25+ Best iPhone Games to Play in 2024: Mobile Favorites

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Finding the best iPhone games can be challenging with so many choices available. In this list, we’ve chosen the top free and paid titles in 2024 that deliver fun and exciting experiences across different genres. From multiplayer battles to quiet offline adventures, these picks will keep you entertained, no matter your mood.

Whether you enjoy fast action, relaxing puzzles, or strategy-filled adventures, there’s something here for everyone – so if you’re searching for your next favorite game, take a look at this list and explore the top 25 best iPhone games the App Store has to offer!

Key Takeaways

  • The best iPhone games in 2024 include different genres like RPGs, puzzles, and multiplayer action.
  • Many of the best games on iPhone are free to play, giving players great gaming experiences at no cost.
  • Raid: Shadow Legends and Genshin Impact are popular RPGs that offer immersive worlds and strategic gameplay.
  • Multiplayer games like Brawl Stars and Among Us provide fast and fun team-based action.
  • For puzzle lovers, Monument Valley and Knotwords offer beautiful designs and challenging puzzles.

25 Best iPhone Games to Play in 2024

25. Raid: Shadow Legends

Raid: Shadow Legends is an incredibly popular RPG for iPhone
Raid: Shadow Legends is an incredibly popular RPG for iPhone. Source: App Store
  • Highlights: Massive RPG, stunning graphics, strategic gameplay.
  • Publisher: Plarium
  • Developer: Plarium Global Ltd.
  • Availability & Cost: Free on iOS

In Raid: Shadow Legends, you step into a huge RPG where strategy and stunning graphics come together. You collect 800+ champions from 15 different factions, each with their own skills, and use them to fight through a campaign, dungeons, and PvP battles. The game challenges you to think tactically about how you upgrade and equip your champions to succeed in epic battles.

Whether you enjoy solo adventures or multiplayer fights, it’s one of the best iPhone RPG games for its exciting strategy and beautiful design. It’s also incredibly popular, as Raid: Shadow Legends is routinely advertised by top gaming creators on YouTube.

24. Brawl Stars

Brawl Stars is a Supercell mega-hit
Brawl Stars is a Supercell mega-hit. Source: App Store
  • Highlights: Fast-paced multiplayer action, various game modes, team-based battles
  • Publisher: Supercell
  • Developer: Supercell
  • Availability & Cost: Free on iOS

Brawl Stars is a fun and fast-paced multiplayer game where you can team up with friends or play solo in different game modes. You can compete in team battles, collect stars, or survive in a battle royale match. Each character, called a Brawler, has special abilities, giving players many ways to approach the game.

With regular updates and new content, there’s always something fresh to explore. The game offers a mix of casual and competitive fun, making it one of the best free games for iPhone that will keep you entertained for hours.

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23. Monument Valley

Monument Valley is famed for its beautiful art style and clever puzzles
Monument Valley is famed for its beautiful art style and clever puzzles. Source: App Store
  • Highlights: Visually stunning, mind-bending puzzles, playable offline
  • Publisher: ustwo games
  • Developer: ustwo games
  • Availability & Cost: $3.99 on iOS

Monument Valley takes you on a beautiful, peaceful journey through a world of impossible architecture. In this puzzle game, you guide a princess through strange, mind-bending environments by rotating and moving parts of the buildings.

The game is known for its calm atmosphere, stunning visuals, and clever puzzles that get you thinking. It’s the perfect offline game for relaxing moments, making it one of the best offline iPhone games for anyone looking for a mix of beauty and challenge.

22. Alto’s Odyssey

Alto's Odyssey is an endless runner with a twist
Alto’s Odyssey is an endless runner with a twist. Source: Altosodyssey.com
  • Highlights: Endless runner, breathtaking landscapes, serene gameplay, offline play
  • Publisher: Snowman
  • Developer: Team Alto
  • Availability & Cost: $4.99 on iOS

Alto’s Odyssey lets you explore a vast, endless desert as you slide down sand dunes and discover hidden temples. As an endless runner game, it’s easy to play but offers beautiful landscapes and relaxing gameplay. The one-touch controls make it simple to jump in, and the peaceful music adds to the relaxation.

