Main points
- iPad gaming has evolved from a forgettable pastime to a powerful portable gaming computer.
- The best iPad games optimize the hardware, focus on storytelling, and deliver unique experiences.
- With a curated list of iPad games, you can avoid sifting through mediocre games and enjoy high-quality games.
Before the iPhone introduced us to the App Store, mobile games were forgettable distractions played only when there was no other choice. Fast forward to the launch of the iPad, and we suddenly have a device that can run all the best mobile games on a bigger screen with better controls. Considering the growth of mobile gaming and the power of the latest iPads, you actually have a portable gaming computer in your bag.
Best iPads: Expert reviews and rankings
There are several iPad models on the market, and we’ve broken down which version is best for you based on our testing.
The only downside to gaming on the iPad is also its greatest strength: the number of games. Open the App Store and you’ll be inundated with games that claim to be the best, but not all of them are worth your time and money. In fact, most of them aren’t even worth considering. While you could spend hours, days, or even weeks sifting through the games section to find the best games, why not let us put together a nice, neat list of the best iPad games for you?
Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2022)
$999 $1099 Save $100
1 Hindsight
always 20/20
The best iPad games are those that take advantage of the device’s actual hardware, rather than trying to cram a game made for the console into it. Hindsight is perfect for your tablet because it’s very narrative-focused and relies on intuitive touch controls for gameplay.
The story centers on a woman named Mary who attempts to reconcile her feelings after the death of her abusive parents. You delve into her memory to try to untangle the complex relationship they shared and provide some closure so she can positively move on with her life.
2 night in the woods
comfortable existential crisis
If you return to your hometown after many years only to find it a shadow of its former self, Night in the Woods will stir up all those familiar emotions. This game is another adventure game with some light platforming, focusing mostly on developing characters throughout the town. Oh, and this town happens to be populated by anthropomorphic animals. Just let it go.
After dropping out of college, Mei returns home to find that everything is completely different from what she remembered. She reunites with old friends, forms bonds with people in her town, and discovers hints of something sinister lurking in the shadows. Although a bit mysterious, Night in the Woods is more about the journey than the destination.
3 travel
Where will it take you?
When it comes to journey games, I have to highly recommend Journey. This highly artistic work is open to many interpretations. You can take it at face value or draw any number of parallels or metaphors from it. There are no spoken words or clear instructions, but you always know what to do.
In addition to the visuals, scores, and emotional heights the game achieved, it was also praised for its unique multiplayer features. At any time while playing the game, as long as you are online, you may encounter another robed figure. This is not an NPC, but a randomly selected player who will accompany you for a while. Only when the game is over do you see who and how many people helped you along the way.
4 minute
You only have one minute!
If you don’t have a lot of time to play games on your iPad but still want to get up and playing quickly, Minit is designed for short gaming sessions. It has a delightful retro aesthetic and gameplay that echoes classic Zelda games, but with a major twist: your character is cursed to die after just 60 seconds.
This time pressure forces you to act efficiently in each life before restarting at a checkpoint. It’s cute, charming, humorous, compact, and makes you feel like progress is worthwhile and rewarding. No pixels are wasted here.
5 Genshin Impact
Gacha!
Genshin Impact made a huge splash when it launched in 2020 and has maintained incredible momentum since then. This stylish and sprawling RPG builds on its vast world, countless quests and activities, and, most importantly, its characters. If you’re even remotely interested in collecting or anime characters in general, you’ll be in heaven here.
While Genshin Impact is completely free, you do have the option of spending real money if you want to speed up your progress. However, given the breadth and amount of content available, you might as well play the game naturally and earn enough currency along the way.
6 between us
It seems like something is sus
If “Among Us” never gets installed on your iPad, I’m going to call an emergency meeting. It’s a game with a simple concept, but it feels fresh and exciting every time you play it. This event is as much a social event as it is a game, where what you say and do in real life matters more.
If you somehow missed the start of the Among Us craze, you’ll be playing as a crew in a closed facility and completing a series of missions. The problem is that some of you are imposters trying to eliminate everyone else without anyone else watching. If a body is found, a meeting can be held to vote out the traitor suspected by the majority. This leads to a lot of social deduction, misdirection, betrayal, and fun.
7 Civilization VI
The world is in the palm of your hand
What’s better than building an entire civilization from scratch and conquering the world from the comfort of your iPad? I personally have wasted days on my computer with this game, but being able to take it with me has made me addicted again.
The store page lists Civilization VI as a free game, but it’s not like other free games. Although you only do the first 60 turns and then you have to pay, it’s well worth it. You can also add tons of extensions to it, plus it has full cross-platform support and cloud saving capabilities so you can manage your empire on the go when you’re away from your PC.
8 Hearthstone
Choose a card
Card games are perfect for the iPad, so I had to choose one of the best. Hearthstone stands out for being simple to understand and play, yet deep enough that you can fine-tune your deck for the toughest competition. Blizzard’s coat of paint doesn’t hurt either.
The simplicity of the system is what makes it run so smoothly on the iPad. You don’t have to worry about mana or tons of cards with dozens of effects, you just need to read or use them at the right time. Matches also tend to get stuck in their groove for ten to fifteen minutes.
9 Call of Duty Mobile
No range during the journey
Believe me, I didn’t think Call of Duty would run on the iPad until I tried it myself. Yes, pairing a controller is the best way to play, but touch controls actually hold up pretty well on the big screen. If you haven’t tried it yet, you will be shocked by the high quality of this mobile version.
You get all the classic modes, dozens of maps, unlockables, perks, and all the goodness you’ve come to expect from the full version of Call of Duty. In fact, considering it’s completely free, the mobile version might even be better than its console counterpart right now.