It’s been an interesting few months in the world of mobile gaming, with Apple having to change the way it operates in certain regions, new games coming to iOS and Android with both free and paid versions, Netflix releasing some big games on mobile devices, and Apple Arcade continuing to move forward ,etc. I’ve compiled a list of the best mobile games of 2024 so far, including paid, free, subscription service games, and more. As always, this list is in no particular order.
The best mobile games of 2024 so far
War Armor (free) – [Review] – [Forum Discussion] – Warframe on iOS is an impressive port of a great game. One of the best examples of free-to-play games, this fast-paced action looter shooter with a sci-fi setting is great fun to play on iPhone with touch controls. This is the complete experience with complete cross-progression and cross-play. I can’t wait to see how it develops on mobile devices as it gets more updates along with other platforms.
from the stars ($9.99) – [Review] – [Forum Discussion] – Ex Astris is known for its quality role-playing games from the developer Arknights, but regardless of its profitability, it’s fun to play. It’s a perfect blend of semi-real-time and turn-based elements and looks gorgeous on my iPhone 15 Pro. There’s a lot to like about Ex Astris, although it’s a little lacking in some areas. I just hope the team can polish up some of the narrative and cutscenes on top of this to bring it to its full potential.
Hades (free) – [Review] – [Forum Discussion] – Hades is a great experience when it returns on PC and Switch, and has been brilliantly ported to mobile via the Netflix game on iOS. This version of the dungeon crawler rogue-like is second only to Steam Deck in quality, and joins the GTA trilogy as another killer app for Netflix subscriptions. If you have, you should play Hades.
slice and dice (free) – [Game of the Week] – [Forum Discussion] – After launching in early access on other platforms, Slice & Dice has finally arrived on iOS. Developer Tann’s dice-based roguelike dungeon crawler feels basically perfect on iOS. You can try it for free with an in-app purchase to unlock the full game, which I definitely recommend playing on iOS. I was blown away by how good it felt, and I’m disappointed that I didn’t buy it on Steam and try it sooner.
Destiny Lost Island Adventure ($4.99) – [Review] – [Forum Discussion] – If Jared’s Game of the Week feature and Sean’s review aren’t enough to make you give Destiny Lost Island Adventure a try, I don’t know what to say, but I’m hoping to include it on our list of the best mobile games this year So far, you can experience this cute and sophisticated role-playing game. This isn’t developer TouchMint’s first game, but it’s likely to be your gateway into the developer’s library. Get this one it’s worth more than the asking price.
Legend Cave ($7.99) – [Game of the Week] – [Forum Discussion] – Caves of Lore is a cute pixel art fantasy CRPG from an indie developer that somehow perfectly translates to mobile devices while retaining everything you want from a game in the genre. It feels like a fusion of modern design and older games, but doesn’t take away from the experience. It’s rare for a game of this type to have such a nice touch, but here we are. I also want to highlight how well it blends some modern visual effects with its pixel art aesthetic.
Yes, Your Majesty (free) – [Forum Discussion] – When I first saw Yes, Your Majesty on Steam, I was reminded of the TV show Are You Being Served, and while it has nothing to do with that old show, I did start watching it again and still enjoy it . Going off topic, Yes, Your Grace from developer Brave At Night and publisher No More Robots has been ported to mobile via the stunning Noodlecake, a kingdom management RPG that feels great on touch screens. I’ve played it on Steam before, but if you haven’t, the mobile version is free to try and is a great version of a great game. Give it a try.
Looking up, I only see the ceiling ($1.99) – [Review] – [Forum Discussion] – Look Up, I Only See the Ceiling (aka LUISOAC) from developer silver978 and publisher IndieArk is a short adventure game about a girl who wants to explore the ceiling. It’s coming to mobile devices and Switch this year, and the only caveat to this recommendation is that the adventure is rather short. The way it handles the subject matter and the aesthetics are definitely worth it, but keep that in mind. That aside, I enjoyed it on Steam and would be happy to see it move to mobile devices, as portable devices are always the best choice for adventure games like this. Look Up I Only See the Ceiling is definitely a game that makes you rethink what you’re doing, or at least it made me do that.
Death Stranding Director’s Cut ($39.99) – [Review] – [Forum Discussion] – So unless you have a newer iPad model, Death Stranding Director’s Cut doesn’t play well on iOS. Sadly, it has too many technical issues on the iPhone 15 Pro, but it’s a great game. I recommend watching MrMacRight’s video and then downloading it on your iPad if you want. This purchase is universal, but includes iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, making it an even better value. If you have the option of playing it on PS5, go for it, but this is one of the most visually impressive games in recent years and it’s incredible to see it on an iPhone, despite its technical issues .
Paragon Pioneer 2 ($5.99) – [Forum Discussion] – I just recently started playing Paragon Pioneers 2, which is a relaxing city-building idle game hybrid. I know this genre isn’t for everyone, but Paragon Pioneers 2 has a Lite version you can try (as well as a demo on Steam), and if you’ve always wanted to experience a different city builder with lots of options, then Worth a try. and easy-to-learn mechanics. It also features adjustable difficulty, making it more accessible or more challenging depending on your needs.
Apart from the games mentioned here, the most important games on my play list are Dune: Empire. I hope to be able to play with it and write about it as soon as I have time to learn and play with it. I know there are a few other noteworthy games, but I want to limit it to ten for now. If you think I’ve missed something noteworthy, please let me know in the comments below so that other readers can discover something interesting on mobile devices, too. As always, thank you for reading.