitting alongside Pokémon as the childhood game of choice for many people, Yu-Gi-Oh can now be enjoyed on your iPhone or iPad. Master Duel has a strong tutorial in order to teach you the rules, so don’t worry if you’ve never played before, or are a little rusty. There are microtransactions, but they’re not required to progress, and you can get a lot of free cards from playing the in-game events. It’s a good choice if you’re curious about playing a collectible card game, are an existing Yu-Gi-Oh player, or simply want to indulge in some nostalgia.
Mario Kart Tour
59%
Platforms
Android, iOS
Genre
Racing
Developer
Nintendo EPD
Publisher
Nintendo
Release
September 25, 2019
Who doesn’t love Mario and his happy band of friends and foes? Mario Kart Tour is the mobile version of the madly popular and decade-spanning Mario Kart series. It’s a simple formula — choose a character and race against other characters, whether A.I.-controlled or player-controlled — and aim to take first place. Win races, collect stars, and unlock new characters, karts, and badges. It’s free to play but has optional paid elements.
