The Best Free iOS Games

Summary

• Mobile gaming has evolved with popular titles like Shadowgun Legends, Call of Duty Mobile, and Genshin Impact.
• Free-to-play games like The Lord of the Rings: War, and Tetris offer extensive content without paywalls.
• Among Us, Pokemon Go, and Candy Crush Saga are popular iPhone games with cross-platform capabilities and engaging gameplay.

Mobile gaming is just as impactful as console and PC gaming these days. You can find mobile versions of some of your favorites or exclusive mobile titles to play. There are quite a few games available on iPhone for the large portion of the population that owns such a device.

And what’s better than a fun video game? Well, a free, fun video game. You’ll find a lot of free games to pass the time in the App Store for your iPhone. Many of them have in-app purchases that can help you proceed quicker or give you a leg up, but if you want to keep your wallet closed, you can play them without spending a dime.

Updated on December 18, 2024, by PJ Molloy: Looking for something free to play over the holidays? We’ve updated the list with the latest must-play iPhone games you can enjoy without taking out your wallet.

20

Infinity Nikki

Magical, Fashionable, And Cozy

Infinity Nikki instantly made a huge splash thanks to its relaxing open-world gameplay and engaging fashion mechanics. You control the titular Nikki as she explores the whimsical land of Miraland. The catch? You can dress her up in different outfits to gain various abilities.

The gameplay is reminiscent of Breath of the Wild or Genshin Impact, with an extra layer of coziness to give it a uniquely serene vibe. Simply put, everything from the story to the world-building has a sense of wonder to it. Don’t sleep on this modern gem.

19

Pokemon TCG Pocket

Be The Very Best Like No One Ever Was

If buying Pokemon cards is too expensive, you can play the iconic trading card game for free on your iPhone. In Pokemon TCG Pocket, you open booster packs, build decks, and battle against either an NPC or people from across the globe.

This app is a fantastic entry point if you’re new to the game. It teaches you how to play and lets you unlock new cards at a pretty decent pace. You’ll be forming strategies and outsmarting your opponents in no time.

18

The Pinball Wizard

A Cute Arcade-Style Dungeon-Crawler

Want to test your pinball skills? In The Pinball Wizard, a tiny sorcerer acts as your ball. The goal is to guide him around dungeons while using magic abilities to destroy enemies. Once all baddies are gone, you’re on to the next level.

The gameplay features a nice blend of pinball, RPG elements, and dungeon-crawling mechanics. As a bonus, the art style is adorable, and the physics are excellent. Give it a try if you’re looking for a cozy arcade-style game.

17

Granny

A Classic Survival Horror Game

Looking for something scary? Granny is a first-person survival horror game that combines puzzle-solving with stealth elements. The titular Granny has kidnapped you and locked you in her house. You must sneak around, solve brain-teasers, and search for a way to escape, all without being spotted by the murderous grandma.

You have five in-game days to escape, with each day ending whenever you get caught. Don’t be fooled by her feeble appearance. Granny is a genuine threat who can hear when you make noise. She can even set devilish traps. If you want to give yourself goosebumps, this game is the way to go.

16

Stumble Guys

A Hilarious Battle Royale Perfect For All Ages

Since Fall Guys is unavailable for iOS outside of Europe, Stumble Guys is the best alternative. This delightful battle royale pits you against 31 other players in a series of colorful obstacle courses. The goal is to do well enough to qualify for the next round.

Similar to Fall Guys, you control ridiculously clumsy characters with a knack for tripping, falling, and bumping into everything in sight. You can even dress them up in goofy outfits for an extra bit of hilarity. Overall, it’s a lighthearted experience perfect for all ages and skill levels.

15

Yokai Dungeon

Solve Puzzles In A Charming Dungeon Crawler

Yokai Dungeon is a top-down dungeon crawler with arcade-style gameplay and clever puzzles. When a group of evil spirits escapes imprisonment, it’s up to one brave tanuki to save the town from a ghoulish fate.

You explore randomly generated dungeons, each with a grid-like structure. The objective is to push the various boxes and pots around to squish all the enemies in the stage while collecting as much money as possible. It’s a charming adventure with an adorable pixel art style and plenty of engaging puzzles to get the gears turning in your head.

14

Froglike: The Frog Roguelike

A Time-Bending, Arcade-Style Game

Froglike’s premise is right there in its title: it’s a roguelike where you control a frog. Your job is to protect the Lily of Time from an army of shadow enemies. To do so, you’ll need to stay on the Lily for the required amount of time, dodge rapid-fire attacks, and keep up with the Lily as it teleports around the stage. Once you’ve guarded it long enough, it’s on to the next level.

As a roguelike, the goal is to play multiple runs and try to get further each time. Thankfully, each level and item is randomly selected, making each playthrough feel fresh and enthralling. The charming pixel graphics are the cherry on top.

13

Kitty Death Room

An Adorable Platformer Starring A Clever Kitten

If you like puzzle platformers, Kitty Death Room is right up your alley. Take control of a tiny kitten with the power to clone himself. The objective is to use your copies to help you navigate around obstacles, including using them as a bridge or having them hold down buttons to open doors.

The catch? You can only make a limited amount of clones per level, requiring you to think outside the box and look at each brain teaser from different angles. You’ll need to stay on your toes because each stage is a cleverly designed booby-trap-filled death chamber. But if you keep your wits about you, you’ll be just fine.