It’s ideal for offline play and is considered one of the best iPhone games for airplane mode because it offers a calm escape, perfect for long flights or quiet moments.

21. Slay the Spire

The popular roguelike card game comes to iOS masterfully
The popular roguelike card game comes to iOS masterfully. Source: Steam
  • Highlights: Card-battling roguelike, complex strategy, multiple characters
  • Publisher: Humble Games
  • Developer: MegaCrit
  • Availability & Cost: $9.99 on iOS

Slay the Spire is a card-battling game mixed with a roguelike, where you build your deck as you climb the spire. Every level brings new and stronger enemies, and you must carefully choose your cards to defeat them.

The game offers different characters with their own special abilities, keeping the gameplay fresh every time you play. If you’re looking for one of the best free iPhone games for adults, this game is perfect for those who enjoy complex strategy, evolving gameplay, and a new challenge each time you play.

20. Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom

Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom brings the series back to life
Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom brings the series back to life. Source: Bandai Namco
  • Highlights: Life sim, adorable characters, fun and light-hearted
  • Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
  • Developer: Bandai Namco
  • Availability & Cost: $6.99/month (Apple Arcade)

Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom is a fun and cute game where you help rebuild a town after a meteor strikes. You’ll meet adorable characters, complete quests, and collect resources to fix the town.

The game is lighthearted, with simple tasks and colorful visuals, making it perfect for younger players. It encourages creativity and offers a stress-free environment, which makes it one of the best free iPhone games for kids. It’s an enjoyable and easy game for kids to explore and have fun.

19. Unpacking

Unpacking translates well to the touchscreen
Unpacking translates well to the touchscreen. Source: Unpackinggame.com
  • Highlights: Zen puzzle, storytelling through objects, home decoration
  • Publisher: Humble Bundle
  • Developer: Witch Beam
  • Availability & Cost: $9.99 on iOS

Unpacking is a puzzle game that mixes home decoration with storytelling. As you unpack boxes and arrange items in a new home, you uncover the story of a character’s life through their belongings.

The game has a calm, relaxing atmosphere with no timers or pressure, making it ideal to play at your own speed. Its simple, yet beautiful design and peaceful soundtrack make it one of the best iPhone puzzle games for players who enjoy a quiet, emotional experience. Perfect for those looking for a more relaxing and thoughtful game.

18. Genshin Impact: Natlan Launch

Genshin Impact: Natlan Launch brings big changes
Genshin Impact: Natlan Launch brings big changes. Source: App Store
  • Highlights: Console-quality RPG, open world, stunning graphics
  • Publisher: COGNOSPHERE PTE. LTD.
  • Developer: HoYoverse
  • Availability & Cost: Free on iOS

Genshin Impact is a high-quality RPG that feels like a console game. It takes place in a vast open world full of beautiful scenery and action-packed battles. You can explore different regions, collect characters, and follow an engaging story. For more, here’s everything in the Genshin Impact 5.0 update and the best Genshin Impact characters to use right now.

This game works especially well on powerful devices, making it one of the best games for iPhone 15 Pro Max. The game’s stunning graphics and smooth performance make the most of the handset’s capabilities, giving you an immersive adventure full of action and exploration.

17. Shovel Knight Dig

Shovel Knight Dig smartly innovates on the original game
Shovel Knight Dig smartly innovates on the original game. Source: Steam
  • Highlights: Retro platformer, roguelike elements, no ads
  • Publisher: Yacht Club Games
  • Developer: Nitrome
  • Availability & Cost: $6.99/month (Apple Arcade)

Prepare for an exciting adventure in Shovel Knight Dig, a retro platformer that combines fast action with roguelike elements. You play as Shovel Knight, digging through different levels full of enemies, treasure, and secrets to unlock. The game’s pixel art gives it a nostalgic feel, but its modern gameplay keeps it fresh and fun.

