The best free iPhone games join together a mix of accessible design, tonnes of genres, and enough creativity to keep you entertained for the next year. Given they are free, they are their best when they can run on an older setup but also take advantage of the raw power of the best iPhone models, like the iPhone 15 Pro. Things will run better and look nicer on a new phone but should be totally fine if you haven't put the big bucks into the latest tech.
Unfortunately, the sheer volume of games is both the biggest benefit of the app store and the hardest part of finding something good. Hand tested, our list comprises huge new titles and old classics, giving you a nice mix of the best games out there. Every one of them is 100% free to play, though most have a way to spend a little bit of money to get through the game quicker or show off a new skin. From bigger new titles to old classics, our list is categorized by genre, to let you pick out only what you want to play next.
As you start to explore all the games available, you might finally be willing to pay for them through the form of Apple Arcade, which has some excellent choices all around. The best Apple Arcade games are fantastic but free games are still worth sinking hundreds of hours into.
With this all said, here are some of the best free iPhone games you can play right now.
Best free iPhone games: Platformers
Sky: Children of the Light
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From the makers of Journey and Flower comes Sky: Children of the Light. If you're familiar with the two aforementioned titles, you'll be on familiar ground here. In Sky, you take control of the titular children as they work to return fallen stars to the heavens, but what makes this adventure different than the others is its emphasis on multiplayer.
It's a beautiful game, and working with players to complete puzzles, unlock doors, and discovering new realms gives the game this sense of awe that thatgamecompany seemingly knows how to wield. It's a stress-free game and one that seems perfect for all types of gamers, especially those who appreciate lovely art direction.
Doodle Jump 2
Ah, Doodle Jump. One of the earliest successes on the iPhone, Doodle Jump's simple gameplay, which consists of bouncing up platforms, leading your weird little alien higher and higher into the heavens. A simple game, but as we've seen, simple is often the best, especially when you're making a game for the iPhone.
The sequel is more of the same, updating the visuals for modern devices and also giving you a few more ways to defend yourself from obstacles. There's something so addictive about Doodle Jump's simple gameplay that it's a more than worthy addition to our list.
The best free puzzle iPhone games
Yokai Dungeon
Yokai Dungeon starts with a simple premise — Yokai have interrupted the lantern festival, and it's up Tanuki, the ghostbusting fox, to handle the invading demons. To squash the Yokai threat, you move objects back and forth across the board to drop on the heads of the demons, collecting coins in the process.
With colorful, charming visuals, randomly generated dungeons, and up to 20 unique heroes to choose from, Yokai Dungeon is a fun, lighthearted game soaked in Japanese Folklore.
Tetris
Dread it. Run from it. Tetris arrives all the same. The original block-dropping game took over the world when it originally launched on the Game Boy after it's start on the PC, and the simple formula of stacking falling blocks into tidy lines is not only a cultural touchstone, it's still pretty addicting.
This version of Tetris features a single-player campaign, as well as private matches, custom themes, avatars, and backgrounds, and Tetris Royale, a 99 player match contest where players compete to be the last one standing. There are a lot of IAPs in this one, but the base game can be enjoyed on its own. It's Tetris.
The best free Multiplayer iPhone games
Among Us
When Among Us was released in 2018, it didn't make so much as a peep on the charts. Call it one of the greatest videogame comebacks of the year, but Among Us went viral last summer and blew up in popularity. The simple social deduction game found a brand new audience, thanks to Twitch streamers, crossplay multiplayer, and the low, low price of free.
A game of Among Us involves a group of squishy little astronauts working together to complete tasks around the map, while Imposters lurk among the group, picking off players one by one. If a body is discovered or a meeting is called, players will vote on who they think is the Imposter among them. It's like The Thing but way cuter.
Pokémon Go
Years in and over a billion downloads later, Pokémon Go remains one of the most popular mobile games of all time, and for good reason. Niantic and The Pokémon Company teamed up to combine all the fun and nostalgia of the classic Pokémon games with real-world data into a fun and addictive game that has continued to top the charts. Playable from virtually anywhere in the world, your gameplay in Pokémon Go will change based on where you go. The locations for in-game activities are all based on real-world locations, inviting you to explore the world around you through a new lens.
