The iPhone is a device we carry with us all day, and modern smartphones are powerful enough to play AAA games. The App Store sees dozens of games released every day, many being completely free to play. While most free iPhone games have some form of microtransactions, they usually offer a satisfying gameplay experience where you don't have to spend a single cent. If you're comfortable paying a premium for even better mobile ports, check out our list of the best Apple Arcade games.
Some big games like Fortnite are not available on iPhones due to Apple's revenue-sharing model, but there are a lot of games that can offer high-quality experiences that you can't get anywhere else.
Here are the best iPhone games you can play for free, according to us and the hundreds of hours we've sunk into each and every one of them.
Zenless Zone Zero
Hoyoverse rarely misses with its gacha games, and Zenless Zone Zero is no different from its other endeavors. The urban fantasy RPG includes flashy action combat and life sim and dungeon crawling elements, making sure you'll always have something to do in New Eridu. Its storytelling takes cues from a variety of genres, from anime to comic books to visual novels, which combined with its stellar voice acting makes it one of the best gacha games on the market. While it's also available on PC and PS5, ZZZ is a game best played in short bursts, and that's where its excellent iPhone port comes in.
Pokémon TCG Pocket
The Pokémon Company brings its addictive card collectathon to mobile with a fully digital version of Pokémon TCG. The game lets you open two card packs a day for free, and you can use them to build powerful decks and battle against friends. TCG Pocket's full-art immersive cards add a new dimension to the gorgeous artwork on them. Use our tips and tricks to build a winning deck in Pokémon TCG Pocket once you've downloaded it.
Call of Duty Mobile
The world's biggest shooter game is available on iPhone, as Call of Duty Mobile delivers the same fast-paced action that gamers have been familiar with on PC and consoles. COD Mobile features many of the franchise's classic game modes including dominations, team deathmatch, and a 100-player battle royale mode. COD players get rewarded even more with the COD Warzone mobile port.
Wuthering Waves
Wuthering Waves is very similar to Genshin Impact, but that may be good for newcomers to the genre. The open-world gacha RPG from Kuro Games offers a flashy combat system that never gets old, though its storytelling isn't the best in the business. However, if you can look past the shoddy localization, you can have a good time with it.
Genshin Impact
Genshin Impact may look like Breath of the Wild, but make no mistake - this is a gacha game through and through. It also has wonderful characters and a vibrant world, and its visual style works well on iPhones. With fun combat mechanics and frequent updates that add new characters to the mix, Genshin Impact offers a lot to players for free. Its microtransactions can sneak up on you fast, but as long as you're patient you'll be able to enjoy its story for free.
Honkai: Star Rail
Honkai: Star Rail comes from Genshin's developers, moving away from the fantasy aesthetic to something more sci-fi. Combat is different too, with turn-based battles that make every move count with flashy animations. Like Genshin, Honkai: Star Rail is also updated frequently with new gameplay elements.
Marvel Snap
Marvel Snap is an addictive card game with a unique spin on characters from the Marvel universe. Updated frequently with new game modes and characters, Marvel Snap will speak to fans of games like Hearthstone. With a simple gameplay system that takes a long time to master, Marvel Snap will keep you hooked to your iPhone.
Pokémon GO
Pokémon GO set the world on fire when it was released back in 2016, and remains one of the best standalone Pokemon games on the market. It's one of the few mobile games that actually encourages you to step outside the comfort of your gaming room, and its AR gameplay mechanics successfully deliver the "gotta catch 'em all" slogan. It's one of the few games that uses augmented reality in a meaningful way, and it's a surprise that we haven't seen many other companies imitate it in any significant manner.
Among Us
Innersloth's iconic game is available on all platforms, but the instant access it provides on a smartphone makes it the go-to version to play. It's a wonderful social game with many different modes, Among Us will make or break your friendship with your party in the most hilarious ways possible. Among Us sees players trapped on a spaceship as they complete various tasks while being wary of an imposter on board.
Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis
Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis covers the entirety of the FF7 Compilation story, which is a tall order given how many games exist in that universe. Featuring classic turn-based combat and reimagined character designs with modern graphics, Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis resembles a remake closer than the actual FF7 Remake. Just be patient as it's an episodic adventure with more story arcs and characters getting added regularly.
.png)
English (US) ·