10 Best and Most Popular Games for iPhone in 2019
Credit: App Store
Apple Arcade is coming up, and Apple's approach to mobile gaming is no doubt likely to change with Arcade. However, there are plenty of excellent games available on iOS right now, no matter what kind of gamer you are. Here are the top examples that really blew us away. Find something to pass the time while you're waiting for the bus or just relaxing at home! Continue reading to browse the 10 Best and Most Popular Games for iPhone in 2019.
Dead Cells
Dead Cells is a hack-n-slash 2D game with a lot of heart but even more danger. Enemies are brutal, and if you're careless, you'll die quickly, forcing you to create a new character. However, its levels and exploration change all the time, so you're never forced to retread the same ground, making this a continually challenging experience. It's a good choice for those who prefer less casual mobile gaming.
Pokémon Masters
Traditional Pokémon games are a bit limited on phones, but Pokémon Masters comes the closest to giving you the full experience. Choose a team of three Pokémon and explore the world, battling rival masters and forming alliances to strengthen your side. The game vastly benefits from a co-op experience that allows you to bring in friends to help you meet difficult challenges.
Sid Meier's Civilization 6
Now available for both iPad and iPhone, you can relive the majesty of this civilization game in all of its addictive glory (there's a free trial version if you want to see how it plays first). Pick your favorite civilization, develop them into a world force, and use your strategy skills to become the greatest around!
Skylanders: Ring of Heroes
Picking the best RPG on iOS is a difficult task, but Skylanders: ROH is one of the best original efforts that we've seen in some time. It skillfully combines the more casual nature of phone-based play with many RPG elements in a turn-based battle system. It also has a lot of support and a pretty great community. Think of it as a good jumping-off point when you're ready to dive into mobile RPGs but still want something more modest before getting into too much micromanagement.
Framed
Hideo Kojima called this one of his favorite mobile games. It's a comic-book-like game that functions as a sort of narrative puzzle. You shift around comic panels to help control the story and "solve" the current plot point so that the story can progress. It's a very cool idea, rather simple to play, and surprisingly addictive.
Monument Valley 2
MV2 is a puzzle game, but that's not giving it enough credit. The game uses the landscape itself as a puzzle. Your job is to progress forward, and you have to twist and manipulate the various pathways to create maddening solutions. There's a pretty good story under that too. If you're looking for a unique experience, this is one of the best places to start.
Asphalt 9: Legends
Racing games are quite popular on iOS, especially on large iPad screens. There are a lot of great choices here, but if you are more interested in casual gameplay instead of micromanagement, Asphalt 9 is an excellent place to start. You control all the tricks – nitro boosting, drifts, etc., while the car takes care of most of the driving. It's like racing with a smart car, and there are plenty of models for you to unlock and customize as you progress.
Bastion
Bastion's amazing and tender RPG action gameplay translates wonderfully over to iOS in this version. Explore Bastion, a hand-painted world filled with interesting enemies and weapons as a benevolent narrator explains your story (and humorously describes your current actions). There are plenty of upgrade options, an emotional storyline, and incredible music – if you haven't played Bastion yet, now is the time!
Iron Marines
Iron Marines is an RTS with a ton of gameplay, some really unique features, and a fun cartoony style that's easy to enjoy. If you're an RTS fan, don't worry about this app being too bare-bones: It's one of the most complete mobile RTS experiences we've seen and can get quite challenging as the game progresses. There's also plenty of tower defense DNA here, so fans of either genre will find a lot to enjoy.
The Room: Old Sins
Are you looking for something more in the atmospheric horror department? Fans of adventure puzzle click quests will love Old Sins. One of its incredible feats is making the puzzle game feel so natural for the touchscreen – although we do suggest a larger iOS screen for a better experience. The fundamental nature of the game keeps us from revealing too much, but the Room series focuses on an escape from a single room that's filled with creepy secrets. This room has a dollhouse in it. That's all we'll say.