The last few months have been tough for many people. Forced to stay home for longer, many have done Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other movie streaming services to death and are now turning to their mobile phones for something to do. And what better to while away a few hours than getting stuck into a great game? With almost 3 million apps and games in the iOS app store, though, finding one to play without spending hours searching is the hardest part.
Over the years, Apple’s hardware has improved no end. They’ve gotten bigger, with better processors and screens, and are more than capable of playing some of the top, graphics-heavy games with ease. So, how do you decide which games to play? You could waste time looking, or you could let us recommend some for you.
Top Ten iPhone Games for 2021:
With more time than ever being spent on mobile phones, it figures that, eventually, people will turn to games. We had a look through the iOS app store and, while it wasn’t easy, we narrowed a huge choice down to just 10 games that we think you should try. There is a mix of both paid and free games, so delve in and see what you think:
1.Snipers Vs. Thieves: Zombies! – Free (in-app purchases)
Zombies follow the original Snipers vs. Thieves game and will be familiar to anyone who has already played that game. Yes, this one has zombies in it, but these don’t want your brains; they want your money. So, the game premise is simple; your job is to protect your cash, and the idea is to take them out while earning more cash so your weapons can be upgraded. The in-game controls take a bit of getting used to but are relatively simple – drag the crosshair to the zombie, hold it to fill up the shot meter, and let go to shoot. There are in-app purchases, but you are not obligated to buy them – the game provides more than enough fun without spending any money. This game is available in the Panda Helper appstore.
2.Clash Royale – Free (in-app purchases)
Clash Royale has to be one of the best games for iOS users. It’s a battle game, a genre seeing unprecedented popularity right now, and is one of the most addictive games. You play in three-minute battles, but you must make every second count. It’s hectic action all the way as you collect cards and build up your characters and magic spells. Pick the best combination at the start of each battle and cut a swathe through the enemy, destroy their castle and take the podium as the winner. Do it all while defending your own castle and towers. This isn’t such a simple game; it requires strategic thinking as each character and spells works best in a specific scenario. Work out the best one, and victory can be yours. This game is available in the TopStore appstore.
3.Homicide Squad: New York Cases – Free (in-app purchases)
Hidden object games have always been popular; not only are they fun, but they also tax your brain the further into the game you get. With this game, you are in control of a pair of detectives as they solve crimes across New York City. You look through murder scenes for clues and investigate the crimes to determine the guilty party. You don’t have a great deal of energy and must wait for it to recharge. The alternative is to purchase energy in-app, but if you just want some fun for a while, you can play this for free.
4.Fortnite Battle Royale – Free (in-app purchases)
Another popular battle game, Fortnite, became a worldwide sensation overnight and is now the subject of online gaming tournaments. A third-person shooter, it is packed with action, has some fantastic cartoon-like graphics and short sharp battles. Up to 100 people take part in each battle, and the idea is to be the last person standing. Hunt for resources, loot fallen players, build your defenses and fight your way to the end. But beware; the longer you survive, the smaller the battle map gets, making it much harder to hide. You can play alone, in a duo, or a squad of four and, although there are in-app purchases, you can happily play this for hours for free. This game is available in the TweakDoor appstore.
5.Angry Birds 2 – Free, in-app purchases available
Angry Birds has to be one of the most popular franchises in the world, and the original Angry Birds game spawned the movie of the same name. Angry Birds 2 flings you straight back to the middle of the action; the game premise is exactly the same – destroy those pesky pigs by flinging birds at them. Every bird has its own abilities, and this version of the game comes with a couple of differences. Now, you can choose which bird to fling, there are multi-stage levels to take part in, and now you can earn Mighty Eagle coins to spend in his shop. Play for as long as you want for free; there are in-app purchases, but they are not necessary to your enjoyment of the game.
6.Civilization VI – Free to start, $10
One of the paid games we opted to include, Civilization VI, isn’t the cheapest, but you really do get your money’s worth. You can try the game out for free – you get 60 turns to see if you like the game or not. The game premise has you taking on the role of becoming a top historical civilization. It’s up to you to build up your empire, gather resources, defend against attacks and interact with other payers and characters. It has been adapted for the touch screen and works exceptionally well on the iPad.
7.Stardew Valley – $8
Stardew Valley is a game for the long-haul. It’s much slower and is the perfect game for fans of farming simulators. Stardew is based on the Harvest Moon games, and you start out with one plot of land. From there, you build up a working farm by planting crops, foraging for ingredients, raising livestock, and anything else you can think of to run your farm. You can even take a break and head into Pelican Town. You can meet other characters, make some friends, even start a relationship and get married. A relaxing game, this is ideal for those who want a slower game that they can play for as little or as long as they like.
8.Undead Horde – $6
You may have noticed, through all the games you’ve played, that you always play the good guy. This time, you get to be the bad guy. You play the part of a necromancer, raising the dead and commanding an undead army. It’s a combination of RPG, strategy, and hack-and-slash, and the idea is to raise the army and use them to fight the army of the living, led by King Paladin Benevictor. Find loot, fight enemies, and upgrade your army. As you kill off the living, raise them to join your own army and take over the world.
9.Gods of Boom – Free (in-app purchases)
A fantastic first-person shooter game, Gods of Boom, is one of the best mobile games of the year. Fight in massive multiplayer battles, take control of a series of 3D maps by winning, and use your winnings to upgrade your character. There are lots of updates to this game, many bringing new events to take part in, including popular crossovers like the recent Walking Dead update, lots of new battles, and more. This really is the gift that keeps on giving and, although there are in-app purchases, you can have plenty of fun without parting with a penny.
10.Retro Highway – Free (in-app purchases)
Our final recommendation is an old-school racing game with pixel-art graphics and some pretty cool gameplay. It has the feel of a retro racing game but with fantastic graphics played on a modern iPhone or iPad and involves several challenges to get through as you compete against friends and other players around the world. Collect over 10 different bikes, customize them, and race on the streets and on the moon. It is free to play, although there are in-app purchases available if you want them.
The iOS app store has hundreds of thousands of games and, if you opt to search the store by yourself, you will no doubt play a few bad games before you find a good one. Every game we have recommended offers great gameplay, great value for money where you have to pay for them, and is a great range of different styles of gaming. Some are simple, some are more complex, but all of them are fun and addictive.
Final Words
Give these games a try. They may only be a drop in the ocean compared to what the app store offers, but they do represent a good range of the types of games on offer. You may even find yourself playing and enjoying a game genre you would never have considered in the past. And they may give you ideas for other games to download and play.
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