What has really driven the success of Pokémon Go (aside from the near-universal love of Pikachu and friends) is how well Niantic responds to the community. With consistent updates and no end date in sight, there's never been a better time to start your Pokémon adventure.
In our testing of this game, we spent a long time playing it, checking out events, and testing different features. While it's had copycats, nothing matches the original phenomenon.
The best free racing iPhone games
Asphalt 9: Legends
Asphalt 9: Legends is the latest in the long-running Asphalt series, a racing game that has progressively grown from pseudo-simulation to full-on arcade game madness (Sort of like Fast & Furious, if you think about it). Asphalt 9 features a mode called TouchDrive, which turns the game into an on-rails game, similar to an endless runner. In this mode, you're free to drift, hit nitro boost, and even perform crazy stunts. It's a nice mode that never loses the feeling of speed, even if you've only got one hand on the screen.
Of course, there are traditional controls for racing fans, and they work really well. Asphalt 9 manages to maintain a great amount of speed, as is a great racing game on the iPhone. User beware, though, as it's also jam-packed with in-app purchases.
Data Wing
On its surface, Data Wing is an unassuming racer. You slide a white triangle across various tracks, pushing against the track edges to grind for speed, which then shoots you forward at ridiculous speeds. But once you start getting into things, you'll realize that the levels are really the star of the show. You explore different environments where oftentimes your foe is gravity. There are also adventure-type quests where you explore environments in search of an exit.
As you play, you'll also discover an omnipresent narrator, called Mother, who illustrates the greater story unfolding off-screen. Upon first glance, the pseudo racing/adventure game sounds like a mishmash of genres, but they come together brilliantly and create a unique game that can only be played on the iPhone or iPad.
The best free Role Playing iPhone games
Eternium
Eternium is an RPG game that's bound to appeal to those who grew up enjoying action and fantasy-packed role-playing classics. We also love that there are no paywalls here and no pay to win philosophy underpinning the game either – which sets it apart from many other iPhone games.
Expect fast-paced action and combat, special effects, cool sounds, and immersive backdrops all set to a fun and interesting soundtrack. You can play as a Bounty Hunter, Warrior or Mage and you either fight with a sword, axe, staff or gun. You can level up whichever character you choose by learning new abilities and you'll then fight aliens, zombies, dragons, and all kinds of other big baddies, across a range of environments, like caves, forests, castles, jungles and much more.
You tap to move through the game – which feels intuitive, especially on an iPhone – and draw signs to cast spells. According to the developers behind Eternium, more than 90% of people play the game for free and purchases are optional – good news if you're sick of seeing ads in other games.
Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis
Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis manages to capture the visuals from 2020's remake and the original game in the same title, with both throwback scenes and gorgeous-looking combat. It is nostalgic purely because the games are so important to many and, in turn, feels quite important itself.
It plays great, has excellent storytelling, and the music is all taken from the original games. If you love Final Fantasy VII or have always been meaning to give it a go, Ever Crisis is a great retelling of the original story and its subsequent spinoffs.
Genshin Impact
Genshin Impact set the world on fire when it was released and has become a bit of a phenomenon ever since. The free-to-play gatcha RPG puts you in the role of an interstellar traveler who, alongside their twin, has been trapped on the planet of Teyvat. In our review we found that while the gameplay is familiar, and fans of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will quickly see the game's influence on Genshin Impact, the game's RPG elements help it stand apart from the classic adventure game.
The game is seeped in anime visuals and features fully voiced characters, each with their own goals and history that helps drive the plot of Genshin Impact further. With hours upon hours of gameplay at your literal fingertips, cross-play multiplayer, and tons of updates in the works, Genshin Impact is one of the best games available on iPhone.
Shadowgun Legends: Online FPS
While you may think of consoles as your first choice for playing a first-person shooter, for something on the go Shadowgun Legends is the one to download. It's a multiplayer, online RPG with regular events and updates to keep things interesting. Team up with up to three friends to defeat bosses or PvP. In addition to the popular online co-op play option, there's a great expansive story campaign as well.
You get to choose your skills and how you like to play. As you continue to get further in the game, you are rewarded with the, fame system. There are items available for purchase within game but it's not required. On top of all the choices you get to make in how you play this game, it's also a great visual quality.