One of the highlights is that there are no ads since its available on Apple Arcade, allowing for an uninterrupted experience. This makes Shovel Knight Dig one of the best ad-free games on iPhone for players who love a challenge without distractions.

16. Knotwords

Knotwords has taken the world by storm, and it's easy to see why
Knotwords has taken the world by storm, and it’s easy to see why. Source: Knotwords
  • Highlights: Brain-teasing word puzzles, relaxing gameplay
  • Publisher: Zach Gage
  • Developer: Zach Gage, Jack Schlesinger
  • Availability & Cost: Free on iOS

Step into the world of Knotwords, where word puzzles meet a calm and relaxing atmosphere. Instead of traditional crosswords, you solve puzzles by figuring out how letters fit into a grid using clues. The game is challenging but not stressful, making it great for players who want to test their vocabulary and logic without rushing.

With its clean, minimalist design, Knotwords stands out as one of the best word games for iPhone, offering an experience that’s both engaging and perfect for moments of quiet focus.

15. Call of Duty: Mobile

Call of Duty: Mobile translates the FPS action to the touchscreen
Call of Duty: Mobile translates the FPS action to the touchscreen. Source: App Store
  • Highlights: Full-fledged multiplayer shooter, battle royale, competitive modes
  • Publisher: Activision
  • Developer: TiMi Studios
  • Availability & Cost: Free on iOS

Jump into the action with Call of Duty: Mobile, a multiplayer shooter that brings the intense gameplay of the popular console series to your phone. You can play classic modes like Team Deathmatch or try the battle royale mode for larger-scale combat. The game offers smooth controls, customizable weapons, and impressive graphics.

As one of the best multiplayer iPhone games, it’s perfect for players who love competitive gaming. Whether you play alone or with friends, Call of Duty: Mobile delivers fast-paced action and plenty of challenges to test your skills.

14. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is a fast and free MOBA
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is a fast and free MOBA. Source: App Store
  • Highlights: Fast-paced MOBA, intuitive controls, 5v5 battles
  • Publisher: Shanghai Moonton Technology Co., Ltd.
  • Developer: Moonton
  • Availability & Cost: Free on iOS

Experience fast 5v5 battles in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, a popular MOBA game that’s easy to learn but hard to master. The controls are simple, allowing you to quickly jump into action and work with your team to defeat the enemy. Matches are short, making it one of the best iPhone games to play with friends, whether you have a lot of time or just a few minutes.

With quick-paced strategy, teamwork, and exciting fights, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang offers a fun, competitive experience that’s perfect for playing with friends anytime.

13. The Battle of Polytopia

The Battle of Polytopia is a surprisingly deep strategy game on iPhone
The Battle of Polytopia is a surprisingly deep strategy game on iPhone. Source: App Store
  • Highlights: Turn-based strategy, empire-building, multiplayer mode
  • Publisher: Midjiwan AB
  • Developer: Midjiwan AB
  • Availability & Cost: Free on iOS

In The Battle of Polytopia, you control a tribe and work to build a powerful empire. The game is turn-based, so you need to think strategically about how to explore new lands, gather resources, and defeat enemies. Each tribe has special abilities, and the goal is to either conquer all your opponents or develop advanced technologies.

You can play alone or in multiplayer mode, making it one of the best strategy games for iPhone. It’s simple to learn but offers a challenging experience, perfect for players who enjoy empire-building and tactical challenges.

12. Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley is a cozy farming sim, now available on the go
Stardew Valley is a cozy farming sim, now available on the go. Source: App Store
  • Highlights: Farming sim, rich gameplay, endless replayability
  • Publisher: ConcernedApe
  • Developer: ConcernedApe
  • Availability & Cost: $4.99 on iOS

Stardew Valley is a popular farming simulation game where you can grow crops, raise animals, and build your dream farm. You can also explore caves, fish, mine for materials, and make friends with the people in town. The game gives you many choices, letting you decide how you want to spend your time.

