10 Best iPhone Games Exclusives (Updated 2024)
Looking for the best iPhone games? This list includes exclusives game for iOS. This means that these games were specifically developed and released only for Apple’s iOS operating system, which powers devices such as iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touch.
iOS exclusivity can occur for various reasons. Sometimes, a game is developed by a studio owned by Apple or in collaboration with Apple, making it exclusive to their ecosystem. Other times, game developers may choose to release a game exclusively for iOS to take advantage of the platform’s features, user base, or promotional opportunities.
These exclusive games may showcase the capabilities of iOS devices, such as the touchscreen, accelerometer, or augmented reality features. They often undergo optimization and customization to provide the best possible experience on Apple devices.
It’s important to note that while a game may initially be exclusive to iOS, it could later be ported or released on other platforms after a certain period of exclusivity. If you want the best mobile games, you may check also our Best Android Games list, it includes games in both platforms.
There are several notable Apple iOS exclusive games available on the Apple Arcade and the App Store. Here are some highly regarded titles:
Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm
Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm is an action-adventure role-playing game (RPG) that was initially released as an exclusive title for Apple Arcade. It serves as a sequel to the original Oceanhorn game and was developed by Cornfox & Bros.
In Oceanhorn 2, players assume the role of a young Knight, who is on a quest to save the world of Gaia from the threat of the Dark Army. The game features an expansive and visually stunning open world filled with dungeons, puzzles, and enemies to conquer.
With its 3D graphics and a captivating storyline, Oceanhorn 2 offers an immersive gaming experience. Players can explore different environments, engage in combat using various weapons, and solve puzzles to progress through the game’s narrative. The game incorporates RPG elements, allowing players to level up their character, acquire new abilities, and discover powerful equipment. It also features companion characters that join the player’s party and provide assistance during battles and exploration.
Initially exclusive to Apple Arcade, Oceanhorn 2 has gained praise for its polished gameplay, high-quality visuals, and an engaging story. This one is top in the best iphone games.
Disney Melee Mania
Disney Melee Mania is an exclusive 3v3 arena brawler video game available on Apple Arcade. The game features beloved Disney and Pixar characters in action-packed combat. Each character is showcased in a unique design with their iconic moves and unlockable cosmetics.
In fast-paced matches lasting five minutes, players aim to score the highest number of points or defeat the opposing team multiple times to secure victory. At the game’s launch, players can choose from a roster of 12 Disney characters, including popular ones like Buzz Lightyear, Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey, Elsa, and even lesser-known heroes like Bing Bong from “Inside Out.”
One of the game’s strengths is its accessibility. Unlike traditional MOBAs (Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas), players do not need to worry about complex character progression, customization, or designated lanes. Each character comes with three intuitive attacks that fans of Disney shows and movies will easily recognize.
With its short match duration, Disney Melee Mania is well-suited for mobile platforms, allowing players to enjoy quick gameplay sessions during their free time.
Cat Quest II
Awwww, cats! The original Cat Quest claimed to be “Skyrim With Cats” and somehow delivered on that promise. Cat Quest II is more of the same: an accessible, yet surprisingly deep and addictive action-RPG starring cats. This time you can play with a friend.
In Cat Quest II, players take on the roles of both a cat and a dog as they embark on a quest to save their kingdoms from a sinister threat. The game features a vast open world filled with dungeons, quests, and dangerous foes to defeat. Players can explore the colorful and whimsical world, engage in real-time combat, and level up their characters to unlock new abilities and spells. The game offers a seamless single-player experience or the option to play cooperatively with a friend in local or online multiplayer.
As players progress, they will encounter various quests, side missions, and hidden treasures. The game combines exploration, combat, and a humorous storyline to create an enjoyable and light-hearted RPG experience. Whether playing solo or with a friend, Cat Quest II offers an engaging and accessible RPG experience for fans of action, adventure, and feline and canine companions. If you like Cats, you may try Super Cat Tales PAWS.
Crossy Road Castle
Crossy Road Castle is a platformer game developed by Hipster Whale, the creators of the popular mobile game Crossy Road. In Crossy Road Castle, players navigate through a tower filled with obstacles, traps, and challenging platforms. The game features a cooperative multiplayer mode, allowing up to four players to play together locally or online.
The objective is to climb as high as possible while avoiding hazards such as moving platforms, spikes, and gaps. The tower is procedurally generated, meaning that each playthrough offers a unique experience. Players can choose from a variety of characters, each with their own unique abilities and play styles. The game encourages teamwork and coordination as players work together to overcome obstacles and reach new heights.
Crossy Road Castle maintains the charming and voxel-based art style of the original Crossy Road game. It features colorful environments, lively animations, and catchy music that adds to the fun and energetic atmosphere.
Fantasian
In Fantasian, a nice RPG, players embark on a journey through a beautifully crafted world where handcrafted diorama sets are used as the backdrop. The game blends traditional turn-based combat with modern mechanics, creating a unique gameplay experience.
Players control the protagonist, Leo, as he explores various locations, interacts with characters, and battles against enemies. The combat system incorporates strategic elements, such as positioning and timing, to unleash powerful attacks and abilities.
One notable feature of Fantasian is the “Dimengeon Battle” mechanic. As players progress through the game, they will encounter “Memories,” which are memories trapped inside special spheres. These Memories can be entered, creating dungeon-like environments with distinct rules and challenges.
The game boasts a captivating storyline with a focus on character development and exploration. The visuals are handcrafted by experienced artists, resulting in a visually stunning world filled with intricate details and vibrant environments. Another hit in the best iphone games.
Mutazione
In Mutazione, players assume the role of a young girl named Kai who travels to the mysterious community of Mutazione to care for her ailing grandfather. The community is populated by mutated beings and offers a lush and vibrant environment to explore.