The best free Simulation iPhone games
Fire Emblem Heroes
Nintendo's foray into mobile gaming has been a wild one. While games like Super Mario Run failed to grab an audience, Fire Emblem Heroes exceeded everyone's expectations. The strategy game proved a hit on the 3DS, the Nintendo Switch, and now on your phone. Fire Emblem Heroes translates the strategy game and all of its rock-paper-scissors gameplay along with the appeal of a gatcha game. Play for a chance at a stronger hero, and you'll want to see them all, as the game features some truly excellent art drawn by a variety of artists.
In our review, we found that while there is "freemium" progression like in many other games, players won't have to spend money to enjoy the vast majority of what's on offer.
With tons of events and consistent support from Nintendo, as well as a story that is just as deep and thrilling as any other mainline Fire Emblem, Fire Emblem Heroes packs a lot of content into the palm of your hand.
The Battle of Polytopia
Strategy games can often translate well onto mobile devices. Replacing your mouse cursor for a finger always felt like a natural progression of things. And you see that best in games like The Battle for Polytopia, a cute strategy game that's perfectly built for quick play sessions. In Polytopia, you have 30 turns to explore, research, and advance your civilization.
Polytopia changes things up by cutting down the time needed to play a game like this, instead offering the player a score at the end of their 30 rounds. The game ends up feeling more like a puzzle, as players have to figure out the best way to dominate the play space before your enemies do. Play online or offline in three different game modes, and enjoy conquering your enemies on the go.
The Lord of the Rings: War
This strategy game brings you into J.R.R. Tolkien's world of Middle-earth. Players choose a faction, build an army, and form alliances in the battle for the One Ring. You can mingle in the taverns to take on tasks and gain insight. You'll get to customize your strategy and your army to match your play style.
For Lord of the Rings fans, you'll definitely enjoy the work of recreating this world that has gone into the game. The details and controls in this game are very well done and make playing a positive and immersive experience. It plays in seasons lasting two to three months with specific scenarios to complete by the end. This keeps the content fresh and interesting.
The best free Shooter iPhone games
Call of Duty
Love it or hate it, it's no secret that Call of Duty is one of the biggest games ever created, and each entry delivers bigger and better thrills, turning the horrors of war into an entertaining action movie. So it's a no-brainer that the mobile equivalent would be a hit as well — and it is. Call of Duty Mobile manages to translate the fast-paced multiplayer deathmatches to your phone, with intuitive touch controls, high-quality HD graphics, and a ton of fan-favorite multiplayer maps from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Call of Duty: Black Ops in rotation, as well as the 100-person battle royal that made Call of Duty Warzone a runaway success.
You can customize your layouts and your soldiers to show off in both competitive and social play. Call of Duty might not be for everyone, but those looking for a solid first-person shooter on their phone won't go wrong with this free-to-play installment.
Badlanders
It's the time of the Badlands. Scavenging, raiding, and competing for resources is the way of the times. Players enter the battlefield to get their armor, weapons, and attachments. Grab your gear and keep it away from the other badlanders.
This is a shooter that allows you to customize the way you play. You can make customizations to your weapons. You can choose to be a buyer or seller in the market for the loot you receive in battle. Each season will have different rewards for completing the season missions that you can add to your collection.
How to find the best iPhone games for you
If you know where to look, there are plenty of amazing games for your iPhone and for your iPad – it's a better experience to play with a big more screen space, if you have one.
The problem is that sifting through all of the not-so-great free iOS games that are cluttered with ads and reminders to participate in in-app purchases can be a slog. While some of the games on this list do offer optional microtransactions, you only have to engage in them if you really want to.
If you're only going to play one game, we highly recommend you make it Genshin Impact. This open-world RPG has become incredibly popular with millions of players, no small part due to the gorgeous fantasy world, elemental combat system, and large cast of characters.
We also love our newest addition, Eternium, a role-playing game with an intuitive tap to move mechanic, no pressure to buy additional content and a range of fun characters to play as, enemies to fight and environments to explore.
Looking for something that gives you more of an in-person social experience? Pokémon Go is all about getting out of the house, going on walks, and participating in Raids with other players. Go to the park with friends and enjoy catching whatever creatures appear on your device.