Its deep and relaxing gameplay makes it one of the best iPhone games of all time. Whether you’re farming or going on adventures, Stardew Valley offers endless replayability, making it easy to return to again and again.

11. Dead Cells

Dead Cells is a challenging roguelike that rewards exploration
Dead Cells is a challenging roguelike that rewards exploration. Source: Epic Games
  • Highlights: Challenging roguelike, fast-paced combat, controller support.
  • Publisher: Playdigious
  • Developer: Motion Twin
  • Availability & Cost: $8.99 on iOS

Prepare for a thrilling challenge in Dead Cells, a roguelike game known for its fast-paced combat and ever-changing levels. You take on the role of a mysterious warrior who battles through a world filled with enemies, learning new skills after each death.

The game’s smooth combat and tight mechanics make it ideal for controller play, which is why it’s one of the best iPhone controller games. Though it’s tough, the satisfaction of mastering each level and improving your strategies will keep you hooked, making it a perfect choice for action-loving gamers.

10. Asphalt Legends Unite

Asphalt Legends Unite is a big-budget racer for the iPhone
Asphalt Legends Unite is a big-budget racer for the iPhone. Source: Gameloft
  • Highlights: Exciting car racing, multiplayer modes, real-world cars, precision drifting
  • Publisher: Gameloft
  • Developer: Gameloft
  • Availability & Cost: Free on iOS

Asphalt Legends Unite offers fast-paced racing with some of the most famous cars, like Ferraris and Lamborghinis. You’ll experience thrilling races, perform amazing stunts, and compete with up to seven players from around the world. The game focuses on precision drifting, which helps you win in each race. With cross-platform multiplayer, you can challenge friends across different devices.

Asphalt Legends Unite is one of the best iPhone racing games, known for its stunning visuals and car customization options, perfect for both casual players and competitive racers.

9. Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp condenses the experience for mobile
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp condenses the experience for mobile. Source: Nintendo
  • Highlights: Life sim, design your campsite, charming animal friends
  • Publisher: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
  • Developer: Nintendo
  • Availability & Cost: Free on iOS

In Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, you can relax and create your own campsite. You collect materials, craft furniture, and design the perfect spot, while cute animal friends come to visit. Plus, regular updates and seasonal events keep the game fresh and exciting.

The game lets you be creative and offers a calm, enjoyable experience, making it one of the best simulation games on iPhone. You can fish, garden, or chat with your animal neighbors, making Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp a perfect way to unwind and enjoy the charm of a friendly world.

8. AFK Arena

AFK Arena is a Gacha RPG that's easy to understand but hard to master
AFK Arena is a Gacha RPG that’s easy to understand but hard to master. Source: Facebook
  • Highlights: Gacha RPG, idle mechanics, beautifully drawn characters
  • Publisher: Lilith Games
  • Developer: Lilith Games
  • Availability & Cost: Free on iOS

AFK Arena is a gacha RPG that combines stunning artwork with idle gameplay. Your heroes will continue to fight and grow stronger even when you’re not playing. You can collect many different heroes, each with their own abilities, and upgrade them to build a powerful team.

The game’s easy mechanics and beautiful character design make it one of the best free RPG games on iPhone. Whether you prefer casual play or want to explore deeper strategies, AFK Arena offers a fun and balanced experience for both beginners and experienced players alike.

7. NYT Games

NYT Games is one of the biggest iPhone games in the world
NYT Games is one of the biggest iPhone games in the world. Source: The New York Times
  • Highlights: Word games, puzzles, daily challenges, interactive design
  • Publisher: The New York Times Company
  • Developer: The New York Times Company
  • Availability & Cost: Free on iOS

NYT Games brings together popular word games like crosswords, Wordle, and other puzzles in one app. You can enjoy daily challenges that help improve your vocabulary and keep your mind sharp. With a user-friendly design and new content added regularly, it stands out as one of the best iPhone games in 2024 for puzzle lovers.