Throughout the game, players will navigate the various areas of Mutazione, interacting with its inhabitants, unraveling secrets, and forming relationships. The choices made by the player can impact the outcome of the story, shaping the community and the lives of its residents.
Gardening plays a significant role in Mutazione. Players can cultivate their own personal garden by planting and tending to exotic plants. The garden serves as a peaceful sanctuary and a means to create unique musical compositions that harmonize with the game’s atmospheric soundtrack.
With its focus on storytelling, community-building, and exploration, Mutazione offers a thought-provoking and atmospheric adventure that immerses players in a rich and intriguing world.
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail, originally a text-based strategy game from 1971, holds a special place in the memories of those who played it on their Apple II computers. However, you don’t have to be an old-timer to enjoy it anymore. Apple Arcade has included a modernized version of the classic game—The Oregon Trail.
Even if you haven’t experienced the original game, the new rendition of The Oregon Trail delivers plenty of enjoyment. Every decision, no matter how seemingly insignificant, has the potential to impact the fate of your wagon and intrepid travelers. It’s this element of tense decision-making that kept me hooked, even though the gameplay could become somewhat repetitive after a while.
Nostalgia can be a powerful force, especially in the realm of gaming. Despite not having played the original, The Oregon Trail carries such iconic status in pop culture that it exudes a subtle air of nostalgia. When your characters face injury, fall ill with dysentery, or your wagon endures yet another breakdown, you can’t help but grin at the screen. I imagine that those who played the original game will experience an extra dose of nostalgic delight.
Nevertheless, the game is enjoyable for everyone, regardless of their level of nostalgia. It’s packed with countless small decisions that can either make or break your mission to reach Oregon. A classic in the best iphone games.
TMNT Splintered Fate
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Splintered Fate, is a unique mobile game exclusively for the platform, offering a fresh take on the beloved turtles. This top-down roguelite draws inspiration from the acclaimed title Hades, presenting a new perspective for the franchise while staying true to its storied gaming legacy. (We also have Shredders Revenge)
While it remains an action-packed game with support for four-player co-op, the experience takes on an entirely different flavor. Players can expect an abundance of robots and ninjas to engage in thrilling combat encounters. This innovative direction represents a natural evolution for the turtles’ gaming endeavors, and it also propels the roguelite genre forward.
The game itself will look familiar to fans of the genre. Players choose a turtle and jump into a roguelite run where they have to clear room after room of enemies, gaining power-ups and currency along the way. It can be played with up to four players cooperatively, and the turtles are designed around that idea. Splintered Fate feel like an evolution of the franchise’s beat-em-up roots without throwing away what makes the characters so radical.
Shinsekai: Into the Depths
Shinsekai: Into the Depths is an underwater exploration and survival game developed by Capcom. It offers a captivating and immersive experience set in a post-apocalyptic world where the surface of the Earth has become uninhabitable, forcing humanity to seek refuge in the depths of the ocean.
In Shinsekai: Into the Depths, players take on the role of a lone survivor exploring the mysterious underwater world. As they dive deeper into the depths, they must gather resources, upgrade their equipment, and uncover the secrets of the submerged world.
The game features stunning visuals and atmospheric sound design that create an eerie and immersive underwater environment. Players will encounter various marine creatures, explore intricate underwater caves and ruins, and solve puzzles to progress in the game.
World of Demons
This game just looks amazing. An exhilarating combat action experience in World of Demons, the latest title from the acclaimed Japanese developer, PlatinumGames. Renowned for their console action and PC games like NieR: Automata and the popular Bayonetta series, PlatinumGames takes players on a thrilling journey into a fantastical world teeming with yokai, supernatural monsters and spirits from Japanese folklore.
In World of Demons, players step into the shoes of a samurai who leads an army of yokai minions on a mission to confront and defeat the forces of evil. Immerse yourself in a stunning environment inspired by traditional Japanese artwork, with breathtaking stages pulled directly from ukiyo-e woodblock prints.
As you progress, you’ll encounter samurai allies and a diverse array of yokai, each possessing their own unique techniques and combo possibilities. Expand your arsenal of abilities and prepare to overcome all who dare to challenge you, culminating in an epic showdown against the fearsome Shuten Doji, the powerful lord of all oni.
Bonus: Pocket Card Jockey
This one is amazing. Pocket Card Jockey is a unique hybrid game developed by Game Freak, the creators of the Pokémon series. It combines elements of solitaire and horse racing to create an addictive and strategic experience.
In Pocket Card Jockey, players take on the role of a jockey who must compete in horse races. However, instead of directly controlling the horses, the races are determined through playing solitaire. The outcome of the solitaire games affects the performance of the horses, allowing them to move, gain energy, or make strategic moves on the track.
The solitaire gameplay mechanics are not just a simple distraction but an integral part of the game. Players must strategically clear cards from the solitaire tableau to power up their horse and position themselves for success. As the jockey, players can make decisions during the race, such as when to make a burst of speed or how to navigate obstacles.
Pocket Card Jockey features charming pixel art graphics, lively animations, and a catchy soundtrack that adds to the overall fun and energetic atmosphere.
Are the Best iPhone Games in the Apple Arcade service?
Apple Arcade is a subscription-based gaming service offered by Apple Inc. It was launched on September 19, 2019. Apple Arcade provides access to a curated collection of premium games for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS devices, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple TVs.
With an Apple Arcade subscription, users can download and play a wide variety of games without ads or in-app purchases. The service offers a diverse selection of games across various genres, including action, adventure, puzzle, role-playing, racing, and more. These games are developed by both indie and established game developers.