12

Marvel Snap

A Deck-Builder Featuring Your Favorite Superheroes

Marvel Snap is a deck-building card game that’ll put your strategic thinking to the test. The rules are simple: each card has a Marvel character, a special ability, a point value, and an energy amount required to play it. The goal is to gain control of the battlefield by having more points on the board than your opponent.

All your favorite heroes, villains, and anti-heroes are here, including the Avengers, X-Men, and plenty of lesser-known fan favorites. Easy to learn but difficult to master, Marvel Snap is the perfect entry point if you’re looking to get into card games.

11

Shadowgun Legends: Online FPS

An Action-Packed Shooter With RPG Elements

In the early days of mobile gaming, first-person shooters were not optimized well. They were clunky and just plain weird. That has certainly changed over time, with Shadowgun Legends: Online FPS as a prime example.

Shadowgun is an online FPS with RPG elements that receives regular updates. There’s PVP, cooperative boss fights, and a campaign with loads of content to keep anyone with an iPhone busy for a long time.

10

Asphalt Legends Unite

Race Through Real-Life Cities

Your favorite genre is definitely available in the form of a free iPhone game. Take a look at Asphalt Legends Unite, an arcade-style racing game with drifts, stunts, incredible speeds, and a slew of cars for you to collect.

There are multiple modes made for all kinds of racing fans. You can put the game on rails and just zoom through cities, or you can jump into the traditional mode where more control over your car is in your hands.

9

Call Of Duty Mobile

Play A Legendary FPS Series On Your Phone

There’s no doubt that Call of Duty is one of the most popular and successful gaming series of all time. That translates to mobile gaming, where you can get Call of Duty Mobile for free on your iPhone.

COD Mobile has spawned a competitive esports scene, follows a similar seasonal shift as the main series, and includes all the customization you know and love. It is one of the top mobile titles in terms of graphics and content.

8

The Lord Of The Rings: War

Explore Middle-Earth In This Strategy-Based RPG

The Lord of the Rings has a massive fan base, with the original books, spin-off content, the movies, and a horde of video games. One of those games is The Lord of the Rings: War, a strategy game that is free on iPhone.

In The Lord of the Rings: War, you choose one of the world’s factions to base your army and settlement around. Build it up, form alliances, and fight for control of Middle-Earth with whatever strategy you can think up.

7

Genshin Impact

A Zelda-Like Action RPG

Genshin Impact is the quintessential free-to-play gacha RPG. It took the world by storm upon its launch, and consistent updates keep the player base happy with new locations and additional characters to unlock.

Without too many spoilers, you and your twin are interstellar travelers who end up on the planet Teyvat. Your journey sees you investigate the Seven, a group of elemental gods, as you explore the world and battle a cast of formidable foes.

6

Eternium

An Epic Fantasy RPG

If you enjoy a classic action-based roleplaying game, then Eternium is the perfect free iPhone game for you. The top-down title boasts its tap-to-move and swipe-to-cast controls, with a no paywall, no pay-to-win philosophy.

Eternium keeps it simple, with just three classes to choose from. You can be a mage, warrior, or bounty hunter and wield a sword, axe, staff, or gun. Leveling up and customizing your character to take on a variety of threats is where the simplicity goes out the window.

5

Tetris

The Puzzle Game You Know And Love

Old-school titles have a special place in gamers’ hearts, and that retro feeling has never been more welcome. That’s why Tetris is easily one of the best puzzle games you can download from the app store for your iPhone.

This modern mobile version has a lot more than just stacking blocks. There’s a single-player campaign, private matches, a Tetris version of a battle royale, and hundreds of customization options for your profile.

4

Among Us

Solve Murder Mysteries In Outer Space With Friends

Among Us absolutely took over the world of gaming when streamers and creators discovered its existence. While the hype has died down a bit, there’s no doubt that a hardcore fan base still enjoys the social deduction title on the daily.

The best part about playing Among Us on your iPhone is the cross-platform capabilities. You can hunt down crewmates or try to uncover the impostors with players on any other system that can run the game.

3

Pokemon Go

Catch ‘Em All In This Engaging RPG

Pokemon Go has been going strong for years, and if you haven’t tried to be the very best like no one ever was, now is the time to download it on your iPhone for free. You’ll get some Poke Balls, catch Pokemon, and curate your team.

Whether you’re stationary or traveling throughout your day, you can find tons of Pokemon in the overworld of Pokemon Go. If you head to the lake, you’ll find Water types; if you head to the forest, you’ll find Grass types. It’s an incredible experience.

2

Wuthering Waves

Delve Into A Post-Apocalyptic World

Do you know what’s better than a free iPhone game? A free iPhone game that you can play consistently as it gets regular updates with new content, and Wuthering Waves is exactly that. Set in a beautiful post-apocalyptic world, the game has you play as a Rover fighting against various Tacet Discords that bring humanity into danger.

As you learn various secrets about the world and your identity, you’ll also get to meet plenty of characters with intricate details in their design. While you do have to engage in the gacha to get most of these characters, it’s not a necessity since the game’s engaging and skillful combat allows you to beat everything without the meta units.

1

Candy Crush Saga

A Timeless Puzzle Game

If you want a free iPhone game to pour hours into, you’ll want to download Candy Crush Saga. Whether you’re on the toilet or looking for reasons to stay awake in bed, this is the game that’ll eat up your time.

There are thousands of levels for you to play. Match up the candies, replay them if you’re waiting for more content, and come back for daily rewards. The sheer amount of Candy Crush available at your fingertips is what makes it a top iPhone game.