Whether you’re solving a quick mini-puzzle or spending more time on a crossword, NYT Games offers an enjoyable way to challenge yourself and have fun every day.

6. Fallout Shelter

Fallout Shelter translates the RPG action to a different genre
Fallout Shelter translates the RPG action to a different genre. Source: Steam
  • Highlights: Vault management, post-apocalyptic setting, build and expand
  • Publisher: Bethesda
  • Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
  • Availability & Cost: Free on iOS

In Fallout Shelter, you manage an underground vault in a post-apocalyptic world. Your goal is to build rooms, expand your vault, and keep your dwellers alive by managing resources like food, water, and power.

As one of the best simulation games on iPhone, it mixes strategy with creativity, as you need to protect your vault from dangers like raiders and radiation. You’ll also have to grow your community and ensure their survival in a harsh environment, offering a fun and challenging experience for fans of resource management and survival games.

5. Grindstone

Grindstone
Grindstone. Source: App Store
  • Highlights: Puzzle-action hybrid, strategic combos, ad-free experience.
  • Publisher: Capybara Games
  • Developer: Capybara Games
  • Availability & Cost: $6.99/month (Apple Arcade)

Grindstone is a puzzle-action game where you defeat enemies by connecting them in long chains to create powerful combos. The more strategic your moves, the higher your score and the faster you progress through levels.

Being one of the best ad-free games on iPhone, Grindstone ensures a smooth gaming experience with no interruptions. Its mix of puzzles and action makes the gameplay exciting and engaging, perfect for players who enjoy thoughtful, challenge-based games without the annoyance of ads.

4. Blek

Blek is a simple but addicting puzzle game for iPhone
Blek is a simple but addicting puzzle game for iPhone. Source: kunabi-brother.com
  • Highlights: Minimalist design, gesture-based puzzles
  • Publisher: kunabi brother
  • Developer: kunabi brother
  • Availability & Cost: $4.99 on iOS

Blek is a simple yet challenging puzzle game where you use gesture-based controls to solve each level. You draw lines or shapes that move on the screen, interacting with other elements to complete the puzzle. Its minimalist design hides the out-of-the-box thinking needed to win, making it one of the best iPhone puzzle games.

Every puzzle is different and requires you to think creatively to find a solution. Blek offers a smooth and relaxing experience, perfect for players who enjoy solving puzzles in a calm, focused way.

3. LEGO Duplo World

LEGO® Duplo World is an engaging iPhone game for young kids
LEGO® Duplo World is an engaging iPhone game for young kids. Source: Lego
  • Highlights: Educational gameplay, creative building, kid-friendly
  • Publisher: StoryToys
  • Developer: StoryToys
  • Availability & Cost: Free on iOS

Lego Duplo World is a fun and educational game designed for young children. It helps them develop creativity and problem-solving skills. Kids can build their own Lego worlds and learn important skills like matching, counting, and building along the way.

The game is simple to use, making it perfect for younger players. This interactive and creative experience easily makes Lego Duplo World one of the best free iPhone games for kids, encouraging learning in a playful and engaging environment.

2. Among Us

Among Us received a massive resurgence during the pandemic
Among Us received a massive resurgence during the pandemic. Source: Innersloth
  • Highlights: Social deduction, multiplayer, cross-platform play
  • Publisher: Innersloth
  • Developer: Innersloth
  • Availability & Cost: Free on iOS

In Among Us, players work together on a spaceship to complete tasks while trying to uncover who among them is an impostor. The impostor’s goal is to sabotage the group and eliminate crew members without being caught.

You can play with friends or strangers, and thanks to cross-platform play, players on different devices can join in. As one of the best free iPhone games for adults, it combines teamwork, strategy, and deception, making each game unpredictable and thrilling.

1. Honkai: Star Rail

Honkai: Star Rail is an action-packed turn-based RPG for iPhone
Honkai: Star Rail is an action-packed turn-based RPG for iPhone. Source: App Store
  • Highlights: Turn-based RPG, deep story, engaging combat, free-to-play
  • Publisher: COGNOSPHERE PTE. LTD.
  • Developer: HoYoverse
  • Availability & Cost: Free on iOS

Honkai Star Rail invites players into a sci-fi world filled with turn-based battles and a rich story. You’ll gather a team of characters, each with unique abilities, and face powerful enemies using strategic combat.

The game’s rich narrative and tactical gameplay make it one of the best free RPG games on iPhone. Despite being free-to-play, it delivers an engaging experience with stunning graphics and exciting challenges, perfect for players who love immersive RPGs.

More of the Best iPhone Games to Play in 2024

Rebel RacingWords With Friends 2XCOM 2 CollectionSky: Children of the LightBloons TD 6

Experience one of the best iPhone racing games experiences with real-world cars, stunning graphics, and high-octane races on your phone. Availability & Cost: Free on iOS

One of the best word games for iPhone, where you can play fun word challenges with your friends in real-time. Availability & Cost: Free on iOS

A top contender for the best iPhone controller games, offering a strategy-based experience in which you fight to protect Earth from alien threats. Availability & Cost: $14.99 on iOS

Explore magical worlds with friends in what is widely regarded as one of the best multiplayer iPhone games, set in a beautifully crafted environment. Availability & Cost: Free on iOS

Test your strategic skills in one of the best strategy games for iPhone, offering a thrilling tower defense challenge that requires careful planning and execution. Availability & Cost: $6.99 on iOS

The Bottom Line

With so many incredible options out there, finding the best games on iPhone is like discovering a whole new world of fun. Whether you like strategy games that challenge your mind, fast-paced action with friends, or calming puzzles to relax with, there’s something here for everyone.

We’ve put together a list of iPhone games that we found both fun and exciting – so that no matter what type of game you enjoy, you’ll find something that will keep you hooked for hours. Take a look and discover your next favorite iPhone game!

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References

  1. ‎RAID: Shadow Legends on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  2. ‎Brawl Stars on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  3. ‎Monument Valley on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  4. ‎Alto’s Odyssey on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  5. ‎Slay the Spire on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  6. ‎Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  7. ‎Unpacking on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  8. ‎Genshin Impact: Natlan Launch on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  9. ‎Shovel Knight Dig on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  10. ‎Knotwords on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  11. ‎Call of Duty®: Mobile on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  12. ‎Mobile Legends: Bang Bang on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  13. ‎The Battle of Polytopia on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  14. ‎Stardew Valley on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  15. ‎Dead Cells on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  16. ‎Asphalt Legends Unite on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  17. ‎Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  18. ‎AFK Arena on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  19. ‎NYT Games: Word, Number, Logic on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  20. ‎Fallout Shelter on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  21. ‎Grindstone on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  22. ‎Blek on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  23. ‎LEGO® DUPLO® WORLD on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  24. ‎Among Us! on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  25. ‎Honkai: Star Rail on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  26. ‎Rebel Racing on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  27. ‎Words With Friends 2 Word Game on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  28. ‎XCOM 2 Collection on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  29. ‎Sky: Children of the Light on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  30. ‎Bloons TD 6 on the App Store (Apps.apple)
  31. Top Ranking Games Apps for iPhone on September 9 (Similarweb)
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Maria Webb
Tech Journalist
Maria Webb
Tech Journalist

Maria has more than five years of experience as a technology journalist and a strong interest in AI and machine learning. She excels at data-driven journalism, making complex topics accessible and engaging for her audience. Her work has been featured in Techopedia, Business2Community, and Eurostat, where she provides creative technical writing. She obtained an Honors Bachelor of Arts in English and Master of Science in Strategic Management and Digital Marketing from the University of Malta. Maria's experience includes working in journalism for Newsbook.com.mt, which covers a variety of topics, including local events and international technology trends.